The Steel Guitar Forum

The Steel Guitar Invitational was March 27th and 28th, 1982. I'm still listening to cassettes trying to find that comment about Sneaky Pete .The one my wife recorded has me, Buzz Evans, Sneaky Pete and J.D. Maness. Bill Stafford opened the day on a Sierra. I think he was a rep for Sierra Steels at the time.

Jesse Quantrell came up with the idea and sold Ernie Hager on it. Ernie had spent years in the L.A.area and came to Reno from San Jose and was friends with most Ca. players. He spent lots of time convincing his friends to come to Reno and play. When Scotty and Buddy agreed to come that got a lot easier. Tom Johnson financed the whole thing. Tom had a small music store in Carson City and this show broke him. It was a pretty good crowd but the MGM was expensive to rent.

I know that Red Rhodes and Joe Goldmark were there Saturday but I didn't get to meet or hear them as they didn't stay for Sunday's show. I don't know how many others left before the snow storm.

I don't think there are any videos. My friend Charlie Barber of The Record Corral videoed the whole day and he and Scotty each had a copy. No one else was allowed to video. Scotty's copies were damaged and unplayable when he tried to make copies for me in 2007. He gave me the name of another man who had copies but he died before I could contact him.

I can't remember all the players in the picture but these are the ones I remember starting from the left: Herman Helkima-bass,Buzz Evans, Scotty (kneeling),blonde man unknown, Cheryl Cotton-fiddle,man with glasses behind Buddy -unknown, Buddy Emmons,Ernie Hager, Tom Johnson- kneeling,Jesse Quantrell-straw hat, me-Black hat, Blackie Taylor, man with baby, man in checkered shirt,man with cigarette unknown,Kneeling far right Bobby Black, unknown kneeling with Bobby. Man behind Ernie unknown. At the end of Buddy's show Scotty asked all the players to get onstage for a group picture and I think that is all the performers who were still there including two backup bands.
Scotty announced that Donner Pass was Chains Only. My friend who came from Walnut Creek Finally left when the road was clear the following Friday. I think a lot of California guys went home early and missed most of Sunday's show.

Stu- Thanks. You're my first sale. Great hearing from you!

Duane- Your recollections bring back a lot of good memories. Thanks to you and everyone here for all this invaluable information. I had forgotten all about the snowstorm drama!

With both Scotty and Buddy attending, plus so many other "master" steel players, this event became a rare opportunity for us on the West Coast to have a taste of the ISGC.

Buddy's respect for Pete Kleinow was unmistakeable when he saw him walk in the room and introduced him from the concert stage. What a moment.

I notice on the back of Buddy's One For The Road album he thanks Ernie Hagar "for the reunion with Sneaky Pete, Jay Dee Maness and Red Rhodes."

If you can find a recording of Sneaky Pete's induction into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, It was done by Buddy.

Anita Kleinow (Pete's daughter) and I thought it would be great if Buddy could do the induction speech - which was posthumous, as Pete had passed away from complications of Alzheimer's months before the Convention. Scotty and staff made a special exception and Pete was secretly notified before we lost him, during one of his last "lucid" periods. Pete was just thrilled - and shocked, as he always felt he was an outsider and a "hobbyist" whoSe day job was stop motion animation! He never imagined he'd end up in the Hall of Fame!

I was put into contact with Buddy who said he'd be honored to do it. He gave a great induction speech - I can't find my copy of the recording but I recall him saying that when he walked into a studio and there happened to be a second steel player on the session the only one that intimidated him was Sneaky!

I loved Buddy’s playing(who didn’t?) and I loved Pete’s playing. I derive great joy from the fact that Buddy thought so highly of him because in my early days of playing (1975ish) I heard so many would-be Emmons or Green imitators putting Sneaky down. An open mind is a beautiful thing.

Steve, I played but don't remember Buddy's remarks.

A little off topic, but for my set I brought a set of charts for some of my tunes. It turned into a train wreck because the back-up players weren't used to following charts (unlike Scotty's conventions). It was pretty traumatic and I didn't play another show until Scotty's in 2001. I brought my own band for that one (Jim Campilongo & the 10 Gallon Cats) and it was fun and went well, phew.

Joe