Where is Al Petty (Al Perry)?

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 7 Dec 2004 11:28 am

Hey, it just occurred to me that he is both a "Pro" AND a "Con"!

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 7 Dec 2004 11:48 am

David Donald, yes, Andy is the lead guitarest in the "Time Jumpers" band.
A wonderful player and friend for 25 yuears. He seems to get better by the day, stunning player, there are some more sound clips on my opening web-page that feature Andy and I, both. Thank you for asking,
bobbe [This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 07 December 2004 at 03:07 PM.]

Reece Anderson · Post by **Reece Anderson** » 7 Dec 2004 12:54 pm

Keith....Al is in the Federal facility in Beaumont Texas.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 7 Dec 2004 2:28 pm

I like to blow smoke as well as anyone else does but it is a terrible shame for anyone to be in prison. I have a brother-in-law in his early 20's who has been in for five years. It sends a chill down the old backbone when they close those doors behind you. It is hard to imagine being locked up like an animal for the rest of your life. I do not know about Al's guilt or innonence but he was a fine steel player whose life is certainly messed up for sure. From what I have seen and heard life in prison is not no cakewalk by any means. My in-law has had his jaw broke twice and been in more fights than I can imagine. I can only hope he has learned a valuable lesson from his experience and move on to a better way of life.

Bryan Bradfield · Post by **Bryan Bradfield** » 7 Dec 2004 3:00 pm

It looks like Al is included on a compilation CD -
http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/compart/p/pet32588.htm

I have him playing pedal steel on CD on the Duane Eddy Anthology, a 2 CD Rhino reissue.

Finally, I have a compilation vinyl album from perhaps the 1960's, that includes a couple of cuts that I subsequently found out were from about 1952. His early 1950's non-pedal stuff is quite "boisterous". A younger guy might say "it rocks". I suspect that kind of stuff is what is on the Netherlands CD that I linked to above.[This message was edited by Bryan Bradfield on 07 December 2004 at 03:12 PM.][This message was edited by Bryan Bradfield on 07 December 2004 at 03:13 PM.]

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 7 Dec 2004 7:19 pm

Thanks Reece. At Al's age it looks to me like he will never get out. Over 24 years is a long, long time. As I understand it, there is NO parole in the Federal System. Can Al get mail?

Billy Joe Bailey · Post by **Billy Joe Bailey** » 7 Dec 2004 8:09 pm

Someone tell me what typ of music did Al Petty play ? ,I got to confess I had never heard of this man but few times even years ago.Who did he play steel for? someone inlighting me please. Thank you BJ

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Billy Joe Bailey · Post by **Billy Joe Bailey** » 7 Dec 2004 8:37 pm

Well I guess I shuold have read above first??? then I would have known that Al Petty played rock musis???? right. Well how am I doing????

Scott Henderson · Post by **Scott Henderson** » 7 Dec 2004 9:24 pm

alpetty.com.......
my friend mike richardson was Al's bass player on that TV show discussed earlier I even have some soundtracks from it....

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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com

Chuck Trombley · Post by **Chuck Trombley** » 8 Dec 2004 6:00 pm

Al played any kind of music. I have an "old" vinyl and his music? Classical. Great stuff.
Mostly Al played country, but with his own expression. During his last years before getting into high finance he operated his own recording studio (Love Recording) and developed what he called the gitorchestria. His demo record produces everything from a grand piano to a large choral group.
You had to watch his function with 21 heel and toe pedals. Whew.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 8 Dec 2004 7:33 pm

That's actually Andy Reiss (sometimes he goes by his given name, Andre). I've know Andy for as long as I have played music, and he is absolutely one of the best musicians I have ever played with. Can you say 'smooth' (I though you could). He gets about the best jazz sound in Nashville, especially when he cranks out the AC-30.

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www.tyack.com

Billy Joe Bailey · Post by **Billy Joe Bailey** » 8 Dec 2004 7:35 pm

Did Al Petty play for any top name recording artist out of Nashvill?

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Bryan Bradfield · Post by **Bryan Bradfield** » 8 Dec 2004 7:41 pm

I did not mean to convey the impression that Al was a "rock" player. I was trying to convey an feeling for an exciting form of music that I don't know how to categorize. I get the same feeling from Speedy West's 1950's playing on the Tennessee Ernie Ford shows. Slighty different styles, but same feeling of excitement. I suppose it was the "pop" style of the time.

Al certainly mellowed by the time the guitorchestra era arrived. For me, the excitment, and the fire had gone out. His use of effects replaced the playing skills.

