Gerry Hogan - unsung hero

Phil ONeill · Post by **Phil ONeill** » 21 Dec 2006 12:57 pm

Hi Gerry,

Thank You,
For making it possible for us to be taught by the late Jeff Newman.
For being an inspiration to watch on stage.
For all the support and talent you give so generously to the Irish Festival.
And our sincerest gratitude for being such a gracious and dependable friend
to us all in the Irish Steel Guitar Association.I am taking this opportunity
to say how much we appreciate all you have done.Also Gerry to wish you
and Barbara and your family a very Happy Christmas from us all.

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 21 Dec 2006 1:23 pm

A big thanks to Gerry from all the Scottish Steelies, who have attended the Newbury Festivals,Gerry Barbara and the entire family made each and everyone of us welcome.It was a great loss to us when Gerry decided not to keep them running.I have known Gerry for more years than I care to remember and have always found him to be one of the most helpful and friendliest guys on the steel scene, always taking the time to give advice to us all no matter how stupid or trivial the question was.Would love to see another Newbury Festival, go for it Gerry Regards Malcolm

------------------

Mullen D10,Peavey Nashville 400,Peavey Profex, Peavey DPC 750, Nashville cabs

[This message was edited by Malcolm McMaster on 21 December 2006 at 01:26 PM.]

Emmett Roch · Post by **Emmett Roch** » 21 Dec 2006 7:08 pm

Thanks for the video clip, Rick...I caught a tiny glimpse of myself trying to dodge the line dancers (and I still got my foot stomped on the way back from the ceveza stand).

Gerry, you're too humble -- just admit that you're one of the best friends a pedal steel guitar ever had and let it go at that.

Tony Smart · Post by **Tony Smart** » 22 Dec 2006 3:25 pm

Perhaps we should nominate Gerry for the SGHOF for outstanding services and commitment to the steel guitar in the UK.
Along with b0b, I think the two would make ideal candidates. Is it possible?

Gerry Hogan · Post by **Gerry Hogan** » 22 Dec 2006 4:08 pm

Ken: I’ve taken your third post to heart here, so this is Volume 2! When you mentioned that you were paid “£25 for a five piece band” on the Fullers’ circuit, it reminded me that Jamie, John and Jerry (pre-Country Fever) were getting as much as £12.10s (£12.50) in 1966, but it was a 4-piece, and we got no more if we went to 5 when we had both lead and steel! I think we got a raise to £15 during the year, but it dropped to £14.10s (£14.50) soon after, because the booker began to deduct 10 shillings (10s) “for use of the microphone”! When we objected, and said we carried and used our own P.A., the booker came back with, “Ah, yes! That’s all very well, but other bands don’t!” There was no answer to that! He always had his own logic.

Dave: it was good to see and hear you at the Bluebird Club! We go back a long way! – Nottingham c1977, I think?

Phil: you work so hard on behalf of the Irish Steel Guitar Festival, and then you perform on the stage there in Drogheda; you’ve always supported things I’ve done in the past; I’m glad I can count on your friendship. Thank you.

Malcolm: I’ve known you for a long time, and you too have supported so much of what I’ve been doing over the years. You’ve driven down from Scotland overnight, after gigs, to attend Festivals, or Jeff’s seminars; you’ve regularly supported our gigs; I know I can count on your friendship too. Thank you.

Emmett: humble? Moi? There’s a Mac Davis song that sums it up – I’m sure you know it! BTW: Thanks for dep’ing for me on some Scottish dates with Heather in 2003. I hope we meet up again before too long. It’s over three years since Barcelona!

Gerry

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 22 Dec 2006 5:21 pm

Gerry...

That stirred some memories! I was so anxious to play some country music back in the early-1970s that I left a lucrative position playing guitar with Marty Wilde and replaced Adrian Legg when he left the Kingpins. As you know, those guys just about lived on the Fullers circuit, and I had to take a pay-cut - down to just four Pounds per night.

RR[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 22 December 2006 at 05:24 PM.]

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 23 Dec 2006 4:23 am

Roger - the Kingpins!!! That's a blast from the past. I'd forgotten all about them. I know I used to find them very entertaining - and the line up I saw could drink beer for England!

