Guitar Player Magazines Tribute??To My Father

Anita Kleinow · Post by **Anita Kleinow** » 11 May 2007 5:12 pm

Thank you very much, Baz. That was a very good article.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 11 May 2007 5:20 pm

Thanks Anita, Pat got the info from various sources and we didn't know how much was correct. In our next issue we may give a little more historical facts and also information about his family. Maybe you could help us somewhat with the details ?
Baz

Anita Kleinow · Post by **Anita Kleinow** » 11 May 2007 6:28 pm

Baz, I would be more than happy to help you and Pat and I'll feel alot better knowing the info going out about my dad is correct. Anytime, just let me know!

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 11 May 2007 9:24 pm

I was so ticked I still haven't even READ the GP article. I won't even buy the issue. I do understand their market - but if you're going to run anything at all, run it right.

Baz, one note - the picture of the Burritos you found is a really obscure version - it was the "Sierra" band (which used the Burritos name only briefly) with Pete, Gib Gilbeau, Thad Maxwell, Mickey McGee and Bobby Cochran. Not usually considered a high point of the Burritos' history.

Anita, you go get 'em sweetie! If you need any help, you know where to find me!

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 11 May 2007 9:44 pm

The thing is with Pete, things have been repeated so many times that they lose details in each translation.

His musical career and work in television and films ran parallel, for example most people think about the Gumby reference and think he was with the show when it started in the 50s, not so.
He came in around the mid 60s when the show was syndicated and added several characters, this is actually the period that you mainly find on DVD and see on re-runs.

Of course Pete had long been active as a picker, his west coast career predates playing around Hollywood as he worked the Bostonia Ballroom, as well as several different combos, he played on Cal's Corral, temped at the Pal', played the off nights at the Pal' among others things.
The Norm Raleigh Band formed in '64, they were a country and rock combo that went into rock-pop in the wake of the Beatles boom.. it included Al Harris (piano) from Ricky Nelson's band, Johnny Meeks on guitar (ex Champs, Blue Caps and Tune Toppers), Norm Raleigh (bass, ex-Gene Davis), and Mel Taylor (drums), who was also ex-Gene Davis and still with the Ventures).

Dewey Martin replaced Mel when the Venures gigs started to clash, after they'd had a relatively quiet period of hardly touring.
Junior Nichols was their temp until a new guy came, which of course is Dewey Martin who Anita mentioned.

The group got a record deal with the Seattle based Jerden label, moved there as Sir Raleigh & The Coupons and gigged until '65 when things got real quiet and Dewey split.
Everyone eventually returned to Socal in different bands, Dewey was with Buffalo Springfield, so for a while he was the 'famous' one, although I reckon rock fans would know about Pete far more than any of the other Raleigh sidemen, although the late Mel Taylor is bigger than anyone in Japan, with his Ventures connection.

Anita Kleinow · Post by **Anita Kleinow** » 11 May 2007 10:01 pm

Wow, Jason! Incredible bio and just think GP had at least one month after the announcment to do research. Jon McKinney, working as my agent, even called GP to tell them I was willing and available, left my phone # and email address and I never heard a word. Chris H seems to be top choice to quote. I don't know why, he never says anything new.

Jim, I always know I can count on you to bail me out if I get in too much trouble. heehehe

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 12 May 2007 12:25 am

I truly loved Pete and his work, it really bugs that over the years the references to his career seem to narrow down to really basic info and the timeline and facts get more blurred each time I read about him.

cheers

J.

Jim Walker · Post by **Jim Walker** » 12 May 2007 12:49 am

I emailed "Vinny" and gave my 2 Cents worth.

What ever happen to responsible journalism?

JW

P.S. I was born in South Bend too, I take pride in where I'm from. I hope they get it right when I go on to the Big Jam session in the sky.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 12 May 2007 5:50 am

I am a huge admirer of Pete's, he's one of my absolute favorite steel players, and of course a half-page, hastily written and un-researched "tribute" in GP is a big disappointment, but at least they published something. That in itself is something of a tribute, and due primarily to the fact that he played in "rock" contexts.

