Donna Hammit I'll Fly Away (Knoxville) on YouTube

Bill Ferguson · Post by **Bill Ferguson** » 12 Feb 2007 11:03 am

Here's a "girl" clip. Donna does not take a back seat to anyone. What we need now is more girls taking up our beloved steel guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1seXhGdfSg

Bill

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 12 Feb 2007 12:18 pm

Wonderful picking, thanks for the link Bill.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 12 Feb 2007 12:45 pm

It's great to see Donna playing, after all these years. She and I attended Jeffran College together back in the early 80's and became pals. I'd love to see some more clips of her playing, if you have some, Bill. By the way, how's her dad, Don, doing?

Mark Edwards · Post by **Mark Edwards** » 12 Feb 2007 3:01 pm

Bill - This my first time to ever hear of Mrs. Donna Hammit, but what a way to see someone play for the first time. Boy that girl hammered it. I was always jealous of the girls that could outdo the boys, but by golly she does it with grace.

what a great clip, and what a great song she couldn't have picked a better tune. Thanks Bill for sharing thes videos with us. You don't realize how much I have learned just by watching these pros pick.

Jamie Lennon · Post by **Jamie Lennon** » 12 Feb 2007 3:45 pm

Great playing

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 12 Feb 2007 4:41 pm

I wonder if this is one of the "Tabbed Songs" on her web-site?

Larry Hannigan · Post by **Larry Hannigan** » 12 Feb 2007 7:42 pm

I saw that shy little girl in the early 90's at Scotty's - she has improved enormously

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 13 Feb 2007 2:18 pm

That girls got style!! thanks Bill F

Bobby Caldwell · Post by **Bobby Caldwell** » 13 Feb 2007 2:59 pm

Donna came to the St. Louis show as a young girl with her family and everyone fell in love with her, her talent and her wonderful family. Everyone was so proud of her when got the job with Bill Anderson. She did a great job holding down the steel chair and working the Opry. I haven't talked with her in a long time but I wish her the best and hope all is well with her. Loveya Donna, Bobby

Phillip Lee Thompson · Post by **Phillip Lee Thompson** » 15 Feb 2007 8:26 am

Hey Bill (or anyone) ---
Does Donna pick Steel at all anymore?? Sure did enjoy her
playing on that Franklin Steel with "Ole Whispering Bill".
Thanks Bill for this wonderful post --- Phillip.
the old gringo.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 15 Feb 2007 11:29 am

I met Donna right after I started playing steel and she's really amazing! I met her at the Grand Ole Opry. She's an amazing player! Brett, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel, GFI Ultra D-10-aka "Redgold Beauty"

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 28 Feb 2007 1:45 pm

Great player....and looker

Nice to know she's played will Bill Anderson. I remember Bill Anderson and the Po Boys play R.A.F. Lakenheath as the "floor show" here in England in the very early 70's when I had been playing steel for about 10 months....he then had Sonny Garish in the band. I was in the house band for that evening, and was physically sick to have to follow Sonny after they finished, but on having breakfast together he was very encouraging in all he said to me. We all have to start off somewhere huh???

Great playing Donna

Micky Byrne England www.mickybyrne.com

Tom Brumley · Post by **Tom Brumley** » 31 May 2007 6:57 pm

Great job, Donna. Thought you might be interested to know that my dad wrote "I'll Fly Away".

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 31 May 2007 7:08 pm

Tom, that's really amazing that your dad wrote "I'll Fly Away". It's one of my all-time favorite songs.

Brett

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 1 Jun 2007 10:16 pm

Hi Tom, Did your Dad also write 'Turn your radio on'

Colm Chomicky · Post by **Colm Chomicky** » 16 Jun 2007 4:34 am

Great clip there Bill. Wonderful steeling by Donna and a great song selection.

As for the comments right above -- it was only recently that I realized Tom Brumley's dad was the composer. My wife was asking about the song because she had heard it in the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou." So I checked the internet and came across this website with some great info on Tom's dad.

http://www.brumleymusic.com/

Albert E. Brumley wrote over 800 songs, many inspired by his own personal experiences including "Turn Your Radio On' as mentioned above.

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 16 Jun 2007 7:45 am

Albert wrote many of my favorite gospel songs, and his son Al is a wonderful singer. All in all, a talented family.