The Steel Guitar Forum

So sorry to hear this, Anita. I love your dad's playing, he was one of the players who made me just HAVE to have a pedal steel and learn how to play it. Love and best wishes to him, you and all your family.

Here's your link, Chris:

Click here

FWIW the annual "Gramfest" in Joshua Tree, in the high desert of southern California, has changed a Gene Clark tribute day (held annually) to a Sneaky Benefit this year. Sneaky has played the thing every year that I know of - I always missed hi as he played late sets and I was with early-set bands.

Gram Fest 2006..Friday Sep 29, Saturday Sep 30, and Sunday Oct 1st. Sunday is the Sneaky Benefit Concert.

Joshua Tree is a tiny town; Yucca Valley is not too far. Hotel space is limited; Palm Springs is about 45 minutes away.

I'm trying to work out my schedule to go - it would be great if some of the local Forum folks could show support for Sneaky and all he's done for the steel guitar - and the music industry as a whole. (I realize there's not ANYTHING really "local", but you know what I mean).

Anita- I'm very sorry to hear it. i was looking forward to meeting you both next time he was out playing locally. Here's a wish for his recovery and hopefully, a return to the stage? He's one of my favorite players -and people.

Thank you Jim!!!!

I'm so sorry to hear that

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Klaus Caprani

MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com

Anita. My sympathy. Your father is an inspiration and legend to us. My mother who
lives with me is showing signs of this dreaded disease. God bless you and yours.

this breaks my heart. this man is my idol. everyday i practice just for the glimpses of being able to express myself like he did. please take time to learn about this disease http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htm

Anita, please tell your father he was the reason I got into playing pedal steel and have enjoyed that for years. I was lucky enough to have heard him and The Flying Burrito Brothers in Amsterdam and even got to meet him and talk to him. Talented and nice man. Best of luck to you and all the family in trying times.. steve t

Anita I'm very sorry to hear about your dad's illness. He is the reason I got into pedal steel. My thoughts are with him and family.

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Purple Fessenden SD-10 4X5

Anita, all I can do is echo the sentiments already expressed here...simply put, your father's playing was THE reason I took up the pedal steel. Our prayers and all the best to you and your family.

John Maggard<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by John Maggard on 18 August 2006 at 05:42 PM.]</p></FONT>

If anyone ever did an official count, my bet is Pete would be way high...if not at the top...of the list of reasons people took up the pedal steel guitar, especially since 1970 or so.

I've been a huge fan for years as people know - but when I go back and look at the breadth of work he's done, it's staggering - from the Ventures, Burritos, Stones, Ronstadt, Zappa, Bee Gees - I'm not sure he's not the most-heard steeler in history by the general public.

Hi Anita,

I was very dismayed to recently hear about this. I met and interviewed Sneaky for Tom Bradshaw's Steel Guitar magazine, and would talk with him ocassionally at gigs over the years. He had a unique and recognizable sound that allowed rock and pop producers to use a steel guitar when they wanted a unique sound, but they didn't want the twang.

I heard that you recently met my partner at Amoeba Music, Dave Prinz. If there's anything I can do for you, let me know. I'm at the S.F. store.

Good luck,
Joe

This thread reminds me that one of my favorite recordings, on a record by someone named John Braden, is "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" with a gorgeous extended steel solo by Mr. Kleinow and guitar by Ry Cooder. I bought the record because Sneaky Pete and Ry Cooder were listed as sidemen. Sad news, indeed.
Peter Blakeslee

This is such sad news. It cannot be said enough how Sneaky Pete helped introduce pedal steel and country music to a gigantic number of youngins' (at the time) that were only exposed previously to country music through the few songs that crossed over into the top 40.

This is horrifying, I love ole' sneaky.

What a sad turn of events!
Some trivia for the Sneaky Pete fans:

I had the pleasure of getting Sneaky together with Bobby Black at a Hawaiian restaurant in Milpitas Ca some years ago. They had never met. The restaurant was one that Akibono and his Sumo folk would take over when they were in town. Sneaky was doing some work for a video game company in the area.

It was always interesting to watch as Sneaky spread out his stomp boxes all over the stage, the turned his steel case on edge and used it as a seat....don't remember him tipping over.

RE the Flying Burrito Brothers and Sneaky; The Burritos would cut their part of the recording, then send it to Sneaky (at the time in the Bay area). Sneaky would take the tape(s) to one Greg Orton, a mutual friend of ours, who had/has a first class recording studio in his home, and they would add his steel parts.