If anyone has knowledge to the contrary, please post, but I believe Jimmy Day, Curly Chalker, Hal Rugg, Jerry Byrd, Jeff Newman, Jimmie Crawford, and any of the other important steel players that didn't play "rock" who have passed during the magazine's existence (I know I'm missing some) have received either no mention at all or, at best, a one or two sentence obit buried in a miscellaneous news notes column.

The magazine seems to have decided that steel guitar isn't guitar as understood by the demographic they're going for. Back in the Seventies and Eighties they used to publish the occasional full-scale article about steel players--I still have an issue with an extensive round-table discussion among Buddy Emmons, Lloyd Green, Paul Franklin, and one or two others (I can't find the magazine)--but no longer. The glaring exception, of course, is Robert Randolph, whom they put on the cover, and of course we all know, leaving aside the debates here about the merits of his approach, that here again it's because he's using steel in a "rock" context.

I don't see the Sneaky Pete article as a personal slight to him--it's just an example of their overall slight to steel guitar in general.

Brian Herder · Post by **Brian Herder** » 12 May 2007 6:14 am

I saw the "tribute" while browsing at Barnes & Noble. I didn't even read it, figuring it would be exactly what it turned out to be. At any rate, here's a good segment of Burrito Deluxe from the "Wodd Songs" radio show. Scroll down to show #323 and you can listen, or watch the video. Interviews & tunes. Better to download it so you can navigate though the show (it's the whole show). Lot's of other good stuff on the site too-
http://www.woodsongs.com/showlist.asp

Anita Kleinow · Post by **Anita Kleinow** » 12 May 2007 2:06 pm

You're all exactly right. Jim W, thank you. I was beginning to think I was going overboard. And don't worry, if I'm still around when you do that gig, I'll make sure they know you're an Indiana boy.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 12 May 2007 6:36 pm

Anita's letter to Michael Molenda at Guitar Player magazine (she asked me to post it for her):

_______________________________________________________

Michael Molenda
Editor In Chief
Guitar Player

Ref: May 2007 Issue

Mr. Molenda:

When Guitar Player announced that it's May 2007 issue
would include a tribute to my father, Sneaky Pete
Kleinow, I was extremely excited and notified my
family and friends. I then asked my agent, Jon
McKinney to contact you and make it known that I was
avaiable and willing to be interviewed as research for
the article was needed. I was never contacted.

Today, as I read Mr. Demasi's "tribute" to my father,
I am absolutely horrified at his flaccid
recapitulation.

You, Mr. Molenda, state in your NOIZE From The Editor,
that Guitar Player is "obsessed with being your
number-one source of deep guitar lore." How deep do
you go to pay tribute to an artist, yet erroneously
print he is a "native of Ohio." My father is one of
those "revered guitar heroes of the 70's" you spoke
of. Why didn't this tribute reflect that? Why did it
read like a flat obituary printed in Sacramento?

If you get a chance, find a copy of Prehistoric Times
magazine, issue #81, Spring 2007 and read Mark F.
Berry's article, PETER KLEINOW: A LIFETIME OF
IMAGINATION. This is a fine example of journalism. I
don't know what to call what Mr. Demasi signed his
name to. I do know that punitive measures should be
taken with him, because you, I and a lot of Sneaky
Pete fans have been fleeced...and without a kiss.

Anita Kleinow
Daughter of Sneaky Pete Kleinow

___________________________________________________________

""fleeced" without a kiss"?

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 13 May 2007 4:04 am

Jim Sliff wrote:... flaccid
recapitulation....

Ouch! (goes a little deeper than touche)
NOT over the top. That, with "... fleeced..."--spoken like a poet.

I suppose devotees of Sneaky (amusing to learn he didn't like that moniker)(but went with it anyway) won't be swayed ("We are not amused."), but it's a shame that his talents were not well known outside certain circles. But then, the adventurous reside in such a plane.

Thank God for Sneaky, and kudos to Anita.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 13 May 2007 6:10 am

but it's a shame that his talents were not well known outside certain circles.

