The Steel Guitar Forum

Country Music Association
Vision Statement
From Their Web Site

Their Vision Statement reads:
CMA is dedicated to bringing the poetry and emotion of Country Music to the world.

We will continue the tradition of leadership and professionalism, promoting the music, and recognizing excellence in all its forms.

While fostering a spirit of community and sharing, we will respect and encourage creativity and the unique contributions of all.

CMA will be a place to have fun and celebrate success. We will take risks, embrace change, and always exceed the expectations of those we serve.

Website: www.cmaworld.com

You all confuse me a bit by pickin at a thing that's not going to change. Nashville's concept of country music is different than what you or I play. But I will say this...Nashville's numbers in bank speak for themselves.

In these current modern times we must acknowledge and embrace the changes that occur. Or else we will be left behind stuck in our own perception of reality. What the CMA Award Show was...is a corporate ABC (Disney follow the money) production recognizing what sold last year.

The high point for me was George Strait's "River of Love" off of his most recent Troubador album. Mike Daily (I can only assume as no credits or closeups were available to this viewer) did a wonderful job of playing the piece with feeling and emotion worthy of an award by peers and near equals which are few.

I was doublely touched when my daughter called right after the song and was telling me that would really be a great song for the band I play in to do "Dad, can you play that part?" I reminded her that it was new and the next release from George's Album and that we had just both heard it for the first time...but I was floored by the beautiful harmonies and the etheral steel playing of Ace in Hole Band founding memeber Mike Daily on steel. She then raved about (well trained and good daughter that she is) a performance that my band did that she was in attendence at our own award winning show this summer of Steve Young's "Seven Bridges Road" modeled in an acapella style much as the Eagles recorded it in 1980 and others continue to remake to this day. She told me "it was totally amazing and sent chills up her spine when I heard my dad play the steel part on the bridge so beautifully...".

I was so proud of my bandmates making my little girl pay me a compliment about the band I play in...That's not always easy - she's seen a few hundred excellent acts in her life...(thanks to her dad) and to be in a group that she likes alot does this father good! I hope you all have loyal loving fans that pay you these kind of compliments.

My point in this is that this thread seems to be a negative one. And to paraphrase a line from Toby Keith's recent movie "Beer For My Horses" comes to mind...."Let's see if you keep complaining about it will make it better." Obviously it won't!

Steelers are amazing musicians...and we sometimes get caught up in the trappings of negativism, self doubt, worry and other unproductive aspects of the human psyche. To truly be effective musicians and purveyors of the Steel Guitar we must celebrate the good, put up with the not so good but trying and raise mounuments and give awards to those that DO promote the positive right things that we all appreciate. I don't see any postings from fiddle players that are pissing and moaning about "real country fiddle music" There wasn't any real country fiddle music despite the appearance of many fiddlers on the show. Oh, by the way - when my band plays the Kid Rock Song "All Summer Long" I play the acoustic guitar for the lead singer so he can do his Kid Rock moves - our audiences fill the dance floor when this song hits them.

Sour grapes are a waste of time to read and even more of a waste of time to promote...let's pick some new fruit off the vine and make some wine or just some no-sugar added grape juice with it and have us a party.

Time to be slidin on fellars and gals - gotta put in a couple of hours on the day job so that I can get my boots on this evening and go out to the club and Steel the Show again!

Peace Love and Music - Steel Guitar Music that is!

Randy Meeker
www.stringmusicproductions.com
www.myspace.com/randymeeker

Hey Theresa, thanks for the info.

As stated earlier in the thread, Mike Daly was not playing the solo that was heard, although I was fooled. I have no doubt that he would have played the same solo as well as Paul did on the record. Mike is a great player and has been nailing down Paul's licks as well as other players on Strait's songs, such as Buddy Emmons. Truly a pleasure to listen to when given the chance.

Since this is a negative thread, I guess I should add that although I love George Strait, I think that song sucked and was nowhere near the quality of music that George has been giving us over the years.

And, while on the subject of George's performance, who were all the backup singers. One appeared to be John Anderson. The mandolin player looked like it might have been Marty Stuart, but I couldn't really get a good look at him. Who are the others?

It was nice seeing Reba with Brooks and Dunn.

Even though I like some of the new country, including some of the songs and artists on the show, the overall performances of MOST of the entertainers was just plain bad. Alan Jackson ("Good Time" - YUK) gave me the opportunity to use the restroom. Another great entertainer with a lousy, half assed, probably took less than 10 minutes to write, song.

Even a dead horse has better brains then the ones who keep selling this to the people who have no concept of talent. They call them fans,but,they are just customers. You think! LJ

I was listening to KFDI in Wichita Ks yesterday and Johnny Western said he had finally learned his lesson and would never again watch the CMA awards. I was once a member and I have not watched it in years. They have prostituted our music. What a shame. Like the boys said, "murder was commited on music row".

I'm a new member and i thought i was one of few that is tired of CMA!!
I have been going to Nashville most of my life and have been on stage with a good many "Real Country" pickers but my last trip there just about caused me to stay home.
Went to the door at Legend's and a young dude with an ear ring in his eye brow, his lip and his hair was died black ask me to come on in. I said is there a steel player or fiddle picker in there. Ya know what he said?
You need to come back during the day on saturday to hear that shit!! We only play new country at night!!
I almost knocked him out! "NASHVILLE" RIGHT!!!

Around here when we play "Real Country" we pack the club! Funny how people are starving for it if you stick to your guns and play it!
Thanks for allowing me to join!!
kenny

This says it all.................

http://www.cmaawards.com/2008/database/ ... tistId=762

Poor " Paul Franklin " will never WIN with the CMA. It's bucause he got it first WIn at the ACM. Just like the chicken or the egg thing. LJ

I was going to comment on this thread but I'm only 68 years old so I guess that's why I disagree with most of you "old people".......JH in Va.

Hey Jerry,I don't think there is anyone on this forum that wouldn't want Paul Franklin Not to WIN. It's just that thing that Bobby tell us we can't talk about. Wait,I think it's two things. Or was it more. Anyway,that Nashville Circle is all about big Money.So,how many of them Steel Guitar Players like Paul,Ralph,Jay Dee ,are Millionaires? LJ

Glad I missed it (again) Kid Who? kinda says it all right there for me..... Paisley's got more talent in his big toe than Mr. "No shoes No shirt, No talent" can muster!

Thank goodness we can go to local pubs or country music shows and still hear real country music and not depend on the highly over paid media for our entertainment. Those idiots out of Nashville(via New Yawk and L.A.) couldn't buy a clue about country music with a pocket full of hundred dollar bills. The CMA Awards Show is nothing but a blatant waste of good air time. Those aren't country acts(excluding Strait and Jackson)they're freaks. The CMA has become just one big freak show. And the freakier they are the more the NashTrash people put them out there for us to see. What a waste. They have gone past the point of of no return.

I stopped wasting my time with this crap a few years ago when Wynonna came on and did a real sick version of Led Zephlin's "Rock and Roll"....with some bozo in the background with a shaved head, and what looked like fishing tackle hanging from his eye brows and lips bouncing around like his pants were on fire!
And the Canadian country (?) music awards are an even bigger joke .....I won't even get started on that s**t fest!!

Long live Johnny Bush and anybody else like him!


Carter D-10 Nashville 1000/400

Tele............twin.............boss pedals

I give up on CMA awards. Maybe someone needs to send them a book on what country music really is and should be. With a little luck, maybe they can find someone to read it to them.( Not sure they can read ) They sure don't know one instrument from another. Thanks for letting me vent.... Jack