The Steel Guitar Forum

Getting Close!

Is everybody ready?

This will be the first RISGA show that Anne and will miss in 11 years. We were just able to confirm some travel plans this week we had tentatively made a while back so will not be there.

RISGA shows, I think, are unlike any others, in that they have a close knit, down home feeling. We're not known for bringing in the big names (apologies to Jim Cohen, Chuck Lettes, etc.!!!!) to our shows, but rather feature the local members of RISGA....the ones who show up at our quarterly meetings faithfully and contribute their talents and knowledge to all the members.

It's been very gratifying to see how much beginners have improved as a result of their connection to RISGA and you will be able to hear that for yourself at our show. No, we are not, of course, all beginners...there are many players that are top notch quality right here in little Rhode Island!

Good luck to all the players and hope you have a great time!

Anna and I will be there as we just got back from North Carolina and buying our last home and will remain there for the rest of our years.We bought a beautiful home and what a diffrence in the Taxes and price of Property real Cheap.We will be seeing all our good freinds that we had when we lived there before.It is beautiful Country in North Carolina and we will not have to put up with that White stuff any more.
See Ya'll Tomorrow.
Sam & Anna White

We're looking forward to making the trip south tomorrow! I know it will be a great time.

Bump for what looks like a great show...Chris say Hi to Frank and Everyone for me...I hope to make one of their shows someday..

Well nimber 12 RISGA Steel Show is in the history books.I want to congradulate Marcia & Chuck for the great job they did of putting together another Great RISGA Steel Guitar Show and all that were involved.I seen a big diffrence in the Steel Players that are new in playing Steel Guitar.I hope I don't leave anyone out.In the order they played.Ed Cunningham what a great NON pedal Steel Player.Frank Caruso who is a great Steel Player and does an excellent job of playing.Kerry Anderson does a Great Lead & Steel Guitar job of playing.Peter Hart I could not beleave my ears of what a great inprovment in his playing the Pros have to watch out he is almost caught up with you guys.Then Cris Brooks who plays with the Ray Cross 7 Country Heartbeats Band always does a great job.Then Bill Holbrook from New Hampshire who I met for the first time and he done a Great job and it was a pleasure meeting him.Mike Ihde has always been one of my favorites Excellet player and music teacher at Berkley Collage in Boston.Chuck Rodrigues again I was suprised to hear how much he has inproved on the Steel Guitar great job Chuck.Terry Sutton one of the greatest Steel player I have heard and I'm proud to call him a freind.Doug Beaumier WOW what a great entertainer on that steel. He plays and looks all around and does a Fantastic job of playing Steel Guitar.He is also a Steel Guitat instructor.And then we come to the Clown of the Steel Guitar my good Buddie Manny Escobar.He does a great job of playing on his home made Steel Guitar and does a great job of singing like Wille Nelson with his long Braded hair.The only thing is it is a wig because Manny forgot to grow hair OOPS did I say that sorry Manny Buddie Freind.Then came Trevor Riley who I have never seen or heard before and what angreat job he done and Smoooooooth as silk.Then came the Massachusetts Country Music Association Steel player of the year and Rhode Island Hall og Famer last year none other than Roger Trahan.What can you say about Roger he loves is Hugs from all the woman and he is a Excellent steel player another John Hughey.Then came Steve Todd he is comming along very nicely on the Steel and works very hard at playing keep up the good work Steve we will get there in time.Once again I want to thank Chuck and Marcia and the gang for being so nice to Anna and I we enjoyed the RISGA Steel Show and keep up the good work and keep it going.We are moving to Willow Springs North Carolina the 2ND of November and we will be back for next years steel Show and you are all wecome to come down and visit us we have plaenty of room.
Sam & Anna White

Thank you Sam for your comments. There isn't much more I can say about the players as they all did a superb job, but we can't forget about the bands. The back up band, Elaine Ellis, Kerry Anderson and Harry Card did a great job behind these steel players. Where would we be without you guys? Special thanks to Tulsa Queen, Ray Cross and the Country Heartbeats and Midnight Sun for coming out to play this year. They gave the show a great mix to the day featuring their individual steel players. Jim Rice took over the duties of emceeing this year for Lenny Amaral and he was pretty good. Watch out Lenny, we may have found a replacement. We must never forget the fans of steel guitar music; they are what make these shows worth all the work.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this another successful show. A special thanks to Elaine for her brilliance in managing the scheduling and staging.

Thanks Marcia, Chuck, and everyone at RISGA for another great steel guitar show. It's always a lot of fun! The backup band was excellent, as always, and Jim Rice did a great job as MC. I enjoyed hearing the many fine players and seeing a lot old friends, swapping stories, etc. Looking forward to next year!

Thanks to Marcia, Chuck and the rest of the people who were so nice and helpful in making this a memorable show for me. I was great to see and hear so many fine players, many of whom have improved a lot over the last few years.

Nice job Marcia and Elaine. We had a great time singing and playing.
Chris and Jessie

Sam, thank you for all the kind words. This show was indeed a lot of fun! Thanks to all of you who made it possible. It was good getting together and seeing old friends, making new one's, and listening to some of the best steel playing around! It only encourages me to keep at it and try harder!
I will see you all at the meeting!

The success of this year`s steel show was a grear lift for RISGA. Marcia`s plan to invite the bands added some excitement to the event.In addition to that was the caliber of pickin`. We had good back-up by the organizing skills of Elaine Ellis, using two PAs; one PA for voices and a Bose Column for the steels. She did a good job playing bass in conjunction with the musical genius of Kerry Anderson on guitar. The Liberal Club is ideal for setting up steels in the back, and also for having five at a time set up on the floor in front of the stage.