Gerry Hogan · Post by **Gerry Hogan** » 23 Dec 2006 9:56 am

Tony: Thanks for your generous words here, and your support over a great many years!

Rog: I remember you played with The Kingpins for quite a while; didn't Billy Bremner also? It was a super band, and as Ken said, it was very entertaining. They also had their priorities right! For example: a 3.5-hr BBC Radio 2 session with them used to be over in about 20 minutes, with 6 very good tracks recorded! They'd then move over to the BBC Club across the road at Maida Vale for a few beers (or several)!

It's a shame that the BBC radio sessions are no more. I remember that at one time, notably in the '60s and '70s, most of the DJs played pre-recorded sessions and so, there was a lot of radio session work about.

Gerry

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 23 Dec 2006 10:33 am

Correct, Gerry - Billy preceded Adrian in the Kingpins, so I had some big shoes to try and fill!

I recall doing my first Kingpins BBC radio session and asking if I could have another go at a guitar solo. By this time, we'd taken all of twenty minutes to complete the required five or six songs, and Tony Rocco gave me a reassuring smile, told me 'It's perfect as it is, Rog!', and headed for the bar.

Gerry: you and I have done a few of those sessions together in various bands. Many of them were used in Wally Whyton's 'Country Club', and there was a good chance of hearing yourself on the car radio on your way home from a gig if the session had been for 'Nightride'.

I do miss dear Wally - he was a great supporter of all of us, and would give individual name-checks as he played the pre-recorded songs on his show.

Oh, and do you remember the Christmas session, and the three steel guitars playing Carols? That was you, B.J. Cole and myself, and I think it was at the Golders Green BBC studio.

Those were the days!

RR
PS: If Ken, you and I get any more nostalgic, this could rival the "ZB" thread!

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 23 Dec 2006 11:59 am

I remember the producer of Country Club 'admired' the talents of our lead vocalist Ed Nix when I played with his band. (Not just his vocal talent I might add). Hence we used to get invited back time after time. Another band I played in - Redwood - did a regular load of Nightrides for producer Pam Cox who was into the whole West Coast harmony rock thing. For a bunch of young guys who were making a living out of music, the BBC sessions were a lifeline. In fact we did an album on the BBC label. Our first royalty cheque after all expenses were taken out was three shillings! We'd do a Maida Vale session in the afternoon and if we got our timing right we'd do a Fullers gig in the evening. We'd meet up with people like Luce Langridge and Steve Simpson and it would be a riot.

It was Lorne Gibson who helped get us into that scene. Nice guy. Pete Willsher was another really helpful guy for us who had contacts all over the place.

Great days. I have been trying to rack my brains in recalling the name of the Fullers agent who took his 'cut' in cash on the night of the gigs. A real wide boy.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 23 Dec 2006 12:02 pm

Tony
Your suggestion is an excellent one. By the way, you are a seriously good player. I love your C6th stuff.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 23 Dec 2006 2:26 pm

Ken, that would be Ted Poulton. Teeth like a row of bombed houses and ethics to match...

I remember that BBC producer, too....

I do also recall that the Kingpins were Fullers' - and Ted's - favourites. That meant that we were not required to slog all the way over to Lewisham to that one stray venue they had (what was THAT called?)

Sorry to hi-jack your Tribute Thread, Gerry.

Roger R.

Gerry Hogan · Post by **Gerry Hogan** » 23 Dec 2006 3:19 pm

Ken and Roger, I also remember two different producers who might have fitted the implied description! They are now both deceased. They were both very supportive of British bands; as was dear old Wally. He was a super chap. Without Wally, I'd never have got the Maida Vale studio recording sessions for Buddy, Herb and Hal, and the Bruce Bouton live interview at Broadcasting House. Can you believe that? These world-class musicians would not have got to play on BBC Radio 2, had it not been for Wally!

Yes, I remember the live Golders Green Hippodrome shows we did, Roger! I particularly remember the Christmas carols, which worked out very well with three steels, after the panic was over!

