The Steel Guitar Forum

Yes Billy im looking forward to the MSP club show in august and to be with all of the good staff and players that will be there. I am looking forward to showing off the new Fessy i have comming in and give it a workout at the show. Also looking forward to the DSSGA show on June 30th. down on the coast.

I can't think of a better way to start off a new MSP show than with a new D-10 Fessy, Jim. There'll be an assortment of colors for everybody to look at on PSG's from your royal blue, my blue MSA Milleinum, Bill's burgundy Excel, Eddie's blue Magnum, Winston's strawberry looking lacquer Fessy, Bobby's black twill MSA Milleinum, Buck's black Mullen and more. More members signing up on the MSP & MMD today. I figure within three weeks, all of our MSP available tickets will probably be sold to our general public that's waiting on 8-3. There's so many folks pitching in to help make this show a regular event in the Laurel area until I didn't realize people were wanting something like this so bad. There's nothing in this area on Friday evenings/nights. Zero. I don't see MSP Club slowing down anytime soon and the MMD is building it's membership daily also. More later!

Talked with several folks today. Main topic is the Aug.3rd show and PSG's that will be on display there. Lots of players on and off the show are excited, several coming just to watch, listen and look over everybody's gear. It's taking a lot of work to get everything together for our first show but it's on the way. MSP & MMD list have new members added again today also. More later!

Been a busy day today. Been on the phone all afternoon with new members coming onboard with MSP & MMD. Ticket sales are in progress and everything's moving along daily towards 8-3-07. Just got off the phone with "The Legend", Tommy Fortenberry. He's wanting to do some stuff like, "Window Faces The South" and "Night Life". He loves C6th. I imagine we can easily take care of that with players like Bill Stafford, Buck Grantham and others. Gonna be a lot of fun for everybody. More later guys/gals!

Talked with some more players today and we've got even more folks coming to the 8-3 show. I've started gathering info on different players/singers that are on the 8-3 show. In our MSP booklets we'll have all kinds of info, including a Q & A section all about PSG's and musician's in general. We're also doing a feature article on legendary bassman, Tommy Fortenberry. The Q & A section will feature Buck Grantham, Bobby Ray, Winston Street, Bill Carter and steel player/builder, Jerry Fessenden of Fessenden Steel Guitars, Montpelier, Vermont. Each show we'll feature different players. More later!

More new members signing up today for MSP & MMD. This has all of the makings for a big, big show on Aug.3rd. Anyone wanting one of our MSP flyers for the 8-3 show just email me your mailing address and we'll get it to you. Thanks.

Hi Billy, Two reasons for this reply:
1st- To BUMP
2nd- Why are you waiting to 3pm to start the show? instead of starting, Say, 10 or 11 Am?, until.
Just Wondering?????? Joe

Hey Joe,
I chose the 3:00pm starting time mainly to avoid having folks get bored or tired of listening and watching the show. I've noticed at some of the shows I've been to in the past that by late afternoon a lot of people were tired and ready to leave. Another reason for the 3pm time was I only wanted so many slots on each show, 17. That way, everybody knows in advance when there playing and about what time. I've also noticed at some of the shows(not DSSGA) that I've been to you'll have players/singers just walking in all during the show wanting to sing and play. To me, that's not right to the folks that have already committed to be on the show in advance and made there plans to be present. I welcome good players/singers but I'm going to stand by the folks that commit to the shows and get a slot. If for some we have a cancellation, then we can fill it with someone who's at/in the show. Also with the 3 to 12 time frame, it gives us a chance to rotate singers/players every show. How's the leg? See you on 8-3. Thanks.

More members and sponsors came onboard today. MSP is growing fast. Lot of excitement in the air about the Aug.3rd show. More later.

Billy,
As you know, Jim Parker brought some flyer's, etc... with him to our show this past Saturday, and I heard a good bit of interest from the folks concerning the MSP. It really looks like it's shaping up into something big. I have no doubts that it will be successful!

My appreciation for all the hard work you're putting into getting it into full swing!

Lem

Thanks Lem. Yes sir, it's looking like it may be a big club the way folks are joining and supporting it. We're expecting 350 to 500 in August and may have to find a larger location for 2008. The Ms. Steel Players Club welcomes everybody from all over the state, as well as, surrounding states. Even though we only have 17 slots available for players/singers per show, it'll be a great meeting place to meet fellow pickers, etc. Our second show is already scheduled for Dec.7th, 2007 at the same location. You and all of the guys from North MS. are more than welcome at any of the MSP shows.

BUMP
Its getting bigger as every week goes by. Jim

Yes sir JP, it's growing day by day. Signed up some more new members this evening. Tickets are moving quickly. We're looking for a sellout shortly on the first show. "FESSY FEVER" has started here in MS. I imagine in the upcoming months we'll some new ones showing up at shows, etc. More later!

