How did you become a steel player?

[Les Anderson]

I have always loved the steel guitar sound right back to the days of Hank Williams.

I have been a life-long musician but something always took priority over actually purchasing a steel guitar. I made a reasonable living (or should I say, existence) at playing music in the early mid sixties to the mid seventies with other instruments. My family’s welfare took precedence over continuing to be a roady so I got a regular job; however, that haunting steel guitar sound always stuck in the back of my mind.

One day my wife happened upon a yard sale being put on by an elderly lady who was heading for a retirement home. Propt up against her fence was a D8 steel guitar in pristine condition, hard case, a Fender, Princeton Reverb amp and a volume pedal: all for $50.00. Blessed be are some faithful wives who know how to please her man: she loaded it into her car and surprised me with it all just before the evening meal.

Any guesses what she got for desert that night?

[Greg Simmons]

ah, err, an instrumental version of "Big Balls in Cowtown"?

[Tony Prior]

I fell on my head one day and when I woke up I forgot I was a Guitar player but I did remember I played in a band.

Actually it was the era of Buffalo Springield, Poco, New Riders..Pure Prarie League..etc...that turned up the wick for me...Got me a Maverick and never looked back ..

[Henry Matthews]

The first time I heard Weldon kick off, THEN AND ONLY THEN, I knew I had to play steel. Also because I can't play guitar.

[Dennis Schell]

Well, technically I'm not a true steeler yet. But I own one and I'm gonna be. I have always known that "no steel, no country".

I actually have a picture of the exact defining moment. It's hard to see all of him in the pic, but it was New Years Eve at Gruene Hall 2003, Robert Earl Keen and The Derailers. I stood up front with my beautiful wife, right in front of the steeler Marty Muse. I watched him play that old Emmons through a Twin Reverb, his feet and knees were flying, I never had noticed before how much work a steeler had to do with his feet and knees! I yelled in my wife's ear over the roar of the steel music "That's it , I gotta have one!". Sure enough I got and old Emmons and already had a Twin, problem was right off the bat I didn't sound like my hero's, and into the corner she wen't.



But I'm back on the horse now, and have even more respect for good steelers

Steel Tryin , I always knew I was a future steelaholic, it just took 30 years to admit it

Hey, I just love that ol' Danelectro "Longhorn" bass!

Sounds kinda like we're on the same PSG road pal. We'll make it one day huh?

Dennis

[Robert Harper]

I was sitting in a bar 32 or 33 no kids. I was just begining to take guitar lessons. The people who were teachings daddy was a steel player. This place hated the country band. I guess you pros have been in this fix before. Some how the band and the people wern't mixing. A rock band had been there previously, I guess. This has been about 24 years ago. I gave it up for two or three years, raised two kids and worked my way through college. I have just began to go out in public(church coir) to play it So I'm not all that good. I am trying to learn to play by ear. Hey, I can't seem to remember but part of one song (Old Rugged Cross) and I get it confused ith Mansion On the Hill. Not true. I remeber Faded Love and most of Steel Guitar rag, but I aint good at the rag The darn thing is frustrating, but I do love the sound. I don't expect to ever be great at it. I wouldn't mind dying behind it playing some gospel. I thought I was going to die with the sound of my wife whining and complaining but she finally gave me up. She said something to the affect she could take me or our daughter, but not both of us. Sure would rather do that then die at work or listening to a complaining woman. Someone with talent could possibly put that together with a melody and make a song

[Klaus Caprani]

Both my guitar-teachers back in the day were steel-players. I fell in love with it from day one, though it seemed much too difficult to ever learn (was trying to figure out the first three chords on 6 string, finger by finger)

Many years later I had the chance to get my hands on a professional instrument for a resonable amount of money, and took off from there.

[Charles Davidson]

Some one years ago told me it was too hard to learn,Should not have said that to a hard-headed old fool like me,had to prove them wrong.

[Jerry Knapper]

I walked into the CMI booth at the NAMM show in the mid 70's and heard Freeman Cowgar playing on a Sho-Bud Maverick. As I watched, I told him I had always loved that sound. He said, "If I can teach you to play one song to your liking in 15 minutes would you buy one?" Being young and in the music retail business, I said, "If you can teach me to play a song to my liking in 15 minutes I'll buy 6 of them!" He did, and I did, and the rest is history.
PS: I used the same approach and sold 8 the last half of that year!

[Ronnie Green]

2 words. Lloyd Green! He even told me he was sorry.

[Hank Pell]

It was the sound of Don Helms Playing behind Hank Williams, I cant Help It if I'm Still in love with you.Although i never met Don helms ,I will never forget him.