The Steel Guitar Forum

I read "Sales Fell" and did not once remember reading about Gospel or Sacred Steel being mentioned. For those who are familiar with the old [and new] Gospel favorites, find them with both a steel guitar in the band and without. IMHO, there is no comparison - Gospel played with steel guitars has no equal ~ The steel gives the Gospel its wings!!

If we had more Sacred Steel players I think you would see a huge influx of new players! This is why at the age of 54 I started to learn the Steel Guitar

Kenn

Kenn, I was just watching the Goodtime Gospel Hour earlier this week. Among those featured, was Jeff and Sherry Easter. Great Emmons pedal steel and dobro player. Sounded fabulous.

Any idea who the player for them is?

That would be Steve "Rabbit" Easter, He is a great
player and a a great person.

I play pedal steel with "One Way Flight" and we play Sunday evenings in different Churches in our area and the people love the steel guitar in these services and I love to play Gospel music.
Jerry

I play for the Borders Family and love it. I keep a Steel setup at all times in our church with all the gear.
The only thing I take is my picks.

But travling with the group I've got a different setup and Steel.

Yes I played up in the Chicago area a few years back ands Steve (Rabbit) Easter was there with his group he is a great player and a great guy.
Bill

If anyone ever wants to hear Gospel steel at its very best, just listen to Ron Elliotts version of
The Lords Prayer. The very best use of pedals and knee levers I have ever heard. I am not taking anything away from some of the GREAT Gospel players like Doug Jernigan, L.T. Zinn, Dennis Robison, and so many more. I was really knocked out when I heard Ron play that beautiful song. Please check it out, you will love it.

Earl Hensley
Acts 16:31

Earl, Thank you so much for the kind words..I'm so glad you enjoyed that rendition of such a wonderful melody. I recorded it in my first album with SOR Records in 1986,.."Pure American Steel". Later the following year, the producer said to do a Gospel album. So the next album was "Peace in the Valley" with the Jordanaires. We moved 4 Gospel tunes from the first album and transfered them to "Peace in the Valley". Thank you again, and we wish you and your family all the best in the years ahead.
Ron Elliott

I agree, Ron Elliott is a great player and has recorded many great gospel songs. He and Don Helms also has an album of gospel music. We have used Ron Elliott many times on our gospel program on steelradio.com. I've often called him Mr. Smooth! We know the man but God knows the heart and it sounds like Ron has God in his heart when he plays. I know good steel playing when I hear it and Ron gives you good steel playing. He has the best rendition of, "I Love You Because", playing behind Jack Green. We also play many of the other 'greats' on our program like Doug Jernigan, John Hughey, Buck Grantham, Joe Wright, Terry Bethel, Fred Justice, Albert Svendal, Hal Rugg, Johnny Cox, Scotty Henderson, and many, many more. The Hanleys Gospel Hour is on internet radio the 2nd Sunday of ever month for 2 hours and every gospel song has steel guitar on it. (2-4 p.m. central standard time) That address again is: steelradio.com

I have played for a couple of Gospel groups locally and in a couple of churches, locally. I love playing in them, the people really appreciate it. It says in the scripture about playing instruments with 10 strings. I have played with a man by the name of Phil Hobson and the OneWay Band back in the early 80's, and another local group called the Wings of Love. It's sad that some churches do not like or want a steel guitar in their music. But I feel like it adds to the song.
Tommy Shown
SMFTBL

Here are the references to "an instrument of 10 strings" in the King James translation of Psalms:
Psalms 33:2
Psalms 92:3
Psalms 144:9

What specifically qualifies one to be a Gospel Steel Guitarist?

A certain list of 'standard' songs?

A certain STYLE?

Quite interested in the definition.

I played a lot in the church in Pensacola, From 1959 till, 1972, our move to Live Oak, there pastored a church for 25 years. Played Trombone in a 50 piece groupe in F A C, Lake City, for 15 years. Their band sounds as good as the big army bands. They have practice several nights a week, and takes lessons.
They have written all their songs and have printed 3 song books, Becky, Belinda and I have written about 12 songs printed in their books.

ernie

I play dobro on Sunday mornings at our church and the steel guitar on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights. I am not the greatest in the world, but the people seem to enjoy it. Besides, I am doing it for the Lord.

