The Steel Guitar Forum

Who did most of Wynn Stewart's recording steel work in the 60's? Who were some of his road steel players in the 60's. Did Brumley ever record with him? Thanks.

Kevin, I think, at least with regard to his Capitol
releases (1965-on), Ralph Mooney was the main man. That said,
Wynn continued to record on Capitol well into the '70's, even after Ralph had gone on to work with
Waylon. I would guess Ralph also toured with him through 1970.
I think he joined Waylon around November, 1970.
Someone other than Ralph recorded with Wynn on "It's Such a Pretty World Today." (1966?).

Joe.

Kevin,

Two Capitol albums from 1970 ("Beautiful Day" and "Baby It's Yours") feature Lloyd Green on steel.

Kind Regards, Walter

It was Jimmy Collins on "Pretty World" I did some shows with Wynn in 59-60 when I was living in Tucson!

Ok, I never recorded or was on the road with him but in the early 80's Wynn hired a band I was working with to back him at a club in Glenn Rose TX so that counts don't it?

He was a really nice guy and very appreciative of the band.

Wynn was a super guy to play with. He had Respect for his sidemen. (Respect is the key). The man was a master at soulful singing, and was a pleasure to work with.

Wynn was the Ambassador for Country Music in Las Vegas. The Nashville Nevada was the meeting place of
real country in the west.One of the unsung singers of our time. Gave Merle his first hit. Handed Buck
numerous songs. Moon played with all of these at one time or another. Wynn should be in the hall of fame
and recognized for his addition to all of their lives. Nicest guy you would want to meet.One of the greatest singers. Wynn and Lefty taught them all how to sing.
Doc

I agree with you Don, Wynn was the Greatest

I ean Doc, Type error

I was always under the impression that it was Tom Brumley on "Pretty World".

Its my opinion that Wynn Stewart was a pivotal figure in the "West Coast Sound". He influenced many, and was a great country song writer and performer. I am just now delving into his music. Any info on his recording steel players would be much appreciated.

Hope this helps Kevin
Starting in Feb 1954 Recordings
1 Ralph Eugene Mooney
2 Carl Pouncey (Carl West)1958- 59
3 Ralph Mooney 59-65
4 Jimmie Collins OCT 66-67
5 Ralph Mooney Jan 68-70
6 LLoyd Green 71
7 Mooney 72-73
8 No Steel on cuts in 74 (recordings)
9 Stuart Basore April 75
10 Sept 7 1976 Russ Hicks overdub on Sing a Sad Song,Its Such a Pretty World
11 Sonny Garrish 1977
12 James Millard Vest 1978 (Big Jim Vest)
13 Junior Boyer 69 Demo
14Ralph on most others
Alvis "Buck" Owens played guitar on many of his earlier records. Merle played guitar on some of them,and Clarence White
on some of them.
Wynn was a legend before most of them and will someday get his due.
What John Huey was to steelers, Wynn Stewart was to singers.
Doc Rickles
Moon also wrote Crazy Arms and Fallin for You





c

In the late 50s-early 60s, Mooney was his main steel player. A lot of great stuff on the CD "Wynn Stewart: California Country-The best of the Challenge Masters". (AVI CD 5013).

I only got into Wynn Stewart fairly recently myself. What a great and under-appreciated singer!

Does anyone have any back ground on who Jimmie Collins was? I never heard of him. Mooney seems to be the man most of the time. Thanks Doc, that was great. VERY helpful.

You all are not kidding about Wynn Stewart being a great singer. I do agree. I suppose I have heard about everything by Wynn that was released though I would have to search my stash for his stuff. I remember buying Wynn Stewart records when I was still in elementary school and now I see just how underrated he
was. He was a special singer and a great writer.

Dan

I am going to be adding Wynn Stewart to my set list. This man was HIGHLY underated. He was the Buck Owens behind Buck Owens and the Merle Haggard behind Merle Haggard. He was a great country singer/song writer. This is going to be interesting researching him.

Merle Haggard often credited Lefty Frizzell as a main
influence in his singing, but rarely, if ever gave Wynn credit. When I first started collecting every
Bakersfield artist's recordings I could get my hands on in the early '70's, I almost immediately could hear Wynn's sound in Hag's vocals. I didn't learn until much later that Merle had been in Wynn's band
(during the Nashville Nevada years).
I think in more recent times Merle has credited Wynn
Stewart's influence on him as an artist.

Some may know this, but you can here the beginnings of "Rainy Day Woman" in Wynn's "Big Big Love," and
"Louisian Blues Harp Man." Both are well worth searching for if you're even vaguely interested in
Ralph Mooney (and who isn't?).

Joe

My all time favorite Wynn song is "Does He Love You Like I Do". I was in a club in San Diego in 64-65 where we were doing a benefit for a fellow musician. Someone ask me if I did Wynn and I started on "Half of This, Half of That" when Rose Maddox and Wynn walked in the back door. Wynn was extremely gracious and told me he was glad that someone enjoyed his songs enough to sing them. Later when he sang, he did "Does He Love You" and it was one of the greatest performances I have ever witnessed. I ask him to write the words down, which he did and I've been doing it ever since.
It was one of my first selections to put on my CD.
His Box set is super.........Long live Wynn

To correct Doc's typo ... It was Bill Anderson who wrote City Lights. Moon wrote Crazy Arms,Fallin For You, Something About A Jukebox ...
Nothing major here, just a correction. Regards, Fred

Thanks Fred on typo correction. I went back and corrected it. It was late and the lights were bright, Kinda got lost in the list. I think I have the 2002 GFI 2002 Keyless you had at one time,
signed by Ralph. At least I thought it was you. Got it from Autry.
Thanks again
Doc

Floating around YouTube is Wynn singing "I won't Live That Long" with Tom Brumley and Don Rich and the rest of the Buckaroo's backing him up. It is so good.....so much better than his recording of the same song. In my opinion, his later recordings were a classic example of the producer 'over producing' and not letting the 'wonderful simplicity' of Wynn Stewart shine through. He needed background vocal groups like a hole in the head. Just listen to the above mentioned YouTube. Also, listen to the 'Sing a Sad Song' version where he introduces Ralph Mooney for the middle break and also listen to 'Let me be the First to Go'. For my money, no one can beat him and there are a number of singers that I like an awful lot.....most all of them in Texas.

Merle Haggard's first hit "Sing a Sad Song" was written by Wynn. Wynn had to be one of the most underrated singers there ever was. He just wasn't in the "Nashville thing" which was a curse to some. Buck and Merle made it in spite of being West Coast based but I always thought Wynn should have been much bigger than he was. Hell, when I was first starting out, all the bands did Wynn Stewart songs and all the audiences loved 'em!......JH in Va.

Hi Kevin!

There was a guy named Jerry (Snakey) Boyanton who played the West Coast/Las Vegas clubs back in the late fifties through the sixties. I don't think he ever recorded with Wynn, or was a member of his band, but he may have worked with him on occasion. I only mention him here because he and Chalker were friends and Curly mentioned Snakey playing with Wynn in Vegas during a conversation a few years back. Ralph Mooney may have some knowledge of him.
According to Chalker, Boyanton was also friends with Zane Beck and Tom Brumley. After his Fender era, he almost always played D11 ZB Custom Guitars.
Cheers!

Benton

I played bass for Wynn in 68..the steel player was Cal Freeman. Don't know if Cal did any sessions but he was the road player.

Joe- I hear you. Ralph Mooney seemed to base a lot of his later solos on "Big Big Love". You can hear it all over the live Waylon double album.