Swingin' On The Steel by Ray Montee

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 1 Jan 2009 7:58 am

Well, maybe I'll wear that zippy white suit and the big ol' white cowboy hat.
That hat will come in handy if the fire alarm goes off and triggers the sprinklers!

Sure, I'll stand to your left - whatever it takes . .

I appreciate you sending the CD, I'm really looking forward to hearing it.

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 5 Jan 2009 11:48 am

I'm encountering a substantial amount of flack from my financial administrator pertaining to the Mar. 9th
Texas Show.........

She is refusing to stand guard, if you will, with the four neck Bigsby that I mentioned I'd be willing to bring to the shin-dig. She states emphatically, that it will never be left unattended during her life time but she wants to SEE THE SHOW......and has no desire to stand in the hotel lobby watching this rather large piece of furniture that has two HANDLES, one on each end.

So that's my dilema. Do I call Dr. Laura now, or, is there anything you might say that could ease the tension in my abode?

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 5 Jan 2009 5:32 pm

Ray, I think it's time to talk to these guys.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 5 Jan 2009 7:52 pm

Alan, that's an excellent suggestion!
A couple of armed guards on duty night and day . .

or . .
You could put it in my room each night so you don't have to tote it back and forth to your hotel.
You'd have it with you in the Sports Bar on Friday, and you could leave it at our vendor tables on Saturday.
I'll be there all day with my associate Jeff Strouse, Herb Remington, and Big John (Herb's ever-vigilant assistant).
Sunday after I play my set in the main ballroom we'll start packing up for the trip back to Florida.

or . .
You could make it easy on yourself and just bring a lap steel.
Maybe it wouldn't be as exciting or remarkable, but it would be less stress and less work.

This from a guy who is bringing 4 steel guitars, 2 guitars, a bass, 5 amps and an entire PA system.
But then, I'm not bringing my wife. The only traveling she does is to the grocery store . .

BTW the Non Pedal Session is March 13.
If you get there on the 9th you'll have 4 days to acclimate and prepare.

Chuck Wilson · Post by **Chuck Wilson** » 5 Jan 2009 8:40 pm

Just got a chance to to see the video.
WOW!! After all the wonderful posts by Ray,
I get to hear his GREAT playing.

Tone, Harmonics and Feel - The whole
Enchilada.

What a treat- Thanks Rick for posting and thanks Ray for your playing and contributions.

Chuck

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 5 Jan 2009 9:23 pm

Chuck, if you come to the Dallas show on March 13 you can see & hear the Skipper play live!
http://rickalexander.com/BigSteel/2009N ... ssion.html

There'll be a lot of great Steel Players all weekend long, both at the Non Pedal Session and in the main ballroom.
Plus all the builders and vendors will be there.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 6 Jan 2009 7:24 am

I really wish I had the funds and the time off work to attend and meet all you folks in person. Maybe one day, as Hank said, "If the good lord's willing and the creeks don't rise..."

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 9 Jan 2009 5:21 am

Alan, just sell something you don't really need and call in sick!

We've booked the Chagall Room for the entire weekend. The Non Pedal Session will be held there on Friday - and on Saturday we'll have lots of great live music from artists such as Herb Remington, Carco Clave & Renae'Truex and many more. There'll be a vintage console Steel display, and some beautiful contemporary models from Remington Steel Guitars and Georgeboards.
Tons of SWP fun all weekend long!

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 9 Jan 2009 6:12 pm

A good friend of mine that was good enough to secure my first 7-string Rick for me, writes to ask if
BILLY ROBINSON will be on this years non-pedal program? If not, might he be appearing on stage in the BIG room?

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 9 Jan 2009 8:35 pm

Ray, I invited Billy to join us a few months ago.
He said he appreciated the invite, but unfortunately he won't be coming to Dallas at all this March.
That's a shame - you can't have too many legendary Steel Players at the Non Pedal Session (and we have quite a few).
I guess we'll have to wait for the ISGC in St Louis to see & hear him again.