The Lewisham venue was "The Roebuck" - where Ted could "give you a season ... for £12.10s". "What, each? Ted!" "No! No! No! The whole band! I'm not made of money!"

Yes, good days! Well, have we got on to page 2 yet?

Come on, chaps. Let's at least try for that!

Gerry

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 24 Dec 2006 5:49 am

Thanks Roger. Mr Ted Poulton - how could I ever forget that name. I remember the face - that I couldn't forget. Ted managed to find a girl singer from the USA called Susanne Harris. A lovely girl, but not blessed with a very good voice. Ted would get her to perform for nothing "just to get the experience". We would back her. This went on until the manager of the Nashville Rooms told Ted - "She's not the worst singer in the world, but she's just like her. Don't bring her back!!". End of another of Ted's scams.

Gerry - I had better not give out BBC producer's surname, but you have a 50% chance of getting it right. He used to lust after Ed, who did string him on a bit.

Dennis O'Keefe, another producer of Country Club, was the first producer to double track our harmony vocals. Normally it was a case of banging out a half a dozen numbers in quick time, but Dennis was impressed that we wrote our own material and spent longer than normal with us. He was a gent.

I was always a bit disappointed with the broadcasted sound. It was never as good as it was in the studio. By the time they heavily compressed and took all the bottom end out of the recordings, they were a little on the thin side. I never complained though - we needed the money.

Ocasionally on the Fullers circuit we would have to back solo artists. Dear old Tex Withers was one. He used to get so p***ed that he couldn't even get on stage sometimes and when he did he would keep falling over. The audience thought he was great. Johnny Regan (The Tumbleweeds vocalist) was another until he moved over to Ireland.

I used to practise like mad in those days. As soon as I woke up in the mornings I would get behind the steel for about 5 hours. As soon as I got in from a gig it would be headphones on and another 2 hours practise before bed. The band would rehearse for 2-3 hours after luch then we'd be off to our gig. I just loved playing, and it was a good time to be a pro musician as unlike now, you could make a decent living in a touring band.

Gerry Hogan · Post by **Gerry Hogan** » 24 Dec 2006 9:31 am

Ken: you’re absolutely correct! What a great time it was: pay was pretty good, and a person didn’t have to think very, very carefully before speaking, or writing, as we have to do today!

What about the story of the famed booker, at the Nashville Room? Landlord, Charlie, said to him, “ I can get Bobbie Gentry to do a gig here (Nashville Room). Booker replied, “Never ‘eard of ‘im”! It really gave us confidence, didn’t it? Has much changed in 35 years, though?

Wasn’t Dennis a great chap? He was a drummer and so he appreciated live music. He went out of his way to make sure everything was good. Of course, the broadcast sound was always thin, so people driving at 70+ mph on the M1 could hear it on their car radio! (At least, that’s the excuse I always made for them! – however, it probably was what I sounded like, but hoped I sounded like Buddy Emmons!).

In the early ‘70s, I went to do a session, somewhere in East London, for a Tex Withers album, which was being produced by a, now freelance, ex-BBC producer (now deceased) and Tex slept through the whole thing, because he’d come back from a gig in Liverpool the evening before, and was dropped off in the town at about 6 a.m. in the morning and had wandered around until the pubs opened, whereupon he had drunk all day (probably, to keep warm – I think it was January!), and then turned up at the studio blotto! The album turned out O.K. I remember that fiddler Jerry Hale was on that session. I’ve since heard that he emigrated to Australia.

I remember “practice”!

Gerry

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 24 Dec 2006 5:56 pm

Hey ! !
Don't stop now , this is getting very interesting. Have you thought of doing a book ? It sounds like your good old days were pretty much like our good old days.

Old Bud

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 25 Dec 2006 3:27 am

'...after the panic was over

'

Nice one, Gerry - you made me spill my coffee! What a pity that story is not fit for publication.

Ken: Thanks for mentioning Lorne Gibson, who sadly passed away a couple of years ago. Lorne was a very nice man, and Lorne and Maggie's annual '4th of July' Garden Party was a 'must' on the country music/BBC 'social scene' (surely the only group of Brits to acknowledge that US' holiday?). Wally, too, was a regular at that event.

