The Steel Guitar Forum

No he's not sick he's got Rockabilly Fever. And you should get it too. Keith and his buddies have a new CD out that I love because it is out of the box and proves again there is no arena a steel guitarist can't perform in. If you love the music of the 50s and 60s rockabilly era you will love this CD. Songs like The Midnight Special, I doesn't really matter anymore, and I'm walkin. It's cool. I think Keith and his friends are having the time if their lives with the recordings they are making and their fun and excitement shows. Heck the CD cover is worth the price of the CD. Check it out.

Thanks Scott, I am glad you liked our new CD. Yes Scott, it is out of the box stuff for E9th pedal steel guitar. Come to think of it Scott, I don't think I have ever heard of a steel guitar being on any of these Rockabilly tunes, except maybe #10. I love the Ray Price type stuff, probably more than any steel player. But--We wanted to do somthing different, take the music and the E9th steel guitar on a different road. I personally thought the material needed some distortion/fuzz, but I was out voted. I was happy with the end result,staight E9th. The only effects I used was a envelope filter on 2 songs, and a vibroto on one song. 8 of the 10 songs were fast songs. So what do you do when you have never heard Buddy Emmons, or any of your other heros play the songs you are attempting to put on a CD? That leaves you with only one option, start thinbking and be original. I may not be a great player, but I hope someone says my playing is a little different. As for the cover Scott, we have this theory about the general public, music and sheep. We don't think the general public is interested in listening to anyone over 30, and the public thinks people over 40 should be in a rest home instead of playing music. The steel guitar community WILL listen to musicians over 40 and they will listen to instrumentals. The general public won't. As for the general public, ugly old men like me, 64 years old, with white hair, and Gary, partly bald and 64, would totally turn off the general public. With our ugly picutres on the cover there is no way we could ever sell any of these CDs to the general public. It is sad that we live in a throw away society, but old age in our society is not respected by the general public. Like a old television, you throw it away, you don't fix it. If you are over 40 you should be headed to a rest home. To get the general public to not form an opinion before they listen to the CD, we have eye catching covers on our CDs. Our 2006 CD had the beautiful baby twins. Our 2007 CD has a picture that would make anyone take a 2nd look. If the general public sees a pedal steel guitar on the cover of a CD, they put the music in a particular class, even before they listen to the CD. It bothers me that the general public thinks a steel guitar is just for slow twangy country. With our CD cover, the general public will have to listen to form an opinion, instead of having an opinion without listening. Now you know the reason for my weird CD covers Scott. Thanks again for your kind words about our CD. Gary and I really admire your musical ability Scott.

I better put in my 3 cents worth. Keith keeps forgetting to mention that these CD's have vocals on them.They are old songs that I loved back in the late 50's and 60's when I first started.Scott,Keith is right about liking your playing,I listen to your
"Jazzabillies" CD a lot.The "Rock-a-Billy Fever" CD
is available for sale on Keith Hilton's webb site,so everybody needs to catch the FEVER.Hope I can see ya'll in Baxter Springs Ka. Gary A.

Keith, be sure and bring some of those CD's to the Kansas show. Put me down for one and I hope you sell a million of them. Ray

Ray, what's your mailing address? You need a free CD for all the work you do putting on steel shows.

Keith, I still have the course you put out years ago on licks for 50's rock. Good stuff for sure.

Tony

I would like to say that I have really grown to like Keith Hilton and Gary Atkinson a whole bunch. Keith got some great tone out of that Emmons guitar and there are not too many singers around that are as smooth as ole Gary Atkinson. good luck guys, keep on blazing new trails

Jack, congratulations on your new gig at Silver Dollar City. Thanks for your kind words about our new CD. I am very lucky to get to play for such a great singer as Gary. There are many pickers a lot better than me that Gary could get. The only thing I can figure is Gary likes me because I am just a little bit crazy when it comes to E9th pedal steel.

Hey Jack Congrats on the gig. You're not playing with a long legged Alan Jackson looking piano player by the name of Gale Richey are you? He's a buddy. Tell him I said howdy if you are.

Hey ya'll, The main reason I play with Keith is because he always attracts such good-looking women, that's why he has to wear a mask to protect himself.
We're all in it for the fun and enjoyment anymore. There sho' nuff ain't no money in it. Gary A.