The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi guys. I was wondering what PSG players think of Speedy West. I'd like to learn more about him. I don't play PSG but love it anyway. (I'm from the TDPRI Telecaster forum. ) I just don't hear anyone today who sounds anything like Speedy, but point me in the right direction if there are those that do. I bought the three cd Jimmy Bryant - Frettin' Fingers anthology which Speedy is all over, and I can't put it down.. because of Speedy as much as Jimmy! The liner notes say Speedy was the first country pedal steel guitarist.

Hi Stephanie,
Run a search on the Forum for Speedy West. He is a much admired musician/ person, one of my favorites.
Chuck

There never was or will be someone again like Speedy, way above Bryant, I think, but they made a great team.

Who's aware that Speedy's personal playing was much different than his stage/recording style?
His famous type of playing was merely for 'show and tell', and he sure succeeded at that.

Steph, if you dig the box set, then try and find the Jasmine CD release of Tennessee Ernie Ford's live TV show from the late 50s, which has the Capital Recs. A team backing TEF on about 30 cuts, and showcases Speedy at his ultimate prime. Only a few cuts w/Bryant tho. Funny too!

Check out the Bear Family box set as well,, and you might as well check out Jeramy Wakefield, there is a video from Deke Dickerson first guitar geek fest that has JW and TK smith doing a Jimmy and Speedy tribute and the second fest has more of the same type of playing from the two, and his disk with Dave Biller. Also Lee Jefferies is up there with that style with Big Sandy and the Flyright boys stuff as well as Jimmie Roy with the same group.

Speedy West was a long time favorite of mine. My 4-neck Bigsby has three of Speedy's necks installed thereon. At one time, I could play all of Speedy's recordings, note for note, with the exception of "Stratosphere Boogie" and one or two others that were similar to it in speed.
What I found frustrating was, in the olden days, very few rhythm guitar pickers could continue to play the proper chords for the wild screaming choruses and bar slamming episodes. After many years, I just gave up. Why learn 'em if no one can play them, right?
The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Assn. website has several of Speedy's tunes that we did on live TV back in the good ole days, PRIOR to the 1980's! These of course were done on the Bigsby.

There are not sufficient words in the english language to describe what we all owe to Speedy West. He opened so many doors for steel guitar and was a fantastic player. He was one of my dearest friends, and I sure miss him. Jody.

Steph,

Look for this cover,

Live stuff from the Tennessee Ernie Ford Shows, has 39 cuts on it and about 9 or 10 instrumentals. Tons and Tons of Speedy, and he was even more incredible live. Here it is on Barnes & Noble and you can listen to clips Tennessee Ernie Ford Shows 1953

another one with plenty of Speedy and Jimmy is the Bear Family release "Sixteen Tons- Tennessee Ernie Ford"

Ron Whitfield wrote:
Who's aware that Speedy's personal playing was much different than his stage/recording style?
His famous type of playing was merely for 'show and tell', and he sure succeeded at that.

I completely agree. His studio work is very controlled and simplified, at times, but his live playing is just unbelievable and very out there.

If you haven't run a YOUtube search for him, you should:) Some really killer stuff with Ford on there.

A

I have to chime in here....Speedy is the reason I ever got involved with the steel guitar. As a young lad growing up in southern Illinois, my brother had every 78 rpm record of Speedy he could lay his hands on. I devoured every note Speedy recorded. I couldn't wait to get my first lap steel and make my feeble attempts to copy my hero. Later on in life, I got the chance to meet and spend many hours with the man himself. And what a man he was. Not only was he a great showman and musician, he was a gentleman and a real down to earth christian person. I stayed at Speedy and Mary's home overnight on the way home from Nashville, and Speedy wrote the liner notes on my CD. We talked on the phone nearly every week till his death. I flew to Tulsa to his funeral, and spent a few hours with the family. What a loss. Mary gave me a painting that hung over their fireplace that was a favorite of his, one of his engraved tone bars, a couple of picks, and a napkin of a characture of him drawn by Merle Travis in Jackpot Nevada. Oh yes, Speedy always carried a $2 bill for good luck. After he passed, Mary sent that to me as well. I miss that man! He as a gem and there will never be another Speedy West. May he rest in peace. We will meet again, old friend.