Ms. Steel Players Club and the Ms. Musician's Directory still growing with new members added today. Starting work on a talent contest next week that'll be a regular event in between MSP shows which are every four months. More on the way!

Billy, I am so very proud and honored to have received my Lifetime Membership Card this past week.(It fits very will with my "Jerry Byrd Lifetime Achievement Award). Thanks so very much.
Glad to be included.
This area has at last someone to take "the bull by the horns" and it looks like you have a sold grasp. So proud of you.
Bill Stafford

TYPO--SOLID is the word.
BS

Hey Bill,
Thanks for the kind words. I have a lot of folks helping with the MSP Club to make it work, including yourself. I'm dedicated 100% to PSG and keeping it alive and well in Mississippi. Working with you on the Gulf Coast and then Lem Smith in north MS. is making for a big event. We're combining folks from all three shows together. Our award for 2007 Ms. Steel Player of the Year will go to Laurel steeler, Bill Carter at the 8-3 show. For 2008, Bill Stafford has been chosen and will be presented the award in Aug.08'.

Billy, please give my utmost thanks to all involved, and you especially, in the MSP org for my selection of this most cherished award. Will do my very best to earn this to truly show my appreciation for this consideration. Congratulations to Bill Carter also-he is most deserving.
Really excited about MSP and all the upcoming shows. See you soon.
Bill Stafford

Well i can say that both of theses guys are very deserving of this award and they have done a lot for steel guitar in this state and i am proud for them. Jim

Yes sir, these two players have dedicated there life to steel guitar and both are deserving of the awards. There will be some other folks receiving awards as well, that are long overdue. Our awards program is to show appreciation to players that have dedicated there life to the promotion and advancement of steel guitar. Awards in other areas are also coming. MSP Club added some more members this evening and the first show is getting closer. On the agenda also is the June 30th show on the coast. We're going to start putting a large group together from this area to attend that show as well. More later!

New members still joining and everything's moving forward towards Aug.3rd. Most everything's in place for the first show and we've still got a few slots open for the Dec.7th show. I'm in the process of working on a few things for the Apr.08' show also. UPS is here with Jim Parker's new Fessy, gotta go. More later!

Billy, sure looking forward to the big MSP Grand Opening Party. Looks like a great steel guitar event in store for all of us.
Our upcoming DSSG show on 30 June will be a preview and a "dress rehearsal" for the MSP Gala event.
Our new DSSG facility allows the vendors to have much space. Let me know how big a space you will need to properly display all your steel guitars and products and even a membership table for MSP enrollment.
All of us here in the "way down south" are so thankful for your work in MSP and wish to help in any way we can.
Glad you have a good hold on those horns.
See you soon.
Bill Stafford

Thanks Bill, our MSP Club is steadily growing and we have a lot of folks in the background helping make this a success. I'll probably just need an area where we can sign up new MSP members and sell PSG strings, etc. from my steel shop. I doubt I'll be bringing any guitars, I can't keep anything long enough to take one anywhere before it's sold. At our Aug.3rd MSP show, we'll have an area available for anyone that wants to join MSP, DSSG & Ms. Guitar Players Association. I have a young lady that'll be taking care of that along with selling our caps, shirts, strings, etc. Thanks for your continued support and with MSP & DSSG, plus Lem Smith and the players from north MS. all working together, it shouldn't be a problem to keep PSG alive and well in MS. for a long, long time. We're here for the long haul. See ya!

This week has started as a busy one for MSP. More folks inquirying into the first show and tickets are moving pretty good towards a sellout. Jim Parker spent the afternoon in the steel shop with his new Fessy that was delivered today. My EMCI from CARTER also came in today. I've been working on it and making adjustments for my feel. Jim's D-10 Fessy is royal blue mica with the 10-1 SS pick ups by George L. Plenty of bottom and more than enough on the high in. Great playing and sounding guitar. Jerry done a good job on it, as usual. Aug.3rd is date for the MSP show in Laurel, MS. Membership is open to anyone that wants to join, whether a person resides in MS. or not doesn't matter. The MS. Musician's Directory, which is part of the MSP requires MS. residence though. More later!

HI Billy,
Am loving my Millennium, Glad Jim's Fessy came in. I know he's excited. I will be going to the Branson Show on July 28th and 29th. Will do a little singing there so will be wound up for the Miss show on Aug 3.
Will see my friend Tyler Hall there. He's got a regular gig in Branson now. See you in Biloxi if not before then. The way things sound you might want to look for a bigger place. Problems,problems problems.
Ain't God Good!
Doc