The Steel Guitar Forum

It's a stated fact, that JERRY BYRD was handwriting and mailing out some 600+ letters per year to his most ardent fans.

How many of YOU.......rec'd letters from JERRY BYRD and how many exchanges were made?

How about the other steel players like: Hal Rugg, Roy Wiggins, Don Helms, Joaquin Murphy, Speedy West.

Just curious how many of the BIG NAMES actually wrote back to those of us who were die hard fans.

What say you?

I wrote to both Jerry Byrd and Mike Auldridge with some questions. I got friendly and down to earth replies from both of them. The questions were very basic and elementry. It was long ago. I can't even remember what my questions were.

howdy, cannot say that i have , but theres a lot of players over here in the, UK, that ive talked to, and look up to, and theve inspired me no end, lew.

Having lived in Honolulu for about 6-mon. in 1980, I was a bit acquainted with Jerry Byrd, (even before he moved there from Nashville) After moving back to Nashville in 06/80, I had several occasions in which I wrote to Jerry with certain tuning-questions. I have about 3-letters that I saved in reply to various questions. As for people like Don Helms, John Hughey, Buddy Emmons, Doug Jernigan, Lloyd Greem, Weldon Myrick and many more too numorous to mention here, I'm fortunate in that I live in their midst and can ask questions in person. A very fortunate position to be in!

Jerry since 1948 and Reece Anderson since the days in south oak cliff and Roy Wiggins since 1944. cc

Once in a while I get an email from b0b, does that count??

A lot of the famous steel players are friends of mine. Don Helms and I were friends. I'm also friends with guys like Paul Franklin, Tim Sergent, and many other steel players. I've met so many, it's hard to tell who they all are.

Brett

Sent Bobbe Seymour my mastercard number, he replied with a really nice 73 Emmons PP.

Jack Francis wrote:Once in a while I get an email from b0b, does that count??

If getting an e-mail from b0b counts,- then I have one. He once told me to stop "cluttering up his mailbox" E-mail was strictly for the SGF business and he didn't have time or space for my messages.
I haven't bothered him since except to tell him whenever I can't access the SGF. Sorry again, b0b.
Wally

I've traded a couple of e-mails w/ Tommy Detamore - he's a great guy.

I got a Buckeroo for one of my best buddies.

one year, rebuilding a pp, i emailed jaydee maness out of the blue and he graciously offered some suggestions of spring placement, etc.
i have found most professional steel players to be very approachable and courteous...fish, jim vest, big murph, norm hamlet, lynn owsley, bruce bouton, bobby black, paul franklin...all have given me bits of their time when i asked for it.

Back when Bobbe Seymour was in the process of deciding whether or not to do a Ray Price tribute, several FoBro's were hot on his heels to do the project. He finally decided to go forward with it, and even asked for song suggestions from the Forum at large. Being both a Ray Price and Bobbe Seymour fan, not only did I load him up with my favorite song titles, there was hardly a week go by that I didn't pump him for info as to when it would be finished. One evening, totally by surprise, I received an email from one of Bobbe's Nashville friends that thanked me for the persistance, because he knew that Bobbe had a heart for this style of music and had been working on some things that really needed to be heard. "Priceless" was finally released, and is one of my favorites. Bobbe even gave me an acknowledgement in the liner notes. But, I'll always remember the email...from Sonny Garrish!

I called Lloyd Green some time around around 1998. Just a simple question from me which took all of 2 minutes to answer. Then he kept me on the phone for another 45 minutes, talking about his steels and recording in general, and the Charley Pride live album in particular. It is very seldom I have run across such a warm and wonderful professional person.

In the last couple of years I was in touch with Norm Hamlet. There again it proves to me that the more pro you are, the more humble and just plain nice the person is. Actually it was Norm who suggested I email him so he could explain his special brand of pick blocking. [/i]

I think this very topic highlights the forum's mandate of bringing steel players of all levels together. Since I've become a member of this forum, I've had the pleasure of conversing through email and/or in person with many players I admire, including Lloyd Green, Buddy Emmons, Jay Dee Maness, Skip Edwards, Neil Flanz, Tommy White, John Hughey, Bobbe Seymour, Al Perkins, Don Helms, Bruce Bouton, Doug Jernigan, and more. I've also gotten to know our great Canadian steel players as well, including Steve Smith, Jeff Bradshaw, Bob Lucier, and more.

The forum is responsible for me wanting to attend Dallas and St. Louis these last few years as well, where I've been able to meet some of my new friends and really get to know them in person. I also got to play in Alberta last June on the same bill as Don Helms and Doug Jernigan. It's fabulous.

I wrote Mike Auldridge when his 8 String Swing album came out, 5 letters I think with questions he did on that album and his tuning on After Midninght. He wrote back everytime, this was the early 80's and I still have the letters and got to jam with him later that year. Not a nicer guy. I emailed Mike Johnson on what equipment he used and he wrote back with everything he uses. Don't get no better than that.

Tony

EVERY MEMBER OF THIS FORUM IS FAMOUS TO ME, I DON'T CULL A ONE OF YOU LOVE YOU ALL.

ernie

"Have YOU corresponded with a famous steel player?"I shouted something obscene at Wayne Newton once.

I sometimes e-mail chris ivey...

I've never had the opportunity, however if I had the chance, I would like to correspond to some body like E or Weldon Myrick. Unfortunately John and Hal Rugg have gone to Heaven to be with the Lord, so I can only talk to them by prayer. LLoyd Green is another one too. And Buddy Charlton.

Well I can say I am friends with three presidents--Norma Jean Lucas, Hank Ruf and Lee Ogle. I can also say I am friends with three past presidents --Larry Garrett, Ray Qualls and Dave Musgrave. Good enough for me. !!! -

Occasionally Tom Brumley would drop a line......Great guy, great steeler, and his son sings up a storm!
I once got a personal email from Paul Franklin after posing a 'intro' question on the forum. At the time Paul was on the bus, traveling to their next gig! (The intro roughly tabbed!!)
Occasionally Bobbe Seymour would honor me with a short note.

I have been fortunate to correspond with Lloyd and Don Helms. I used to call Don a two or three times a year to see how he and Miss Hazel were doing. Also I have a Buckaroo for a friend, Jerry Brightman. I have an edge because of our steel guitar show I get to talk to many of the greats. These three were the first ones that went thru my mind.

I have two or three letters from Jerry but I feel as if I should disqualify myself here because I was writing for Fender all those years and that gave me a decidedly unfair advantage.

One that still stands out in my mind was a hand written letter from Weldon Myrick.
It was so well written that I simply forwarded it to Fender for the next Fretts article. I was in Germany at the time but when I got back to the states, the first thing I did was head out for Nashville and some in person interviews.

Regards, Paul