Maggie still owns their holiday home in St. Pete's Beach, Florida, and I get to see her occasionally. Ginny Brown (Little Ginny, of course) and her husband, bass-player Paul Kirkby stay there too, so I'm still in touch with yet another of my old bands!

I must again thank Gerry for getting me started on steel! I'd bought my first guitar, a ZB Student From Eric Snowball (surely another who deserves 'honourable mention' for making PSGs available in the UK all those years ago) and Gerry invited me to bring it to his home so I could glean a pointer or two. I was, I confess, a little ambitious - I wanted to start with 'Wichita Lineman' - and I still have the scrap of paper on which I wrote out that first bit of hieroglyphic-like tablature as Gerry figured out a way for me to play the song with '3 and 1' and a bare minimum of skill!!!

I left that day full of inspiration, but without the two wing-nuts that secured the pedal-board - they were still on Gerry and Barbara's living room floor. A 'phone call later, and they were on their way to me by Royal Mail. Two days after that I received a small envelope, duly stamped and addressed, with a small rip in one corner but otherwise empty. I often wonder what happened to them....

Well, you're not 'unsung' anymore, Gerry - you've made it to two pages! It's Christmas morning here in Florida, so may I wish everyone on this 'thread' and beyond - even Ted Poulton - a very Happy Holiday.

RR

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 25 Dec 2006 7:35 am

I've only heard Gerry on a CD Albert Lee gave me - a live show in England with "Hogan's Heroes" (I've never seen it for sale, so maybe it's a limited release?). It's "Albert's" CD, but Gerry pretty well steals the show. My first reaction was "who IS this guy???" And it's even more country that I normally listen to. Gerry sounds like you could drop him into Pink Floyd and he'd find a way to make it work. I found his playing absolutely stunning - and he didn't need to immediately hit a distortion device or some gimmick to make his playing work on more rock-oriented tunes; his *playing* made it fit.

I'd like to find some more recordings. He really blew me away on that one.[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 25 December 2006 at 07:37 AM.]

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 25 Dec 2006 9:58 am

Recently picked up the second Country Fever LP with Mr, Hogan and guitarist Roger Dean, who not only replaced Albert Lee in Country Fever, but also replaced Albert in the Tumbleweeds; Johnny Regan's band with steel player Jerry West and Dave Peacock of Chas 'N' Dave fame.

As noted earlier on this topic the Tumbleweeds bandleader Regan split the Emerald Isle in 1969. After cutting a budget LP in '69, Roger Dean joined Country Fever and helped the group finish off the debut album, (which I still don't have, still looking) then the second which I have.

I imagine the debut is a good 'un, Albert, Gerry Hogan, Roger Dean, Jon Derek, Peter Oakman and Jed Kelly on one LP!
The second LP is prime country-rock, UK or otherwise and Country Fever must have been one cracking live band. On his website B.J. Cole described his first viewing of the group in '68, as "the real deal."

Nice to see Gerry's name here, and posts as well, not that he'd been neglected as there's always been a friend/fan base on the forum.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 25 Dec 2006 10:19 am

Its funny how this topic has generated into a reminiscence of the 'good old days'. A sure sign of getting older if ever there was one. We all have those people who affect our lives in one way or another.

Roger has mentioned Eric Snowball. Eric certainly was a massive help to me and steered me in the right direction. I traded my very basic Ormston Burns for a lovely blue ZB at Eric's first shop in the Broadway in Maidstone in 1972. It was £832 and by the time I paid back the bank loan I had to take out the real cost was just over £1000. That was in the days when you could buy a house for £4000!!! So a pedal steel was a major investment to a UK player back then. Later, I had a custom built ZB built to my specification but finished in a beautiful sunburst (just like Tom Brumley's). Eric is still playing I think. He was spotted playing with Jonny Young a couple of years back in Southampton.

John Edmed persuaded me to join the ShoBud family in 1975, and I have been a member ever since. I still wish I had my second ZB though. It currently lives about 10 miles from me. John has recently suffered a stroke and lives in France.

