The Steel Guitar Forum

Joe, that bass player for Tony Douglas would be Harlan Powell.

There were two guys in Corpus christi when I started playing that really inspired me, Tommy Roots and Richard Blumberg.

The guy that inspired me the most did not live in Corpus but worked there a lot during that time. It was Dicky Overby playing with Johnny Bush. This guy really motivated me and is the reason I am playing today.

As Gary Carriger mentioned earlier in this thread we were very fotunate to live in Corpus Christi during the 60's and early 70's. There were many great steel players that were either passing through, or just looking for a nice place to stay for a while.

Gary thanks for the mention, but did you have to list me with such a great group of players.

I have to give credit to a guy named Bill Pulford, from Lima, OH. Also a guy named Kenny Davis from Lima, OH. I can't forget my great teacher as a kid, Ron Dearth. Ron sold Jerry Byrd his Rickenbacker Electro and amp. that is in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Bill helped me with the country stuff and the early pedal stuff, while Ron was teaching me the basic Hawaiian styles, and the basic mechanics of the bar, finger picks, and such. Kenny and I sort of learned together and from each other. They are my main early inspirations.

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Chris, of Chris' Music Exchange, near Denver, got me all fired up, initially. Then Dick Meis (see his web-site) proved to be quite an inspiration, as well.

The Ray Price/Buddy Emmons album, "Touch My Heart" is THE reason I decided to play pedal steel guitar. Lloyd Green was also a big influence.

The local, 'unknown' player who influenced me the most by far was Bob Brocius. It was stated earlier in this topic that Bob was the Hudson Valley's Lloyd Green back around 1970 and into the early 70s. I'd agree with that.

I used to sneak into places where Bob was playing when I was not quite "of age" to be allowed in legally. I introduced myself to him and we have been good friends now for well over 30 yrs. In the early 70s, at 17 yrs. of age I moved away and hit the road playing steel and Bob kept playing every weekend locally until about 18 months ago.

Despite having a major setback in the form of a pretty darn severe stroke about 18 mos. ago, Bob is now back out playing again. I guess you just can't keep a good man down.

Thanks for everything over the years Bob, the music, the friendship. You have been a true and solid friend.

Chris "Tiny" Olson

Billy Dale Sexton played with the Dixie Echoes in the 70,s he gave me my first lessons. May I mention Jeff Newman I have a filling cabnet full of his lessons. One day I will get to practice them. My Sho Bud Pro is set up in Quitman Ga. At 73 I do not have the energy to take it down after every Friday nite playing for 5 hours.

rattle rattle

ernie

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<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Ernest Cawby on 07 August 2003 at 08:00 PM.]</p></FONT>

Dale Truitt, Altus, Oklahoma

Felix White, Fredricton, New Brunswick

After reading through these I had forgotten about good ol Tiny. See if you remember these days Tiny...I played in a band in the mid 80's that opened for Gene Watson. I guess I have done a hundred of those type opening shows over the years but without question I put you at the top of my list of bandstand players...

Hi George:

Thanks so much for your kind words.

Tiny O.

George Shearing, Stan Kenton, Stan Getz, Woody Herman, etc, etc.....HJ

For me KOOS BIEL (the netherlands) ,but i think for the most of the EUROPEAN steelers he IS !.......
next to the USA HERO's with the HIGHEST LEVEL (+- '60,'70,'80's)like ao Jimmy Day,Buddy Charleton and number 1 The BIG E

Ron Halldorson from Winnipeg, Canada! He is without a doubt one the greatest steel players known or unknown. Whenever anyone hears his playing from the old CBC Radio (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) sessions they are always blown away. One song that he did was called 'Hubbard's Cupboard" that is a Jerry Reed style on his 14 atring steel. Back then he was taking the steel beyond the norm swing, C/W 25 years ago with great arrangements of "Never My Love"; "Midnight at the Oasis" etc. Too bad CBC would not release all those incredible steel guitar intrumentals sitting in a fault somewhere in Winnipeg!?.

By the way, he is one of the finest bassist and guitarists. He was the bassist on the early legendary guitarists records, Lenny Breau.

Rich P. I also met Milt in AG and jammed with him last week and plan on many more. He did a short stint with Tammy before she married George and has played all over the US and is a friend to Jay Dee.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gary Walker on 10 August 2003 at 07:11 PM.]</p></FONT>

When I was starting out on pedal steel, Bobby Black gave me a cassette he had made of some no name young steel player in Nashville showing him these really strange techniques. His dad worked at Sho Bud, and he was trying with help from Pete Drake to break into session work, but he wasn't having much luck. That tape changed the way I approached the steel guitar.

