The Steel Guitar Forum

I so much want Paul to win this award, not only because he so greatly deserves it (about which there is absolutely NO argument). But also because the entire steel guitar community deserves the recognition.

quote: All of the other guys have won it at least once, if not more. When has BE won it?

I vote for Paul and it's not just for the type of Steel he plays.He has just got to be so covered up busy all the time with the sessions and live shows...Lots of luck to you Paul..RS

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Franklin Guitars

Buddy Emmons has never won.

I looked it up, and frankly I was shocked: no steel player has ever won. I'll say that again: No steel player has ever won. The closest is Jerry Douglas in 2002 for dobro.

I don't agree with some of the members that post things here like: "It's not country music if it doesn't have steel on it."

But nevertheless, these awards began in 1967 and the lack of a winnning steel player is crazy!

Regular guitar has won the most, led by Chet Atkins with 9.

Fiddle has done pretty darn well: Mark O'Connor has won 6 (in a row!) and of course he is also a fine guitar and mandolin player. Johnny Gimble has won 5 times.

But a steel player has never won. Absurd.

OK, Paul, this is your year!

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Mark
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 11 November 2005 at 09:40 AM.]</p></FONT>

Yes without a doubt,go Paul go,good luck!

quote: All of the other guys have won it at least once, if not more. When has BE won it?


Barry,

I was referring to the guys nominated this year...

I just wish they would acknowledge the award as much as they do the others. I don't like it being tucked away into that one minute mention they give 2/3rds of the way through the program, just before commercial break. What's another minute and a half going to cost, really? Oh well. That's the business, though.

Paul, I hope you win the award this year, but regardless, you'll always be an inspiration to me.

Chris, they don't call us "Side Men" for nothing. Some old dude that sits there and makes good music doesn't sell well to network producers that can't survive without sex on the screen every 5 seconds.

That's very disturbing to see that no steel player has ever won the award. You'd think Buddy or Lloyd or Moon would have won it.

Oh well. Why am I getting into this business again? Underpaid and underappreciated... sounds like a deal to me!

-MG

I think that most folks vote with their pocketbook; oh yeah, I keep an eye out for anything Paul does. Sure hope that Paul will consider doing a "classics" CD.

Pick up Martina's new cd, "Timeless" for Paul doing some "up front" steel playing on some true classics.

Pedal, non-pedal SuperSlide, and a little dobro.

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Mark

Tonight's the night!!

The Colbert Report predicts Jerry Douglas will take the prize.

I'm reminded of the Playboy jazz poll decades back. It seemed more of a popularity contest.
We'll see.

I agree with Chris L. (above). Regardless who wins, Paul is a great inspiration with me.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by John Ummel on 15 November 2005 at 01:54 PM.]</p></FONT>

I am ignorant of the Colbert Report, but the fact of the matter is that you could pretty much give it to Jerry every year, like when Chet Atkins won a bunch of times, and there wouldn't be any real legitimate argument there.

I am still rooting for Paul even though like John Fogerty has said, Jerry is my favorite musician.

Another thing is that in recent years, Jerry has really cut down on his session work, spending most of his time with Alison Krauss & Union Station along with his solo career, and the Jerry Douglas Band. Paul is as busy as he has ever been playing on popular country singers albums. So as far as getting the day in/day out attention of the big hitmakers, Paul has more of that exposure.

If Jerry has an edge it's because Union Station has become very popular, and his new solo album is doing pretty well.

As mentioned by some posters earlier-the other three nominees aren't exactly slackers-they are all phenomenal pickers and certainly could win it, as some on the list already have.

But it should go to Paul Franklin.

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Mark

HRRUMPH.

"HRRUMPH."

I'm sure the west coast country fans appreciated the spoiler.

"Time difference". Look it up.

I made sure I didn't look at this thread later in the afternoon.

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Mark
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 16 November 2005 at 01:52 AM.]</p></FONT>

Guess I didn't hear the news yet.

Does this mean the guys on the other side of the aisle are cheering?
Jerry Douglas was great as usual with AKUS; it's hard when there are several deserving artists.
But I'll bet the CMA hasn't watched 'On the Night....'

Double hrrmph...
Not even a little spotlight for Paul.
Very disappointing.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by John Ummel on 16 November 2005 at 07:22 AM.]</p></FONT>

Nothing against Jerry--he's a gifted, truly amazing musician, truly a musician of the year, but I'm still disappointed. I mean, c'mon--14 nominations, plays on a majority of the hits that keep the CMA in business etc. etc.?? What's missing here (as if I don't know the answer)?

Anyway, Paul, you're MOTY in my book ...

There have been alot of steel players nominated but none ever won.

Why?

That is a Million Dollar Question. When will it ever happen??????

Well, we all know it should have or could have been many of the great steel players of the past.

What about some of these matches for example:

Hank Williams + Don Helms
Ray Price + Buddy Emmons
Johnny Paycheck + Lloyd Green
Buck Owens + Tom Brumley
Conway Twitty + John Hughey
Merle Haggard + Norm Hamlett
Loretta Lynn + Hal Rugg
Willie Nelson + Jimmy Day

Well the list goes on and on and on.

We are all in agreement as that it should be a STEEL GUITARIST.

GOD bless!

Terry Wood

First of all, I have great respect for the two subjects of this thread; Jerry Douglas and Paul Franklin.

One of the things that hasn't been discussed in this and other threads is Jerry Douglas' dedication to promoting himself as an instrumentalist. Every recording you pick up with him on it is likely to say "Featuring Jerry Douglas", and that's not by accident. That's in the contract.
If Paul Franklin insisted on "featuring Paul Franklin" being printed on the sessions he'd done, his name would be on every second recording anyone's bought in the last 10 years. And, like it or not, by that act would become more of a household name.
Now, just to be clear... that's not a judgement call on my part, either way, just an observation. Different people approach their career in different ways, and that's by no means an approbation or condemnation of either perspective... just a thought.
Any thinking person must agree though, when you're dealing with something like the CMA's, you're dealing with alot of hype.
I, myself, tend to lend more credence to someone like Mr. Franklin, who unassumingly goes about his business without drawing attention to himself. But the fact is, the more attention you draw to yourself through your promotive efforts, the more people will identify with you.
Just some miscellaneous thoughts from a wallflower
-John

John Steele, You nailed it! Every promo for a CD or group appearance of which Jerry is a part will include "featuring Jerry Douglas".
He has been actively campaigning for recognition while Paul and the other nominees have not. No one should be surprised that Jerry was the winner. He is with out a doubt a deserving recipient but without the self promotion he would be just another unrecognized super guitar picker!
bh

I think if you win ONCE . . .that's enough give someone else a chance.
Life IS short.

Pee Wee

I'm curious? How many number one songs
or even top ten songs from 2004 did
Jerry Douglas and Paul play on?
When was the last time you heard a dobro
give a chilling into or turnaround
in current music?? The only thing I can
think of is "Oh Brother Where Art Thou"


Paul would have my vote!!



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Rick Johnson