Back in the early to mid 70's it seemed like every local rock guitar player knew about Sneaky, since he showed up on so many popular rock records. The steel players we all seemed familiar with (when I say "we" I'm talking very loosely about players completely outside country music) were Sneaky, Rusty Young, Jerry Garcia, Buddy Cage, Red Rhodes and Al Perkins. Some knew about or at least recognized the names of Buddy Emmons, Lloyd Green, JayDee Manness (the last two because of their Byrds association) and Alvino Ray (from being forced to watch "The King Family" show as kids).

But Sneaky was THE guy, since he showed up on so many records we bought.

Nowadays, pretty much the only steel player young rock players hear about is Robert Randolph. So while GP might run an article on him, you're never going to see one on, say, a Sonny Garrish or anybody in that league - those players don't fit GP's demographics. It's not surprising to me that GP blew the Sneaky "tribute" since they probably wasted little time on background gathering, and apparently none on personal interviews - but Sneaky was under the current radar...EVERY steel player ecept RR is under their radar. But that's no excuse for printing a poor tribute with inaccurate information.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 13 May 2007 9:40 am

Anita Kleinow wrote:Thank you very much, Baz. That was a very good article.

Where can I find that article ?

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 14 May 2007 12:52 am

Previous page Alan, or right here :-

From the March Issue of Aloha Dream magazine..

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 14 May 2007 8:29 am

I have The Whole Enchilada. I really like it.

Sneaky Pete was a big part of why I got into playing steel. But to this day, I can't even get close to sounding like him.

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 15 May 2007 3:02 am

Here is my tribute to Pete off my space . I know it's not as accurate as I would have liked but it was from the heart .

Monday, January 08, 2007

R.I.P. Sneaky Pete

Sneaky Pete Kleinow passed away yesterday . His death marks the end of an era in the world of country rock music and pedal steel guitar . His sound on his old 8 string Fender pedal steel defined the genre we call country rock . While most of his peers progressed to ever refined guitars , Pete stuck with his old and much modified Fender which is more like a curio compared to the modern pedal steel . With this guitar he played with and recorded with such people as Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers Linda Ronstadt , John Lennon , Frank Zappa , The Eagles , Joe Cocker , Jackson Browne , Brian Cadd ,The Rolling Stones and many many others .For a comprehensive list please go here :
http://sneakypetekleinow.com/
He is also credited with being the first to run steel guitar through a fuzz box although fuzz was only one of the effects he used regularly .
But steel guitar was only a part time job for Pete as he was heavily involved in the world of stop motion , go motion photography , miniatures and miniature set construction and direction , beginning in 1960 with the animation of Gumby right up to a music video in 1999 .
But it is his music and pedal steel playing that I will miss .
God bless Sneaky Pete .

1:49 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Anita Kleinow · Post by **Anita Kleinow** » 15 May 2007 10:08 am

Thank you Brendan. That was very nicely put.

I'd to thank everyone for your support in this endeavor. I just got a very apologetic email from GP editor. They are going to print an OOps! and have asked me to write a tribute to Sneaky. They're even going to pay me!!!!!

It's all about teamwork!

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 15 May 2007 10:29 am

Wow! That's very cool, Anita. Way to go!

BTW, "fleeced...and without a kiss"? Is there a reference there I'm not getting? Just curious.

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 15 May 2007 10:32 am

Pterydactyl Power!

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 15 May 2007 11:03 am

One of the last gigs Sneaky did.

I'll look forward to the article Anita.

All the best,
Russ

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 15 May 2007 11:21 am

Allright Anita

Good on GP for trying to make it right too.

Like so many others, I was greatly influenced by your Dad's work in music. He was the major inspiration leading to my taking up steel guitar.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 5 Jul 2007 8:39 am

I just noticed in the August issue (the current issue) of Guitar Player they published the "Oops" on the Feedback (letters) page, correcting Pete's birthplace. Anita's piece is apparently only going to be online, not in the print magazine. It's here:

http://www.guitarplayer.com/story.asp?s ... code=18840

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 5 Jul 2007 8:37 pm

Bump--

Nicely written by Anita.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Guitar Player Magazines Tribute??To My Father

Pete's bio

Sneaky at Blissfest 2005