Al Marcus, My Grandpa, Has Passed Away

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 20 Sep 2009 6:51 am

I have also shared e-mails with Al. He will be missed

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 20 Sep 2009 7:50 am

Through his posts and emails I learned to love him like a family member. Thanks for your help and support,Al, may you rest in peace.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 20 Sep 2009 8:50 am

Al was an inspiration to us all, showing us that love of the steel guitar was a whole, lifelong endeavor. He never let go of that passion for his instrument. Though I never knew him personally, he was certainly the kind of friend I would treasure.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 20 Sep 2009 10:16 am

I never met Al but I always enjoyed his posts. A sad day.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 20 Sep 2009 11:16 am

I am sad to read of Al's passing.
Al was supportive of many of my copedant ideas over the years. He was always very into it!
All my best to Al in the afterlife, and his family in the here and now.
pete b.

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 20 Sep 2009 11:59 am

Al was a great guy and a good friend. I would always look for him when LT Zinn had the annual Michigan show in Grand Rapids. I'd always pull out an old big band swing tune just for Al. He wasn't very tall but you could always find him in a crowd by that fishing hat. He was arguably the worlds most knowledgeable expert on the E6 tuning and on Alvino Rey and his contributions.

I've always admired folks who are able to live a happy productive life making a living as a musician. Some do, but many don't. Al was certainly one of them who did. He always had a smile on his face and he would jaw with you for DAYS about tunings and changes and theory.

I kinda lost touch, except for the occasional EMail or Forum exchange, when I moved to Florida almost five years ago. I too will miss Al Marcus in many different ways. Another fallen hero.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 20 Sep 2009 2:54 pm

Oh no....this is so sad. I just thought about Al today, and happened upon this thread this evening. (I only look here once a month or so, because it gets kinda sad.) Al and I were kindred spirits with the Sho~Buds, and would correspond from time to time on email. He was one of the first to reach out to me when I joined in 2005, and has been a good friend to me around here ever since. I loved his videos; what a great player. He was a big supporter of the younger players, and even posted a comment on one of my Sho~Bud videos recently. It was an honour to know that he took the time to look. I wish I could have said good-bye. I will miss Al greatly.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 20 Sep 2009 3:05 pm

Oh my. I just ran across this post. It's a sad day, indeed. I just hate losing family members like this. Al always had a good story to tell and information to share. We'll miss him.

Lee, from South Texas

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 20 Sep 2009 4:22 pm

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this but, the last entry at Charles Tilley's site on the Steel On The Web Forum was Al doing his usual congratulations to Basilh on a song he had posted. The man was true to himself until the end as so many have mentioned in this tribute thread to Al !! The entry was made on the 13th and he passed on the 15th...

God Speed my friend...

Regards, Paul

Leroy Riggs · Post by **Leroy Riggs** » 20 Sep 2009 5:37 pm

This is sad. I sold a U-12 BMI to him 10 years ago and we became good friends. I am sorry to hear this.

His family is in our thoughts.
.

Danny Hullihen · Post by **Danny Hullihen** » 21 Sep 2009 5:57 am

I am very sad to hear of Al's passing. He was a great friend to me and many others, and he will be missed very much.

Mark Treepaz · Post by **Mark Treepaz** » 21 Sep 2009 6:00 am

I too just came across this sad posting. My condolences go out to Al's entire family at this sad time. He will be missed here on the forum.

When I was first starting to play PSG, he was one of the first to send me a PM with some learning tips.

Rest In Peace.

Randy Gilliam · Post by **Randy Gilliam** » 21 Sep 2009 9:05 am

I Will Send Prayers Too The Family, Al Marcus Will Be Missed, God Bless ,Randy Gilliam.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 21 Sep 2009 9:19 am

I never met Al, but I did correspond with him here on the SGF. I couldn't help liking him and his open-minded attitude to steel guitar and music.

Please accept my condolences.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 21 Sep 2009 10:38 am

Sorry to hear about Al's passing.
We've all lost a friend.
My sincere condolences to his family.

Bill Stafford · Post by **Bill Stafford** » 21 Sep 2009 11:01 am

I am so saddened to hear of this. Another of our steel guitar giants has left us. He will be missed so very much. His friendship to me will be cherished all my life. Condolences to his wonderful family.
I just now found this out and I am so sorry for this late response. I had just received email from Al not so very long ago and this is a big shock to me. Rest in peace my dear friend.
Bill Stafford

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 21 Sep 2009 11:39 am

Echoing Bill Stafford's post, I, like all of you have lost a wonderful friend here. Al was always one of my CD buddies, he loved the Standards, my "As Time Goes By" and asked me many questions about it in the last year.

I was very intrested in his playing career and he sent me many clippings and promo posters of jobs he did in his life.

He was a fastenating friend and will be greatly missed by myself and any one that knew him.

Another great player and friend to be missed.

Bobbe

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 21 Sep 2009 11:50 am

Ever since reading the sad news, I've been mentally composing a remembrance...except it's almost word for word the same (especially "Grand Old Man") as what David Doggett wrote on Page 1.

Like many others, I have been in awe of Al's website. Not only is it an encyclopedia of steel guitars and music, but I caught a glimpse into the early life of a co-worker of mine at the CBS Television City Videotape Department. Nowadays, Marcus Weise is one of the top authorities on high-definition videotape operations and has even co-authored a textbook on the subject. In the seventies, Marcus was a pedal-steel teacher (you can see his ads in Steel Guitarist Magazine.) He is also seen on Al's website in pictures when they were both at Jeffran College circa 1977.

It's a small world...and a poorer one without Al.

Ernie Pollock · Post by **Ernie Pollock** » 22 Sep 2009 12:10 pm

Al was on here when I arrived, he will be missed & I am sorry to hear of his death cause he was one of the good guys, thats for sure

Ernie Pollock

Jack Shults · Post by **Jack Shults** » 22 Sep 2009 4:03 pm

Like many others, I never met Al, but always enjoyed his posts on the forum, as well as the times we communicated via email.

He was a great musician and a friend to all of us here on the forum.

Jack

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 23 Sep 2009 6:44 pm

I will really and truly miss Al on this forum. He was a true musician's friend. God bless Al.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 24 Sep 2009 8:20 am

I am saddened to hear this news. Al made a lot of friends here on the Steel Guitar Forum. He was always so positive, so upbeat and excited about steel guitar! Always willing to share a story, share information... a very kind, helpful, and knowledgeable man. My condolences to the family. Rest in peace, Al.

Junior Knight · Post by **Junior Knight** » 24 Sep 2009 8:34 am

So sorry to hear this. He was a great person and friend. Our prayers are with the family.

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · Post by **Jim Lindsey (Louisiana)** » 24 Sep 2009 10:54 am

I am so very sorry to hear of this. While I didn't know Al personally, I enjoyed his posts whenever I'd hop on here either as a guest or member and he will be sorely missed. My sincerest and most earnest prayers are with his family and my most heartfelt condolences.

Evelyn Whitney · Post by **Evelyn Whitney** » 24 Sep 2009 11:47 am

I'm not sure why we feel shock and disbelief. Maybe, because, we thought he would always be here with us.
He just always was.
He really liked my son Frank's steel playing, that got him right into my heart.LOL
He was a precious soul. I know God loved him.
When I told L T Zinn that Al had gone home, he just kept asking me "What did you say? unbelief.
We treasure the friendship we had with AL.
Evelyn and L T

The Steel Guitar Forum

Al Marcus, My Grandpa, Has Passed Away

Sad News

RIP Al

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Goodbye old Friend