The first time I met Gerry personally was at a gig run by the late Reg Lodge. Reg was a big encouragement to me and he is sadly missed. Gerry had great technique and played in a style that came straight out of the USA. He impressed me both as a player and as a person. He always has time to talk steel with anyone who shows an interest. Gerry's lead guitar playing is worthy of a mention. Again a great technician and with superb touch and feel.

Little Ginny - gosh I remember backing her many times at the Ponderosa in Hampshire. Our band was almost the house band there - it was a fantasic venue and Tom Butler brought some big names from the States to play there. Faron Young, Jeannie C Riley, Tex Ritter, Little Roy Wiggins, and a whole host of others. Ginny was great, and used to sing a lot with the Tumbleweeds. Paul is a really nice guy and it's great that things have worked out for them.

Lorne Gibson used to play a lot on Radio 2, and I know that Leggy played with him in his trio for a while. Lorne had many contacts and was responsible for getting my band Redwood onto the Fullers circuit and on the BBC radio stations.

Wally Whyton - another man who we owed a lot to. Wally always looked younger than he was and had this exuberance for country music. He has his place in the history of UK rock and roll as a founder member of the Vipers along with Jet Harris among others. He used to kill me with his stories of Jet and the demon booze.

Finally I must mention Bob Powell who was very encouraging when I first started. Bob interviewed many of the great steel players in the 70's, including Buddy E, Curly Chalker, John Hughey, Tom Brumley, Jimmy Day and many more. Bob took a lot of stick for the 2 issues of Contry Music People that he devoted entirely to steel guitar. The country die hards hated those copies, but I still have mine somewhere as they are historically important to me.

Edited for typo.[This message was edited by Ken Byng on 25 December 2006 at 10:24 AM.]

Gerry Hogan · Post by **Gerry Hogan** » 26 Dec 2006 3:28 pm

Willis: Well done! You got us on to Page 2! Yes, I think our good old days were almost identical to yours over there! I recall many similar stories (and some a jolly sight worse and funnier!) that I’ve been lucky enough to hear from the legendary steel players who have been good enough to come over to play my Festival – many members of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame – some whom have since, sadly, passed on.

You ask us if we’d thought of writing a book: well I haven’t, but I wish someone would do just that, by collating all the stories from, at least, all the members of the SGHoF. (I’m quite certain that this must have been suggested before). Anyway, Scotty has thousands of tales – look how long he has run the amazing ISGC! Of course, my feeling is that the market for such a book would be somewhat limited, because it would probably only interest the likes of us curious types on this Forum!

What a great video recording Bruce Bouton directed, of Hal, Lloyd, Jimmie and Weldon chatting about the formative days of the Pedal Steel Guitar. I’d be surprised (but very pleased) if Bruce broke even on this enterprise, and yet, it was so interesting and informative. What hope for a similar venture, which was purely a fun thing?

Roger: you’re absolutely correct that Eric should be mentioned. In my opinion, he did more to promote steel guitar in the U.K. than anyone, other than B.J. Eric was very kind to me (after initially getting my back up, by suggesting that my Fingertip Sho-Bud was a heap of rubbish!), and gave me a D10 ZB (later, a beautiful green and natural Birdseye maple D11, built for me!) on extended loan. I purchased this from Eric a few years later, after Barbara asked me what I was going to play if Eric needed to call that steel back in! I had since sold the old Sho-Bud. Eric sold me the D11 “for a song” – perhaps the one I can sing now that I’ve reached 2 pages? Yes, Eric is a wonder – I’m glad he’s still playing. It’s very sad that he doesn’t seem to get the time to “mingle” much anymore. But, I know how that is – and he runs a much larger business.

Sorry about the wing nuts! I meant well!

Jim: thanks for your very kind comments! I think I’d be well out of my depth in Pick Floyd; and anyway, Dave Gilmour plays a mean pedal steel himself.

