Jolly Green Giants/Vintage Stuff

[Stephen Gregory]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhna41tC ... ed&search=

[Stephen Gregory]

Here are the names of these great players! Noel Stanley - electric bass, Don Lacy - drums, Bobby Whitton - lead guitar, Ron Elliott - pedal steel guitar, Jimmy Dry - fiddle. Jack Greene's Jolly Green Giants!

[Bobby Caldwell]

What a nice band. Great players. But can you believe what it would be like to be in a group and on the road with Ron Elliott? I would spend most of the time laughing more than anytine else. He is a funny funny man and a great player and he is my friend. How 'bout that. Great job guys. Bobby

[Ron Elliott]

Thanks Bobby C. It' really great to look back and see what I looked like at 83 pounds. Love you Bobby, see you down the road, my friend. Ron

[Stephen Gambrell]

What Bobby said, and THEN some! If Ron won't make you laugh, you're ready for burial.

[Terry Niendorf]

In the spring of 1966 (I think) I was in the Air Force and was transferred to Tennessee. First chance I had I went into Nashville to the Sho Bud shop. I was pretty new to the steel but as soon as I walked in the door I knew I was in some place special. As I was browsing around I noticed there was a young guy sitting in sort of a corner playing steel, sort of practicing licks and such. I realized after just half listening to him that he was real good. I walked over to watch and listen to him and after a couple of minutes he stopped and started talking to me, asking where I was from, did I pick steel, etc.. He took the time to talk with me for several minutes, showing me some quick runs and turn arounds, but those few minutes have stayed with me all my life. He was, in a way, motivation for me to really pursue the steel. I have always wondered who he might have been, and now after seeing pictures of some of the great steel players I am pretty sure it was Ron Elliott. Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to share this, and Ron I just want to say hello, thanks, and I hope to meet up with you again some time.

[Ron Elliott]

Thanks Terry for remembering. Are you still living in Boise? One of our fine players from Boise bought one of my green P/P Emmons guitars. I'd sure like to connect with him(or her). Thanks again. My e-mail is rpesr@bellsouth.net or my website is http://freewebs.com/ronelliottmusic/ Ron

[Billy Gilbert]

That fiddle player sure looks like Dale Morris. :) Billy

[Ron Elliott]

The fiddle player was Jimmy Dry from Texas. Thanks, Ron

[Jody Cameron]

Wow, I just saw Don Lacy this past Sat. playing at a festival near Houston, TX. He still plays great. Our own Dr. Bobby Bowman was playing steel, too!

JC

[Stephen Gregory]

Anyone aware of what the rest of these "pickers" are doing now, musically?

[Ron Elliott]

Jimmy Dry(fiddle) is for the most part retired, but still doing some playing in the east Tx. area. Noel Stanley(bass) had retired and moved to Hawaii...his wife passed away,..Noel moved back to Conroe, Tx. Don Lacy is a Lt. Col. on the Sheriff's Dept in and around the Houston area. Bobby Whitton(guitar) left Mel Tillis after a very long stay with Mel...and is now doing some kind of driving program with the U.S. Govt....and of course, yours truly(steel) still playing 52 weeks a year...either on the circuit playing the steel shows, some studio work, and working the VFW in Gallatin, TN on the weekends. I just finished playing a Gospel album(CD) with Don Helms. Well, that's about it for the Jolly Giants...a wonderful organization for many years. Much joy. Ron