Billy Easton
Casa Grande, AZ

The backup band for Speedy on the Tennessee Ernie Ford Show recordings that I have feature George Gruhn on rhythm guitar and Harold Hensley on fiddle. I am assuming that these are the famous Nashville vintage instrument dealer and long time Grand Ole Opry announcer respectively. Would anyone know if this is correct.

Ray Montee wrote: What I found frustrating was, in the olden days, very few rhythm guitar pickers could continue to play the proper chords for the wild screaming choruses and bar slamming episodes. After many years, I just gave up. Why learn 'em if no one can play them, right?

I suppose someone who knows western swing or gypsy jazz would be able to back you up. I'm learning Twin Guitar Special, and the comping section where the rhythm guitar is backing up Leon McAuliffe is tough.

I'll look for those live Tennessee Ernie Ford recordings!

Alvin, that's not quite what I meant, but your statement is still quite relevant.
Ray and I have a mutual friend that was very close to Speedy, like Mr. Easten fortunately was, and he has recordings of Speedy's REAL steel style, which is not the flash and crash we're used to hearing, even in the studio where he was slightly more subdude, but show a smoother texture that would melt the heart of any listener.
And, thanx, Alvin for posting that CD cover. It's not the same one I mentioned, 'Let's Have A Party For The Old Folk's' on Jasmine, which means there is more of this great music to find and enjoy, WEEHAW!

David, I remember Hensley being on the CD I have, and quite possibly Billy Siebert, as the pic above shows. I forget whom else, at the moment.

Billy, those are treasured comments you've posted for anyone that cares about Speedy and his family. What incredible memories and momentos, not the least of which would be the Travis scetch.
Few now know that Merle was very talented in this manner, and I've been hoping to post a full band scetch he did long ago that is typically very humorous.

Speedy's son is also a talented steeler.

Thank God, for Speedy West!

For a listen to 'the other Speedy', you might try to catch a listen to some of Eddie Kirk Capital records.
The Gods Were Angry With Me for Loving You; Dear Hearts and Gentle People; are two that come to mind.
Speedy's own "West of Samoa" is another example....

What do you play Steph?

I spent an evening at Speedy's home in Broken Arrow back in October of 1977. Speedy played me a few tunes in his music room and then spent time talking about his music career in California, while drinking some iced tea in the kitchen. This is a very memorable evening for me.

Ray, another favorite tune of Speedy's was, "My Mother's Eyes."


ROGER

Welcome to the Forum, Stephanie!

Billy Wilson wrote:What do you play Steph?

Telecasters mainly. My dream would be to be in a band, just for fun, with another guitar player, a steel player and rhythm section playing 40s - 60s music, and completely removing the punk rock influence that creeps into country these days. That's my vision anyhow.

Thanks Larry!

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David, I don't know about George Gruhn being the same guy as the Nashville vintage guitar dealer but the fiddle player Harold Hensley is a different person than the Nashville announcer. His first name was Harryl or something like that, it didn't have the D on the end of the name. Harold Hensley was a very well know west coast fiddler who I got to know through Billy Mize when I was working on the west coast. He played mostly with western swing and cowboy music groups. I believe he's deceased now....JH in Va.

Speedy and Jimmy's Swinging on the Strings Vol. 2 compilation is one of favs. A lot of my musician friends get really intrigued by these recordings when they hear them. The musicianship is second to none, and the quality of the recordings is stunning for the time period.

I think Jimmy Bryant was an impossibly good guitarist.......just so fast and tasty. It is obvious upon listening to Bryant that guys like Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Hendrix owe a lot to him. I bought the CD for Speedy but Jimmy was a huge unexpected treat.

When I was 16 years old (1952) my twin brother and I was part of the many contestents at the Steel Guitar Convention in Burbank. We did not have a place to practice until Speedy and Bryant invited our music teacher to use their studio. Of course they intertained all of the 15 or so students. There has been only one mention of his son Speedy Jr. He is here in Okla. City plays regular at clubs, does session work and gives PSG lessons. I often wonder why he is not invited to Tulsa or Dallas show. He favors his father in looks.

Lorren, I too have wondered why I've never heard of Speedy's son anywhere except from Wayne Tanner, concerning Speedy's home style. You'd think Sir Jr. would be a revered commodity, and get plenty of coverage.
Wierd world...

Cool story about the fantastic opportunity you kids had, wish I'd have been there!

You are totally correct about Harold.
I believe George was very active around Ernie and other shows mostly as a trombone player.

Lotta names out there.
al