Jason: thanks for the mention. BTW: Roger Dean didn’t play on the first Country Fever album, recorded in about 6 hours in November 1969. I think he joined just after this. Also, the bass player at that time was Pat Donaldson. Just a few hours before this recording, we recorded the budget album “Mountain Music Jamboree”. All 12 tracks were done, pretty well live, in a 3- hour session – including the mixing! The album was produced by, and also featured, the legendary guitarist, Denny Wright (remember the phenomenal guitar solo on “Last Train To San Fernando”, by Johnny Duncan and the Bluegrass Boys when many of us were still struggling to find the E chord on a standard guitar?).

I recall that Johnny Regan’s Tumbleweeds were a fine group, which included Alan Sands (guitar), Gerry West (pedal steel) and a couple of other chaps whose names escape me (sorry). After Johnny Regan left (I think perhaps Alan moved on as well), and Thom Fricker took over the vocal slot. They used to augment the band with players like Albert Lee, Keith Nelson (banjo), Chas Hodges, Dave Peacock and others, all of whom played for various periods. When Gerry West used to tour as Slim Whitman’s steel man, The Tumbleweeds used different steel players to do occasional gigs, including (I believe Gordon Huntley, B.J., Pete Willsher, and when they couldn’t get anyone better, myself).

Ken: I haven’t look back like this for years! Thanks for all your reminders! I remember the first time I met you, and I certainly remember Reg Lodge. He also helped me enormously. My friend, John White, phoned up to tell me that Reg had passed on. He came along to the last few Festivals I ran, and it was good to see him again.

Indeed, Bob Powell should not go unmentioned! He was always supportive of the pedal steel guitar, and kindly interviewed several of the Festival players on his radio show. He also chatted to Dave Hayward and myself, about our “London To St Louis” album, back in 1984. I wish I had those two copies of “Country Music People”! I’ve been extremely foolish in not keeping very much over the years. Albert has always stored memorabilia very carefully. I’ve got very little to proof of what has gone before. I’ve just got my failing memory, and people like you chaps who can jog it!

As I type this, Boxing Day is drawing to a close. The day had been made even more enjoyable for me by reading your posts and thinking back to the good old days (Ha Ha!). I hope you have all had as merry a Christmas as I have, and I wish you all a restful period before the happy-New-Year celebrations begin!

Look, if we can carry on like this, we could get to Page 3! However, unfortunately, none of us are pretty enough to get on to that …

Gerry

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 31 Dec 2006 9:17 am

Hey Gerry, the Dave Peacock/Roger Dean/Jerry Jerome/John Boniface/Thom Thricker Tumbleweeds cut a budget LP as 'Spike Island' for Avenue in 1969.

The budget album you mentioned, Mountain Music Jamboree, I'm assuming that wasn't for Lucky Records?

LUCKY RECORDS (early distro via Pye Records)

LUS 3000 – This Is Lucky Country – Various Artists [1969]
LUS 3001 – Country Music The Cody Nash Way – The Cody Nash Outfit [19 ]
LUS 3002 – The Hillsiders – The Hillsiders [19 ]
LUS 3003 - Listen To The Country Fever - Country Fever [1970]
LUS 3004 – Country Cousins – Dave Plane & Lisa Turner [1970]
LUS 3005 – My Way Of Life – Ron Ryan [1970]
LUS 3006 – Sing Something Sinful – Ian Russell [1970]
LUS 3007 – No. 1 In The Country – Phil Brady & The Ranchers [1970]
LUS 3008 – The Frank Yonco Show – Frank Yonco & The Everglades [1970]
LUS 3009 – Country Tonic From The Medicine Bow – Medicine Box [1970]
LUS 3010 – The Old & The New Brian Golbey – Brian Golbey [1970]
LUS 3011 – A New Country Bag – Ron Ryan [1970]
LUS 3012 – Back In Town – Johnny Duncan And The Blue Grass Boys [1970]
LUS 3013 – A New Dimension – Country Fever [1970]
LUS 3014 – The Best Of Lucky Country - Various Artists [197 ]
LUS 3015 – Country Carousel - Various Artists [197 ]

LUS 3018 - Progressive Country Sounds – The Muskrats
LUS 3019 – I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry – Jed Ford