Reece Anderson · Post by **Reece Anderson** » 9 Dec 2004 2:45 am

Keith....I'm sure Al would be honored were he to receive mail from his friends.

Al Petty
FCI
09638-078
P.O. Box 26020
Beaumont Texas 77720-6020

Billy Joe Bailey · Post by **Billy Joe Bailey** » 9 Dec 2004 9:08 pm

I hate to be draging, but would someone explain, what is this 21 toe and heel pedal drag? that Al Petty did ? I'm in the dark.
Thanks in advance BJ

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Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 10 Dec 2004 4:48 am

http://www.gfimusicalproducts.com/Images/Custom%20Steels/AP%20S-12%20P%20Side.jpg

VERY nice, Bobbe. Let music calm the savage Dachshund.

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 10 Dec 2004 8:39 pm

>>Al certainly mellowed by the time the guitorchestra era arrived. For me, the excitment, and the fire had gone out. His use of effects replaced the playing skills.
>>>>

He was using effects as early as 1953, and a volume boo-wah type device (don't ask me to explain this term please.. one of the Bigsby fans, or a '50s player would do it justice) and this same device was his inroad to the good people at Fender.
I'm not sure whether his Starday sides employ the device, I suspect they do.

Billy Joe Bailey · Post by **Billy Joe Bailey** » 10 Dec 2004 9:37 pm

After looking at that pitcher,Theres no doubt, Al had talent.Now all I got to do is find out how to get my foot unhung from these pedals???Trying to do this toe and heel thing, And man, just when I thought I was catching on????????? I wonder if Mr Petty ever had this kinda problem?

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Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 11 Dec 2004 7:23 am

I feel that Gene Fields of GFI steels should get some credit for building this great custom guitar for Al Petty. Gene is a brilliant inovator when it comes to doing the impossible, and doing it well. This is just another example of Gene's forward thinking of designs, and his craftsmanship.
This could have been done by several builders I'm sure, but this light? Strong? This tone? I'd love to hear Al play it!

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 11 Dec 2004 8:27 am

I'm amazed by Gene Field's genius as well, but just to set the record straight, he wasn't the first one to build a guitar like this for Al.

I built a D-12 Dekley for him back in the late 70's. He never paid us for it and used the excuse that it had been stolen. Amazingly it reappeared after Dekley went out of business. Sierra later built him a similar guitar, and other companies may have as well.

I don't remember the exact setup, but I think the Dekley had 18-20 heel-toe pedals and 4 or 5 knee levers. As I recall, the front neck was a fairly standard U-12 with a locking lever for lowering the E's. The back neck was a diatonic tuning, and I think most of the extra pedals and knee levers worked that neck.

I believe the single 12 that Gene built has the same diatonic tuning.

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Jim Smith jimsmith94@comcast.net
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden D-12 9&9=-
-=Emmons D-12 push pull 9&9=-
Stereo Steel rig w/Boss GX-700
IVL SteelRider w/JV-1080

Bryan Bradfield · Post by **Bryan Bradfield** » 11 Dec 2004 9:31 am

Jason -
Al's Starday recordings employed what some have called a "static" switch - a switch that turned the signal off and on. He did the tone changes (boo-wah) in the conventional manner, with a tone knob, I believe.

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 11 Dec 2004 9:39 am

Jim,hey i'm learning!you mean if a guitar is stolen,then you don't have to pay for it? HEY BOBBE,i'll take a new Mullen,and also mabe several others!!! farris

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 11 Dec 2004 9:59 am

An Internet friend sent me a tape he recorded live in Al Petty's home in
Overton, Texas on 2/16/1988.
This was a tape of Al's experiments on a
D-12 Midi Steel.
Tunes highlighted are Amazing Grace, Precious
Memories, and Byrdland. These songs had for the most part straight steel sounds, but then he progress' to various simulations ie keyboard, xylaphone(?) and a mighty pipe organ sound.
Very interesting but I have to wonder why one would go to so much effort to put a mask on the pure steel sound. He certainly enjoyed it however as attested to by his commentary on the tape.

Post by **Joey Ace** » 11 Dec 2004 12:06 pm

Farris,
If you follow that example you might spend next Christmas with Al.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 11 Dec 2004 12:17 pm

Considering Al's popularity here, it would sure give him boost if we sent him a Christmas card and wishes
Al Petty
FCI
09638-078
P.O. Box 26020
Beaumont Texas 77720-6020
Let's do it