The Steel Guitar Forum

Here's a tentative line-up for the show.
FRIDAY- 10AM - 3PM Herby Wallace Seminar
6PM - 9PM Open Jam- Sign up and pick.
9:30 - ? Super Jam
Saturday- 9:30AM - 11:30PM Steel Guitars in Concert.
Greg Zimmer
Mike Meese
Bob(Crafty) Crafton
Lance Schnur
Steve Porter
Wayne Hetzler
Phil Perry
Joe Sapp & Terry McCumbee
Danny Hullihen
Carco Clave
Chuck Campbell
Gary Lee Gimble
Rick Troyer
Mike Sigler
Herby Wallace
Gene Fields
Russ Hicks
Buddy Charleton
John Hughey
Don Helms
Sunday- 9AM - 4PM
Gospel Hour with Phil Perry, Tony Abner & Friends
Danny Hullihen
Chick Donner
Gary Lee Gimble
Gene Fields
John Hughey
Mike Sigler
Russ Hicks
Don Helms
Herby Wallace
Of course this schedule is not "carved in stone". It could change.

WOW! What a list! Well folks, there's a big part of my playlist for Saturday. Warmin' up for the big show.

TTT

WOW! Only a week to go and the excitement is building. I talked to Jim Thompson last night and he said everything is ready and on track. Not too many places, especially in this area, where you are going to find a show with this many current and future members of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. If you haven't already you need to make plans to be here.

sure am getting excited,,,,,this time next week, we'll be up to our elbows in hot pedal steel,,,see yall there. God Bless

Joe

Jim,...just a quickie here..Thank you for using the word "SHOW" That's exactly what it is....not a Jam, Guitar Pulling, Throwdown, or some other name. When folks pay money, that's a business,..and today's audience and fans of steel guitar want to hear music and enjoy a "SHOW"...Thanks so much for that. Thanks guys for letting me horn in. I know you'll have a good one...and good SHOW. Ron Elliott

You're absolutely right Ron, and that's exactly what this event is... a "SHOW". However, if they were to call us heavy equipment operators, that probably wouldn't be too far off the mark.

THanks Ron, that's exactly what I'm trying to do with the SHOW. Give people their money's worth. I love steel guitar, and I've met some of the greatest people I've ever met in my life through my association with steel guitar. I hope to continue in the future, having a first class event that people will want to support. BTW, I only have it every other year right now, so I would like you to pencil in the 3rd weekend of April 2009 to come to PA and be a part of the next one. You would have been here this year if the budget would have permitted. We'll talk more about it in Oct. at the NTSGA Super Jam.

Today's the day.

I just wanted to say a special thank you to Jim Thompson and the crew for an absolutely wonderful steel guitar show. The back up musicians were some of the best i've ever heard, and the sound crew did an excellent job as well. The equipment handling crew was the best I have ever had at any show, and they were all "right there" for us, day or night, and no matter what or when we needed them.

As usual, this was another stellar show, and I was very proud to be a part of it.

A heart-felt thank you to everyone, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Thanks Jim for a GREAT show. It couldn't be better. Also I want to Thank Wayne and Paul for a GREAT job doing the sound system. All of your staff was AWESOME.
Can't wait till the 2009 show.

WOW! If you were'nt there it's simply too hard to explain what an excellent show it was .
Thanks Jim for allowing me to be a part of it . I always say that the shows are about so much more than just the music . This show certainly proved it again . The atmosphere was awesome . Don Helms along with Chris Malpass ,You could close your eyes and swear Hank was there . John Hughey and his wonderful wife Jean , there are perhaps no 2 more wonderful people on the planet ! And the playing .......Well if you ever heard John play there is no need for explanation . Simply awesome. Buddy Charleton, as soon as he sat down the room snapped to attention as all in attendance gave him the respect he deserves . There were some technmical difficulties that shortened his portion of the show but what we did hear was wonderful . Russ Hicks,or Mr. Laney Hicks as Jim introduced him, always at the ready with his quick wit and dry sense of humor had us all laughing . And when he played in that "chicken Pickin'" style as only he can do the crowd responded with thunderous applause . Mike Sigler, You could hear the joy and appreciation in his voice to have his wife Sally there at the show after undergoing heart surgery . Perhaps that inspired him to play better than I've ever heard him play . And I've heard him a bunch . I should point out, that applies to the songs I could listen to fast enough . How does he pick so fast ? And then there was Herby to close the show on Sunday . I made sure I was in the front seat for the whole set . It's no secret that Mr. Wallace is my favorite steel player on the planet . I love and respect them all but if the Lord said I could play like any one player on earth with the touch of his hand it would be Herby .To see and hear him play again after his stroke was pure emotion . I can't imagine how difficult it must be to try to overcome such a tramatic experience . But he is ! To talk to him and here his determination puts my heart and mind at ease in knowing he'll be back one day to the "super Picker" level he once had .
Yikes ! I didn't mean to go on and on but the excitement just took over. It was truly a wonderful weekend of great music and friends . Looking forward to the 2009 show ! Thanks for the memories !
PS...To all those players not mentioned I appologise . You all did a great job and brought a special something to the show !I simply ran out of time and words for this post . Rick

Thanks, Jim AND PATTY Thompson for a fine show. Enjoyed it so much, and no snow!