Mark Dunn · Post by **Mark Dunn** » 2 Jan 2007 1:25 pm

Yes I agree, it's my opinion that Gerry's ability as a player is sometimes overshadowed by his involvement in other things. Playing with one of the greatest country guitarists on the planet, organising the Newbury festival, running a significant and successful music shop business and organising teaching courses diverts peoples attention away from the fact that Gerry is an extremely good and tasteful player. In the mid 90's I travelled over to the good old USA and watched Gerry play at St. Louis, his slot was on the Saturday night with the likes of Buddy and Lloyd and his set was of the quality you would expect with that slot, very very good. Don't be fooled by the image that Gerry often portrays, he's far from the just adequate player he admits too, he's very knowledgeable about his instrument and highly intelligent and easily capable of some scary picking. Sorry I've let the cat out of the bag Gerry, but I'm sure many of the Forum members already know this. Happy New Year to you Gerry and all the best to you and Barabara for 2007.

Gerry Hogan · Post by **Gerry Hogan** » 2 Jan 2007 3:16 pm

Jason,

You're absolutely correct! How could I have forgotten "Spike Island"? - was that 1969? - how easily the memory plays tricks when you have passed "a certain age"! I could have sworn that was before Thom Fricker joined - and of course, Dave Peacock was playing bass - and it was John Boniface which was the name I couldn't recall in an earlier posting! Thank you so much for reminding me! "Jerry Jerome" was Gerry West - (interestingly, I bet Thom came up with that name for him, because he came up with "Hoagy Jerome" for me on a budget album I played on that required a "trick" name - he was a clever bloke, old Thom! - no longer with us, though).

You're also correct that "Mountain Music Jamboree" was not on Lucky Records. I'm afraid I can't remember what label it was on. I first heard it one day when I was having lunch in a pub, and thought "I know that stuff! That's us!" I had no dea what happened to it - we got the session fee and ran - probably stupidly, because I think as a budget album it did pretty well worldwide. Anyway, c'est la vie ... !

Mark:

It's very nice of you to write all these things!

You've been a very loyal friend since the time you bought your first Emmons Loafer from my shop. You then came to Jeff's first U.K. week-long Beginner's Course about a year later and, I remember, were the star. The next time you came on one of his courses, only a few years later, it was on an Emmons D10 (from my shop

) and you came to an Advanced Course, and you were again the star.

You have since played the Irish Steel Guitar Festival, in October 2006, and you sounded like a veteran. I don't know how you chaps play like that: with no nerves - Sarah, Derek, Lionel Wendling, Phil O'Neill, Dave Kirk, Mark Horn, Marcel Parijs - all played with no nerves! I wish I could do that! My fingers always feel like a bunch of bananas until the last strains of my final tune!

You've been very kind over a long period, and Barbara and I wish you and your family a very Happy New Year.

Barry Gaskell · Post by **Barry Gaskell** » 3 Jan 2007 5:03 am

Hi Ken
Mentioning the fullers circuit in London brought back floods of memories for me. As you mentioned, the Nashville room, the Barn Bar, The Grapes Lewisham, The red Cow. We used to come down from Liverpool, do these gigs and then on a Saturday morning record the Country Meets Folk show for the BBC at the Playhouse Theatre just off Trafalgar Square with Wally Wyton. We played all these and met many musicians there, Gerry included ,and what a treasure he turned out to be. A true Gentleman.
Adrian Legge was living in Liverpool at the time and he played in our band (The Rocksprings), on a Gretsch Country Club with banjo strings on the top strings and a Keith type peg (How Innovative is that for the mid sixties.) I had the dubious pleasure of naming two of his instrumentals on his first album.
It was on one of these London trips I spotted and bought my first steel, A denley twin eight, built by Nigel Dennis and Gordon Huntley another fine steel player and Gentleman.
I know what you mean Ken when you mentioned sitting on stage giving your all when in walks someone who you admire and you find your all isn't any (If that makes sense) ?.
Ah ,,,,,.memories
Best regards
Barry Gaskell
Emmons SKH twin ten Sho-Bud Pro 3, session 400, nashy 4.