The Steel Guitar Forum

Here I am in NJ, still do a gig or 2 during th e summer.Who bought a guitar from me at Brick Music in the 70's?

Although I was originally from Queens; I lived in Jersey for s few years & was one of the few players that did the "crossover"...playing NY AND NJ. Was hard since it was around $10 roubd trip just in tolls. Used to play Georgio's,Time Out Saloon,Starlight lounge, Mrs. Jays in Asbury Park,Moutain Rest,Tex Louie's Cowboy Saloon, Freddy the German Cowboy'
s Blue Ribbon Inn,Hillcrest Inn,Lee's Lounge,Club Elmour, Charley Kelly's,Mack Sullivan's Palomino Club Charlie's Corner, Big John's.

Played with Bandit,Tommy Rogers,Billy Bell, Ridin' Hi (NY band, but did the "crossover") Tommie Joe White (Also a NY crossover band)Doc Holiday & the Most Wanted Band, and many others.

My longest stint was with the legendary Harry Crash& 3 Fingers Whiskey band, who were together for over 30 years. We were the house band at Georgios for awhile. Although they were a phenominal band with tremendous vocals, they were famous for being the funniest,rowdiest, & sickest bunch of guys ever. Their onstage antics were legendary. They would fart into the microphone onstage, or take the wireless mike into the bathroom when one of them had too much to drink & was puking, and hold it over the toilet stall. Also famous for getting thrown out of more diners after the gig than any other band on the circuit! Greatest bunch of guys to work with, too. I really miss them.

Filled in on steel for Gordon Wells when he got a hernia (I think from lifting his steel)He played a Frankie Kay keyless. I think it was Tim Gillis Band.

Good friends with Bob Miano, too (Hey,BOB!) I still have & use the Goodrich pedal & Matchbox that he gave me over 30 years ago. Bob still occasionally sends me a CD of stuff he thinks I might like, and was one of my first steel influences.

Bought my 1st good steel from Josh Dubin (GES D-10) about 30 years ago, then found his stolen Zum in a music store in Manhattan. I called him in Philly at the time, he met me at the store & had the police report & bill of sale, and they turned it right over to him, then he sold it to me on the spot.

Used to go see Jack Stanton play with Diamondback at the Landslide. If I remember right, he played a PP that was covered in rattlesnake skin. George Constantino also followed me into a band; I think Bandit.(it's been a few years) Great player; also liked Mike Levine. Jersey had a great country scene; you could play 7 nights a week back in the day.

I don't hafta shovel snow here in Tampa Bay, but I miss those days. Some great bands back then.

Hey Rich I'm in Tarpon Springs until April, maybe we could get together sometime.

I am FROM NJ, moved a few miles away now though!

Kearny, NJ in da house! Very crazy upbringing in a very multiculti environment. No steel guitar whatsoever!

Dobro guru Steve Toth started me on steel, he played with Johnny Scott. After awhile I would spend Fridays nights watching Arty Paine, then go to Jersey City and watch the amazing Freddie Warner. After playing about 20 months I was hired to fill in for Tony Richards(who had broken his leg) with Jerry Hatton, 5 nights/wk for six months.Drums, steel and bass and girl singer! That was being thrown into the deepend! I helped build Banshee steels with John Babirad (Lyndhurst) ,followed Fred Dickson into Jim Best Band. Hung out with Lynn Frazier who played at Mack Sullivan's and Johnny Keys, too name drop another 8 or 10 NJ players. Oh and some might remember my room-mate Gary Stebor who freelanced in the early 80's, and Larry Weaver.

I'm still living in Salem County near Cowtown and playing a lot but not much in NJ .
I used to get some sub work every summer with the Dave & the Wranglers as the Cowtown Rodeo Band, but they went a dj.
Currently with the Mason Dixon Band www.masondixonband.net
and booking mostly in Delaware and Maryland.

I used to get 4-6 night a week in the honkytonks but now it's one niters in local casinos and dance clubs.

I try to get out to see other steel players as often as possible and support bands that have steel players.

Ben Lawson wrote:Hey Rich I'm in Tarpon Springs until April, maybe we could get together sometime.

