The Steel Guitar Forum

Ben Lawson wrote:Wayne and I worked opposite each other at the Caravan East in Alb. N.M. back in '76. He was working with Nestor Eaton. Wayne was an amazing steel player who in my opinion was as good as the big name pickers. I sat at his steel and could not imagine how he played it so well. On some of the pedals you had to "feel" the notes because the pedals had no stops on them.
I heard he had passed away many years ago and I believe we lost a great picker way too soon.
Good luck with your search and I hope you are able to learn alot about your Dad, his playing inspired me greatly.

Steve Hinson wrote:Wayne,I didn't know your dad but he was a great player and everybody I ever knew that knew him and worked with him raved about him!

Wayne Gailey Jr wrote:

Roy McKinney wrote:I grew up with your dad down in the Corona, CA area. The last time I got to see him or hear him play was when he was playing down at the Westerner in San Diego (Chula Vista) area. That was just before he went to Alaska with Paul. When Wayne was learning the steel there was another local guitar player named Gary Wilson (played like Chet) who he hung with. They would go out and camp in the desert and the two of them would play for hours. He had an uncle named Chuck who also was a player/singer and he lived in Home Gardens (Riverside county)just across the street from me. At one time he had a tripple neck steel and put a mulit-cord changer on the middle neck. Believe that was his first pedal steel. His amp was made special for him by Standel. Don't remember a lot about it, but it was small, light and loud. He waS a great player for sure.

Hey Roy-

From what I understand, back then he would drive from Corona to Chula Vista each night to play! Having lived in San Diego for almost 20 years, that drive would be murder lol! I guess Hwy-15 was a two lane road back then? I had heard stories about Gary but have never met him. From your profile you live in Oregon now, beautiful place, are you close to Portland?

Wayne~O

Charles Eaton wrote:Hello JR. I had the pleasure of playing with your dad, in Swamproot for a short time. I had just turned 17 yrs old, and of course, It was my first "big gig" which was at the Caravan East. I could never fill Jack Clarke's shoes, but they tolerated me for a time. Jack Clarke fit that band better than anyone could. Jack was an incredible country drummer, and my mentor.
The first two weeks with Swamproot, was supposed to be the "cocktail hour" only or break in period for me. As it turned out, it was two weeks of "doubles" which meant we played from 5PM to 1:30AM for the first two weeks instead of from 5PM to 8:15PM, 7 days a week. ( I can still taste those "cocktail hour" sandwiches they served back then…) that musical experience, served me well for years to come.
Playing with my brother Nestor and Wayne, was and will always remain a major highlight in my musical life. Your dad and I became good friends, and he always looked after me in those days. Wayne nicked named me "firecracker" because of my wild crazy, and mostly unkept hair, in those days. Wayne was such an incredible instinctive player. Playing with Nestor and Wayne and playing those big band instrumentals that they played back then, prepared me for a show I did with Buddy Emmons, some years later. I had a chance to talk with Buddy before the show, and he definitely knew of your dad. Buddy said: You got to play with Wayne Gailey? Buddy showed a lot of respect for your dad.

I remember in those "Caravan East" days, when we played just the"cocktail hour", the "night band" musicians, would sit at the nearest table next to the bandstand, just to watch and listen to your dad. Bass players, guitar players drummers and of course, steel players, would sit there and be captivated by his playing. He was just incredible. He would, night after night play the most incredible stuff on his steel.He would play Cello lines on some Marty Robbins songs. He played 12 string on a few songs and would sing harmony parts with Nestor too.
Nestor and Wayne could read each so well, it was an incredible thing to witness.They were so tight. I remember that your dad had an incredible sense of humor in his playing as did Nestor. One of the biggest components of Swamproot,was their musical humor. I'm so thankful, that I was witness to some of it. And, I'm so thankful that I got to play with Wayne, Nestor, and Ron Eccles back in the day. I will never forget it. Your dad, will always mean a great deal to me.

Unfortunately, I don't have any recordings of that period of my life, and I will always be sad about that fact. But, I was there and I played with them. I have that.

Good to know you are carrying Wayne's legacy. I'd sure like to meet you some day and listen to you play.

Charles Eaton

Doug Jones wrote:Wayne, I did a show with Rose Maddux years ago when she was spending time up in Oregon. Not long after that I remember her coming to Roseburg Oregon to hear an act I was with in the late 90's. We had a visit backstage. As she sat in her lawn chair we talked about all the steel players she had behind her over the years and she mentioned your Dad was her favorite.