And if anyone does not know...check the credits for "stop action" shots/effects in the Terminator movies. Pillsbury Doughboy anyone?

A great lost talent.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by ed packard on 19 August 2006 at 12:56 PM.]</p></FONT>

And don't forget "Gumby"!

He had entirely different "second career" as a well-respected and award winning stop-motion animator. Many fans of his music are not aware of it.

I'm so sorry about what's happening to Pete. He's been an inspiration to so many of us.
Hang in there Anita, and if you can, take some comfort in the fact that there's alot of us out here that are thinking of you and Pete, and holding you both close in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.

This just breaks my heart...Pete is my steel guitar idol,my whole approach to the song is what I learned from Pete's recordings,Peace,Stu

This is indeed disturbing. I've had the pleasure of knowing and hanging out with Pete on numerous occasions - mostly in the late 70s thru the late 80s. As anyone who has met him will attest,he is just as unique personally as he is as a musician.
As I understood it the tale,he got his moniker "Sneaky" when he was working(pre-FBB by 10 years)in San Diego with Smokey Rogers and the Western Caravan.He had the daunting task of replacing Joaquin Murphey,BTW. But just like in Smokey's days w/Spade Cooley,everyone in the band had to have a nickname - Spade,Smokey,Tex,Deuce,Cactus,Spike,Muddy,Pedro,Joaquin,etc and Pete was dubbed "Sneaky Pete" by Smokey Rogers in the late 50s. In the mid 90s,Murph spoke to me about Pete a couple times and said he liked the way he played although it was "kinda strange" and "modern".
So Pete is one of the few that authentically straddled the 40's/50s Western Swing scene and the 60s/70s and beyond California country rock scene. He certainly belongs in the pantheon of unique stylists like Mooney,Emmons,Byrd and Murphey. God bless Sneaky Pete.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Michael Johnstone on 19 August 2006 at 11:52 AM.]</p></FONT>

Your kind words and prayers are such a comfort. I will print this out and show it to him. He has good days and bad days, so I'll just hope he understands. You're all wonderful and he never took for granted all his fans. He just loved the music and LOVED the steel guitar. Anyone who would like to send him a card or a little note can send it to: Sneaky Pete Kleinow
c/o The Oaks
450 Hayes St.
Petaluma, CA 94952

Thank you all so much for the love. It means alot.
Anita (Sneaky) Kleinow

34 years ago I heard for the first time the beautiful sound of the pedal-steelguitar on the Dillard & Clark album G&D. The steelplayer was Sneaky Pete. My interest was born! From that time on the pedal steel-guitar was a part of my life. For that I thank him! Best wishes to you and your dad "sneaky" Pete Kleinow!

God bless your dad and yourself Anita..Your dad is my hero ,as others have also stated..I am SO saddened by this terrible news...

The biggest compliment I ever heard in my steel playing career, was when an uninformed singer told me a cut I recorded on a studio date "sounded like Sneaky Pete".. In retrospect,he was very sadly mistaken of course, NO ONE sounds like Sneaky,but just hearing someone make that wrong comparison was an honor...

Your dads tone, touch and emotion on the steel will live on as long as people enjoy the steel guitar... His playing days may be over, but his legacy on the steel will never end... His playing will be heard, and most probably his name mentioned whenever anyone is around a steel guitarist..

His great playing has touched most of us,and most importantly, has become PART of our own playing,... so as you can see, His playing will ALWAYS be heard... all the best to you, your dad, and all those that love him... bob<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 19 August 2006 at 02:41 PM.]</p></FONT>

Best wishes to Sneaky Pete. I think his name was the first name of a steel player I ever read on the back of an album cover. Sneaky Pete was a trailblazer for many of us. Don McClellan

Anita, this must be so difficult for you. I hope you will take heart in knowing how much your dad's music means to people all over the world.

When I think of Sneaky Pete it's:

Christine's Tune (aka Devil in Disguise) – on the surface she's a lyrical beauty, but underneath (watch out!) she's a fuzzed-up monster. Sounds like Pete had a lot of fun doing that one.

Jackson Browne's Take It Easy where the other instruments fall away and it's just Pete with all the things about the song that the lyrics forgot to say. It's a little bit sad and very beautiful and it always gets me. Dammit Sneaky, you got me again.

Oh and the Terminator, I love that movie! The stop-motion of the robot at the end is fine, fine work, unsurpassed by today's CGI graphics. What a talent.