okie Steeler Wayne Newton

Buster Sharp · Post by **Buster Sharp** » 7 May 2007 6:59 am

Anyone ever met this guy?from vinta i think
worked for Frenchie Burk and Jana Jay that I know of.
I would love to get in touch,lost track of him years ago...thanks for any help

Jack Ritter · Post by **Jack Ritter** » 7 May 2007 9:32 am

hi, Buster---
i met wayne when he was playing at the 300 club here in Enid, Okla. i had just got my first pedal steel and heard there was a player at that club so went to listen and look and eventually got acquainted with him... at that time he was living in Wichita, Kan---i think. he was a darn good player!!! he had a d-10 pp emmons at the time. last info i had was he had quit playing a long time ago and was working at a motel somewhere---but don't remember where---maybe in Missouri someplace. Jack

Tommy Minniear · Post by **Tommy Minniear** » 7 May 2007 11:23 am

It's a small world Jack! That is the same club where Rick Sharp introduced me to him. The last time I saw Wayne was at a club we were working in Woodward: The Palimino. Wayne stopped in one day while we were rehearsing. It was around the time that Haggard released "Let's Chase Each Other Around The Room Tonight". I rememeber Wayne and I compared notes on the licks Norm Hamlett was playing on that song. That was the last time I saw or spoke to Wayne. I've thought about him from time to time and wondered what had ever become of him. Wayne was a good steel player.

Tommy Minniear

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 7 May 2007 12:08 pm

Interesting factoid: the Las Vegas superstar singer, Wayne Newton, was also a steel guitar player before his singing career took off bigger. Go figure.

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 7 May 2007 6:09 pm

This must be a different Wayne Newton, since Wayne Newton the singer comes from Virginia and was taught to play the steel guitar by Elmer Ridenour, perhaps in the 50's.

Larry King · Post by **Larry King** » 8 May 2007 6:39 am

Buster......"Fig" was indeed a good player. I met him at Roy and Candy's Music in Tulsa 25 uears ago. I would suggest you call Roy Ferguson at his store and i imagine that he will know more recent info on him. Say "hi" to Tommy Rials for me.