Mystery Steeler - Mamou, Louisiana

Isaac Stanford · Post by **Isaac Stanford** » 17 May 2007 4:11 am

Anybody recognize this guy? The picture was found in old photos my dad took in Mamou, Louisiana around 1973.

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 17 May 2007 5:50 am

Elvis

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 17 May 2007 8:11 am

I don't know, but he is amazing. Notice he plays both right handed and left handed. (Maybe a reverse negative on the photo?)

Isaac Stanford · Post by **Isaac Stanford** » 17 May 2007 9:53 am

Very perceptive Jim. I hadn't noticed the reversed picture.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 17 May 2007 11:06 am

Whooo boy, look at them shoes.

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 17 May 2007 11:28 am

I don't know for sure but I think its J. M.

Tom Harris · Post by **Tom Harris** » 17 May 2007 11:57 am

MMMMM,at first glance,,it looked a lot like a younger "Royce Tarver",but after looking good at him i realized it wasnt Royce,but he is a sho nuf "stand out" type of steeler lol,,yep,,i also noticed the left and right handed change,,and i agree with Sturat,i believe it's " J M " lol...one thing for sure,,Carl Perkins didnt have anything on him lol..
Nuff Said....
Tom

David Higginbotham · Post by **David Higginbotham** » 17 May 2007 2:57 pm

Well, down here we have an excellent player by the name of Jr. Martin. But that is not him playing and I am not certain that is who "JM" is.

But the player looks like another great player, Rodney Miller, who was very instrumental in making the steel guitar prevelant in cajun music.
Dave

Milton Guilbeau · Post by **Milton Guilbeau** » 17 May 2007 5:49 pm

David is correct. It is Rodney Miller, his son Ronnie on drums and the late Dick Richard on fiddle. Rodney is still working gigs around Lafayette, LoUiSiAna. Although the initials JM are shown, Junior Martin says he never owned this guitar.

Milton Guilbeau

Isaac Stanford · Post by **Isaac Stanford** » 17 May 2007 7:31 pm

Well done David and Milton! Every band member as well. Unfortunately the negative had those vertical lines across it. Here is the first picture without the reversal. If you see Rodney Miller or his son ask them if they'd like a copy of the pictures.

Ricky Thibodeaux · Post by **Ricky Thibodeaux** » 18 May 2007 3:35 am

There is also another player down there in cajun land with the same initials. They call him Junior Miller (Issac Miller) is his real name.He is an exceptional cajun steeler as well. He sold me my first steel in 1975 when he was playing with my dad's band (Geno Thibodeaux)

Daniel J. Cormier · Post by **Daniel J. Cormier** » 18 May 2007 5:25 am

Thats not Rodneys Guitar, Looks like Jr. Issac Millers D-8 Fender. That is Rodney( Hot Rod) Miller in the picture. At the time this picture was taken Rodney was playing a Fender 400 or 1000.
Rodeny has had a stroke in recent days.So keep him in your prayers.

David Higginbotham · Post by **David Higginbotham** » 18 May 2007 8:18 am

Isaac Stanford, please email me at dhiggi7494@aol.com. I am certain that Rodney & Ronnie would love to have a copy of those pics. You can send them to me and I will get them to Rodney.
I played in Rodney's place recently 2 days after his stroke and his son Ronnie played drums for us.

The great news is that Rodney is recovering nicely since the stroke was caught early enough to prevent major permanent damage.

Isaac "Jr." Miller is also a great steeler as mentioned and last I heard he was playing in the New Orleans area. All three of these steelers mentioned have had a big influence on all of us down here and have set the standard of playing in Cajun music.
Dave

Isaac Stanford · Post by **Isaac Stanford** » 18 May 2007 9:32 am

David - I'll have my dad, who took the pictures, get in touch with you directly. Thanks for all the interesting history. I'm glad to hear that Rodney is recovering.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Mystery Steeler - Mamou, Louisiana

Mystery Steeler - Mamou, Louisiana

well Done

Maybe

Hot Rod Miller