Thank you Jim and Pattie for a great weekend of fine music and fellowship. I felt like a kid in a candy store. Pattie, I want to especially thank you for the loan of your pretty red car to go eat and the hair spray. Looking forward to seeing you all at our show on May 12 and 13th.

WOW! What a great show! We would like to thank Jim and Patty for putting on such a fantastic show. All the hard work they put into it showed. I would like to thank all the musicians in the band, they were excellent. I hope that these shows continue because this is what the steel guitar community needs. And it sure did show this weekend with a packed house. Thanks for inviting me to participate.
Terry McCumbee

Just wanted to pass my Thanks along with the rest to Jim & Patty & Crew for a great weekend!...
We had a great time, and i got a chance to live out one of my all time dreams, and that was to work the super jam with one of my all time Hero's ( Russ Hicks)
And not to mention getting to hear all my other favorite Pickers. I look forward to the next one!
Mike
PS. joe-- thanks for the taters!

Thank you Jim and Patty , and all the staff and volunteers who helped organize and produce this show...
And to all of the artists, and band members for your artistry, and talents..
I had the opportunity to share the stage with some of my all time heros and picking buddies..and to listen to some great talent..and to see old friends, and make new ones...
Thank you for the invitation,and for letting me be a small part of the show.And thank you for your hospitality, and considerations..I hope to be invited again..I really enjoyed this great show...
RP...'come on in'...

Jim and Patty thank you both for such a wonderful oppurtunity to come and be a part of such a great show. Me and the guys that came with me appreciate the kindness and the hospitality shown to us all weekend. Also a thanks to house band they did a great job, they are indeed the top of the heap. To all of the players this weekend thanks you for the spectacular entertainment each and everyone added something that was so special to the show. May God bless all of you.
Phil and Gail Perry

Too often I find myself, whatever the reason, at the steel shows failing to stop long enough to enjoy the performances of the other players. Not so this past weekend; not only did I hear some truly great playing from what we call 'local' talent, but I experienced some wonderful moments on the sets of Don Helms with Chris Malpas, John Hughey with a singer doing Conway Twitty songs (maybe someone can help me with his name), Mike Sigler, what a player and singer (the next time we do a show together Mike and Laney are doing a duet together), Herby Wallace, I know he's going to be back 'up to speed'soon, and MISTER Buddy Charleton, even tho there were some 'sound tech' problems on his set it was a thrill to hear him do those truly classic pieces he's famous for.
A fun weekend for me and thanks and congratulations to Jim Thompson and his crew.

Jim - Sounds like a huge success. I tip my hat to you for pulling together another great event! Hopefully my schedule will allow me to make the next one.

Russ, the gentleman who sang the Conway Twity songs was Dave Parsons.

Jim & Pattie,

Thanks so much for putting on such a great show, and thank you even more for asking me to be part of things. It was an entire weekend of highlights. I wish we could do the whole thing over again next weekend.

See ya soon,
Jim

Jim - thanks again for inviting me, it was truly a great show and job well done. The fellowship and support given by the steel guitar community is second to none. It was awesome to see and hear all the great players that I could - I only wish I could have stayed longer.

Lance

Well, I just got home a few minutes ago, and I must add a few comments about this great show. I have been doing steel guitar shows regularly all over the Country since 1978 and I must say that Jim Thompson's show was one of the best yet. It was first class in every respect. First, the lineup of players was great, the backup band was excellent, the sound crew was excellent, and believe me, I don't say that unless I really mean it. The setup guys that helped us with our equipment were unbelieveable as Danny said. I honestly can't think of one negative thing about the show except that it is over and I had to go home! Also, I must mention that Jim had asked me to do a seminar on Friday and even though I used to do quite a few seminars in the past, I was hesitant, because in many areas people just don't come out and support seminars as they once did in the past. I have actually had some with only 4 or 5 people show up and it won't even pay the expense of doing it, but the people of Western PA and surrounding areas came out. We had 15 steel players for the seminar which is an excellent turnout by today's standards, so that was very encouraging. I want to thank Jim and everyone else associated with the show and I am already looking forward to 2009.
Herby Wallace

I couldn't post a recap of the show any better than what has already been said. Thank you all so much for making this show the success that it was. Without the performers and the staff, and those in attendance it wouldn't have been as great as it was. My satisfaction in all of this is knowing that everybody enjoyed it. We'll do it all over again the last weekend of April '09. I would start naming names but I know I would leave someone out and I don't want to do that. Thank you all so much.