I think that non-famous player did ok in the end. What was his name? Paul something or other, I think......

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www.tyack.com

In the late 40's, in Halifax NS, Roy Armstrong, and Roy Smith.In the early 50's Leonard T Zinn of the 101 Ranch Boys. When I came back to it in the mid 80's, BILL STAFFORD, ..who is not exactly unheard of.

Dave Frye, when he and his wife were still living in Morgan Hill, CA (1999), loaned me a Sho-Bud D10 for a month or so, my very first stint with a PSG. That set the hook! Thanks again, Dave.

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<font size=-1>Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?</font>

Jess Hudson was my first teacher. He owned a music store in Dallas (Music Music) and taught PSG and guitar. As a 15 year-old kid who was turned on to PSG primarily through Rusty Young and John David Call, he introduced me to Buddy Emmons, Jimmy Day, LDG, and Jess's cousin Reece Anderson. Jess even arranged (with the help of Reece) to get me a brand-spankin' new pro model MSA S-10 at cost. I could never thank Jess enough for getting me on the right track. Last I heard, he was living in the Branson, MO area.

A LITTLE GUY NAMED LITTLE JOE McGUFFY PLAYED AROUND NE LA. DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS, WOULD LOVE TO SEE HIM, WHEN I MOVED TO HOUSTON IN 1980 I HEARD ROBBIE SPRINGFIELD,A MONSTER STEEL PLAYER I LANDED A JOB IN A BAND WITH HIS WIFE,HE MADE ME HAVE YO GET UP AND GO TO STAY AROUND HOUSTON,DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS NOW EITHER,IF ANYBOBY KNOW'S LET ME KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CHARLIE

Bert Rivera. Local but I would not call him non-famous. When I called Austin my home back in the 70's and 80's, his band was playing all the places like the Broken Spoke, Lumberyard, Silver Dollar North or South, etc. As a penny-pincher, I opted for frugal festivities provided by nickel beer nite at the Spoke (Wednesdays). Obviously he would be playing a rowdy crowd. The nickel beer or 25-cent pitchers often made for some extra stumbling around on the dance floor during the Schottische or Cotton-Eyed Joe. Maybe I should have spent more time listening to his steel than dancing with all the gals. I also learned via this forum that Herb Steiner played a lot of the same places with Alvin Crow and later Texas Fever -- but I was too pre-occupied dancing with the gals to know that. Sorry Herb <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Colm Chomicky on 18 August 2003 at 07:12 PM.]</p></FONT>

I was born in 1933 in Jackson , TN. and when I was 15 or 16 , I met an older fellow who lived a few houses from me that played steel around Jackson a lot . He was nice enough to show me a few things on my old flat top Montgomery Ward regular six string guitar I had that I eventually ( with his help--he gave me a metal bridge so I could raise the strings up off the guitar neck ) turned into a steel ( dobro would be a better name ) so I could play along with Brother Oswald while listening to Roy Acuff on the Opry via our old radio on Saturday nights .I used a glass bottle for a bar since I did not know they even made a bar designed for playing steel then.

This man's name that inspired me to continue
and helped me along, was named Bob Meadows . I have not talked to him in several years.
The last time we did visit by phone , he lived in Scottsdale , Az. He was a fine player and went on to play with some pro artists on the road .

I hope he is well and my thanks go to him .

John <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by John Hawkins on 19 August 2003 at 12:25 AM.]</p></FONT>

Steve Stallings and Don Sowersby. Then they introduced me to Young Billy Dearmore and from there I started meeting the "big guns" like Glen Suchan.

My dad has had a band all my life and I had heard a couple of guys with him that were a bit limited in their steel playing.

On a Saturday in June 1965 (I was 7 years old) I heard a teenage Randy Sorrells playing awesome stuff behind his sister Shelia singing Connie Smith songs in The Sorrells Family Band at The Mountaineer Festival in Clayton, Georgia. That was when I know I wanted to play steel.

I remember this vividly and am certain of the date because my dad won the fiddle content and has the trophy with the date on it. Randy has been a pro picker for a long time and is with Montgomery Gentry.

My buddie ,Dennis robison here in columbus ,ohio . he can play so many things with just (2) pedals and (2) knee levers that you just cant believe. he is my biggest inspiration. i just did a steel guitar show at the Ohio State fair with him and (3) other players and it was real fun.
keep up the good work Dennis. regards G.P.

Big Jim Baron and David Wright put me on the fast track to being a Steel player wanabe.

There is 3 that give me a jump start:Eddie Malray Dan Dowd and Terry Wendt.