The Steel Guitar Forum

Hey Lee, How ya doin? Where was it that you and Hank played in Newburgh, and what year? I worked with him from 1957 thru 1958, and we Played the Town House on alternate nights with your band. I sent Bill a photo of us there; hope he posts it as it will bring back memories to you.
Keep well old buddy,
Fuzzy

Hey Fuzzy! Good to hear from you. It must have been right after you worked with him. I had the band at Crystal Lake, remember?

Hi Lee: Yes, I remember you & your band playing Crystal Lake. Your's was the swingenest band around. Great musicians, and singers as well. Finally Crystal Lake sold out to a local DJ and we worked for him for quite awhile. Did our first TV broadcasts from there on the first cable tv company. I was happy to see that Hank finally made it to where he belonged. He's a great guy as well as a super picker. Good to hear that he's getting back into steelin.

Fuzzy
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Fred Plant on 17 June 2006 at 10:54 AM.]</p></FONT>

Talked with Hank just a few minutes ago. Lee, check your email.
Fred, thanks for the picture. Hank is very surprised of all his friends posting and caring for him. He will be in my home on Tuesday with his GFI. I am looking forward to some real (REAL) steel guitar lessons then. He said he has to practice for his show on our DSSGA stage on Aug. 5, but we all know much better than that. This guy could forget everything most of us ever knew and still play more music on his steel without giving it any thought at all. Our stage will never be the same after Hank's appearance-with all us wannabees hanging around.
Thanks again to all his friends posting here. I will call this up and show it to Hank on Tuesday when he comes over.
(Hank informed me that Lynn Owsley has plans on showing up. Will confirm that for sure later. Hope it can be worked out). DSSGA is really riding HIGH with all our friends and the SUPER PLAYERS in attendance.
Plan on a big time on Aug. 5 here in Gulfport. (Ellis Olsen is working on a surprise show for us too).
Bill Stafford

I saw him playing in the "Country Music U.S.A" show at Opryland when I was a kid. It was my first experience hearing a pedal steel live, and I was instantly hooked. I'm glad to hear he's going to be playing again, I hope I'll get a chance to hear him someday.

I was privileged to meet Hank in 2005 at the Grand Casino Biloxi. I was playing steel for the Michael Stacey Band in the club, Wild Coyotes. During the first set, I noticed a familiar face sitting at a table near my portion of the stage. At the break, he came up and introduced himself.

I was a little awestruck, as I had watched Hank on TV (the Jim Ed Brown show, etc.) and had also seen him in person at Opryland a long time ago. I told him what a fan of his I was and asked him to autograph my Carter S-12. He graciously did so.

He said that he was retired from music, and that he and his wife were training dogs.

I was glad to hear, via the Steel Guitar Forum, that the Corwins had gotten through Katrina in relatively good shape.

Bill, thanks for this thread, and for letting Hank know that there are many of us who admire him as a steel guitarist and as a person.

John L.

Cannot thank all of you enough for all this wonderful support and friendship for Hank Corwin. He has read all your comments and just cannot believe all you guys.
Hank spent the morning with me in my music room. (I will be outside burning up all my steel guitars later this evening). His new GFI, 10 string E9, three pedals, four knee levers has a knack of playing all those lost big band chords a lot of us can never find. Hank says he is out of condition-- no telling what kind of steel guitar heaven I will be in when he "gets back in shape".
His appearance on our stage at DSSGA, Gulfport, Ms, Aug 5th will be our highlight of the year, and years to come also.
Bill Stafford

Bill, is Hank using a standard E9th tuning and basic pedal and knee lever set-up, or does he have some different pulls to get those "big band" chords?

Thanks to everyone who has written such nice things about me. It sure was great to hear from so many old friends.
My wife & I spent a wonderful day at Bill & Betty Stafford's house today. He's helping me get back into shape. I hadn't played in 5 years & felt like I was rusty. Bill was also kind enough to let me use one of his amps. Betty's red beans & rice were fantastic. I'm really looking forward to doing the steel guitar show in Aug.

My most forutnate day today with Hank Corwin in the house!
Bob, Hank now plays a single ten GFI, three pedals and four levers. Standard E9 set up. He tunes his second string to C# and then raises it as required. No "strange/and/or exotic" changes. Hank has the knowledge of chord construction and really puts it to work perfectly.
Listening to Hank play "Fly Me To The Moon" -you just have to be there to watch and then believe that he is doing it on the E9 tuning with no magic changes etc.
It was a very special day for me to be in the proximity of this talent. Thanks, Hank.
I really enjoyed working out on "Going Away Party" with you today. Maybe we can play it on our show in August. Loved the very big voicing of that pretty song . Sounded like 49 steel guitars. Where is Bobby Caldwell when we need him.. lol.
Hank made my day.
Bill Stafford

Hank was a big influence on me from many years ago. I was slated to take his place with Jim Ed Brown and in the interim period of breaking me in, I had the priviledge of working a handful of dates with the band before Hank left. He knew how to arrange the 2 steels thing...very musical cat. Say hi to Hank for me.

Mike

Hank....do me a large favor, sir....e-mail me your phone number, as I want to talk to you about something you might need. Hal hsteeler2002@yahoo.com

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Be Blessed........HAL
'03 Carter D-10,(8 & 5) 95 Carter 9 & 7 Hilton Vol. Pedal, BJS Birthstone bar, 2 Racks w/Evans Pre-amps, Lexicon MPX500 & MPX550; (1) Nashville 400, (1) Webb 6-14 E Amp(2)1501-4 BW's in custom built cabs by T.A. Gibson, & Sound Tech PL802 Digital Power Amp; Steelers Choice seat with back rest and side-kick. Walker Seat w/o Backrest
Hal Higgins....Be blessed and "Keep Steelin'.....