Sure, I'm right up the road from you County Line Road and 19 area. Just above Hudson. Right now I'm playing four nights a week maybe you could come and sit in with us sometime? Send me a PM for my phone number.

Dave Obrien I'm glad you're still around. I bought my first double neck brand new SHO-BUD from Brick Music. I was like a kid in a candy store back then. Thx for being there!

Ron Hogan
Nashville, TN

Lived in Edison, NJ all my life. After 45 turbulent years of Airline Service, based mostly at EWR, I retired from AA. Now a Boat Captain part time with Walt Disney World for the past 5 years. Retirement life is good. I highly recommend it.

Still play jams now and then. I am surprised Gigs down here in MCO are very far and few.

Met Ron Victoria and Jody Carver with many jams while up in NJ. Hope all is well with everyone up there. TX

Rgds,


Ron

Wasn't Hank DeVito originally from NJ? That's how Emmylou used to introduce him, anyway.

A couple other Jersey steel players in the 70s when we had the jamborees were Eddie Vanclife, Hank Thomas, Ben Morrow and Tommy Logan (was playing a lot of Chalker stuff). We all played the shore area. Pistol Petes, Great Adventure, Charlie's bar and the White House bowling alley (Emmons played there with price). Lets not forget George Edwards who played with Kitty Wells for 25 years.

One of the alltime greats that moved to Nashville for a while while I was here was Silveo Tucciaroni. A terrifc player with taste but died young in his late 40s in Texas.

Ron, George Edwards recently sent me four DVD's of the Kitty Wells shows over the years he was with her. George called me Saturday and asked if I looked at them yet and I had not. When Big George speaks I listen! I watched them all in one multi-hour sitting and George was awesome. Bobby Wright would tease George for not smiling. George suffered a stroke just weeks after Kitty retired and has not played out since. What a loss for country music and steel guitar. George doesn't get out much anymore so if anyone knows how to call or contact him, I'm sure he would appreciate hearing from you.

Here's a pic from the 1970s of me and Artie Payne. Very smooth tasty steel player.

I guess I qualify

Roger,
Pretty sure Hank DeVito was from Staten Island.

Last I heard(maybe 2007) Artey Paine was in Altoona, Pa.

How bout you? Joe McClean and the Country Escorts, Tommy Boyles and Country Plus, Jimmy Moore and his Blue Mt Boys, Lew Wright and the Country Melodymen, Stony Creek, Jim Murphy,Bill Dix and Patti Davis and Bandit some.Quit late 1970's to fly airplanes, and just play fill-ins , best decision I ever made.

Nice thread! I've played many of those same clubs over the years, but on guitar and bass. Still a newby steel player. But as everyone laments, there were far more gig opportunities back then.
Currently putting together a country rock band to play along the shore. We'll see how that goes!

Yes Dave, I used to live in Brick and have been in your store many times!

Regards,
Frank

I used to play with Patty Davis & Bandit; went on tour with them out west Jan. of '87.

" I helped build Banshee steels with John Babirad "

Don't remember where, but I saw someone once back in the day playing a steel that had the "Babirad" badge on it; maybe it was you?

Just run across this thread. Very good one. In the mid eight's I was doing my job and ended up for a short time in Cherry Hill, NJ. Went to a big country club there called The Yellow Rose. Great place with a great band with a steel player that was awesome. I think his name was Mike something. If anyone knows who that might be I sure would like to know. J.R.

hows that temper of your doing Ron

I remembered another steel player from the 60's and 70's. Eddie Rapp who played for about 15 years at Charlie's bar in Oakhurst. He passed in his 50's. He left me all his strings and picks when he died. He played with Eddie Rabbit at the same spot.

Did anyone mention Ben Morrow. He is still around in his 80's. All three of his Emmons guitars burnt in a house fire. He's almost as old as Jack Stanton.

Ron Hogan, you sure know how to hurt a guy! Actually, not too long ago someone came up to me on one of the breaks and said " I used to go watch you play back before you looked like Jack Stanton's dad". Ouch

That's funny Jack!
Now a days when I see a picture of me, I wonder what happened. But I'm alive.

You look like a young 80 🙄