But for now - here are the videos of Billy's wonderful performance we shot at last year's ISGC Hawaiian Show.
Jeff Strouse was manning the camcorder st the time and he got some awesome closeups showing Billy's amazing technique.
Carco Clave on guitar and Ray Slick on Bass:

BEYOND THE REEF

LITTLE GRASS SHACK / LOVELY HULA HANDS

FLAMINGO

MOON OF MONAKOORA

BEAUTIFUL DREAMER

I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS

COCONUT GROVE

SONG OF THE ISLANDS

There are also about 7 more videos on my YouTube channel of Billy from the year before, and I'll post those links too if you want - but these oughta keep you busy for a little while.
It's the least I can do for the guy who scored your B-7 4U

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 10 Jan 2009 11:04 am

Rick Alexander wrote:Alan, just sell something you don't really need and call in sick!
...

My wife just sat me down and gave me a half hour sobering lecture on our finances. Somehow the time wasn't ripe to suggest going to a steel guitar meeting.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 11 Jan 2009 7:01 am

Alan, maybe if you told her about how we're planning a "Non Pedal Pizza Party" right after the Non Pedal Session she might view things differently.
There'll be free pizza and soft drinks for the participants and loyal friends.
Gerald is bringing his kosher dills, and we're even thinking of having a bowl of mints!

Spend a lot, save a little - I think that's called "pickle-down economics" . .

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 13 Jan 2009 12:42 pm

Mr Boards posted this cool video he made with a Ray Montee recording of "Turner's Turnpike" - a real classic!

Turner's Turnpike

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv-WN1Fa8tM

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 24 Jan 2009 8:05 pm

Hey Rick!

Many thanks for the "Turner's Turnpike" mention.
Very nice of you, to be sure.

Is there gonna be adequate parking at the BIG MOTEL/Hotel, if'n you are booked into another location, and have to drive to the shin-dig?

Kevin Brown · Post by **Kevin Brown** » 24 Jan 2009 10:19 pm

Rays name on the list of players at the TSGA lap steel day was the reason I finally took the plunge and bought the flights to Dallas for the show, his recordings have been a great inspiration to me, will be nice to poss hear Red Skin Rag, live !!

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 24 Jan 2009 10:33 pm

Ray, you're very welcome.

There's a very large parking lot around the hotel,
so you shouldn't have any problem getting to and from the "shin-dig"
(I like that term - it's much classier than "hootenanny")

Kev, I can't think of any better reason to travel 5000 miles!

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 27 Jan 2009 8:04 am

And now - Ray has his very own YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/RayMontee
There are some cool tunes on there already.

Congratulations Ray!

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 2 Feb 2009 10:28 am

My heartfelt thanks to both Rick Alexander and George Boards...........

Without them, none of it would have been possible.

I especially want to thank EVERYONE that has visited the site and taken the interest to punch in and listen to my historic, olde performances. At least I didn't have to wait until I was placed in a casket to hear so many kind words. Truly appreciated.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 2 Feb 2009 10:08 pm

Wow Ray, I see your posts all the time, but never heard you before. That's great stuff!

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 9 Feb 2009 7:17 pm

Happy to help Ray.
Dallas is just around the corner now . . . .

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 9 Feb 2009 7:40 pm

Ray do you teach? Im in PDX all the time, love some pointers on your tone.

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 9 Feb 2009 10:06 pm

Noticed your post on the SGF.

I have done some teaching, limited as it was.

I'd be happy to share with you whatever I might know that you'd want to acquire.

Email me at pi007flyer@msn.com

We can arrange to talk..........

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 11 Feb 2009 10:45 pm

thats awesome ! drop you a line soon

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 22 Feb 2009 8:59 pm

I'm looking forward to hearing from you at an early date..........Seattle is NOT that fer away, don't you know?

I've gotten a lot of suggestions on which route I should drive this time of year.....in order to get to Dallas next month. I sure do appreciate it. I want to avoid at all costs, hitting ANY SNOW. We've had more than our share in Oregon already this year.

Also got some great referrals on where to put our two lil' puppies up while we're visting in Dallas.
Appreciate this very much. Several of the places look good enough that I'm trying to convince them to let us stay there in the doggie hotel with our dawgs; soft music and television along with view windows. How much better could it be?

The Steel Guitar Forum

Swingin' On The Steel by Ray Montee

The BIGSBY.............and the wife

About the Texas Jamboree...................

Turner's Turnpike

Turner's Turnpike

Many Thanks!

Greeting STEVE................

Getting to meet you...............