Rick

Ray, not that I can adequately answer your query about what makes a Gospel Steel Guitarist, but my own opinions. I have played on amateur basis for
Southern Gospel groups for over 20 years, and some Country Gospel groups a little bit. It seems for these 2 genres that it is not a particular style, but the songs being played. The style is fairly typical country E9 type stuff, and adapted to the particular style of any given singing group's own presentation. ..
Now Sacred Steel is an entirely different style than my kind of Gospel Steel playing. For that genre, I would venture to say it definitely is a style all it's own. Very good stuff & I enjoy it, but I have been unable to adapt enough to play it.

Ray,

I don’t think it is as much a qualification as it is a dedication. Meaning one who has dedicated their steel guitar playing to Gospel music.

A gospel steel guitarist is someone who would rather

play for the Lord than for money.

Ain't this a great place. A guy can openly profess his faith and not get shot at. Thank you Lord.

Can one of you direct me to an album or CD of Sacred steel so that I can know where I'm aiming?

There is a difference between "sacred" steel and "gospel" steel.
Gospel steel is gospel music played on the steel guitar and sacred steel is a different approach altogether, although it is still considered gospel.
Sacred steel originally started out in a particular Christian denomination and the steel guitar was an intragal part of the service. Then it branched out with players like Robert Randolph who are playing for the main stream.
If you do a search on YouTube, you can hear an example of "sacred" steel.

Thanks Erv. I get the difference.

Erv Niehaus wrote:A gospel steel guitarist is someone who would rather

play for the Lord than for money.

Erv, Robby, You hit the nail on the head..I'm in total agreement(as I said before) no drunks to be bothered with, just an occasional "running and shouting" when the spirit moves. Sometimes we don't have preaching, just all day singing, I love those kind of days when you know the music is right.

Erv, A special thanks for the Christmas tabs, I even found a couple of chords/runs that made me sound like I knew what I was doing.

Daniel Hall..Amen to that.

In the immortal words of Tiny Tim(not the crazy one on TV) God bless us, one and all......

Bill

Bill,
When King David in the Old Testament would get down in spirits, it was music that he turned to.
After all, the book of Psalms is a form of music.
If you want to learn to play the pedal steel guitar, there is nothing better to learn on than gospel music.
The Lord loves it when we "give praises to Him on an instrument of 10 strings" and the Holy Spirit stands right beside you and assists you in playing this silly contraption we call the pedal steel guitar.

I started playing Southern Gospel Music back in 1977 and i am still doing that . So i suppose that makes me a '' Gospel Player '' huh ? I also was the Organizer of the Gospel Steel Guitar Jubilee here in Columbus . Greatest music on the planet i think !

In 1991 I met a group of guys that were playing Christian Country. Their name was the Manuel Family Band. I was fortunate to travel some with this group and it was the most enjoyable job I ever had. It was also the best band I have ever played music with. I have played so much gospel music down through the years and eventually started doing some country. That being said, I do watch where I play at. No clubs or places where they smoke or drink. I love playing gospel music since I had a strong background in church.

Robby Springfield wrote:Ray,

I don’t think it is as much a qualification as it is a dedication. Meaning one who has dedicated their steel guitar playing to Gospel music.

Hi guys. I have not dedicated my steel playing to Gospel.

I do however, have to prepare for a 'gig' in a church/church hall in May this year. Myself and John Russell have been rehearsing for a few weeks now, I still have a few more tracks to record, and we both have to get together and practice much more in the coming weeks, especially with our harmony steel parts and arrangements. John was asked by a friend if him and myself would like to do this. I immediately said yes. It's something I have never done, but it is something I am really looking forward to. I have always wanted to do this, but have really never have been asked. I am not a church person, this is purely voluntary and I know we will have a great time playing, with a little singing too, at this church. I think this may be the first one of many. I don't think you have to qualify for anything to be a gospel, or 'hymnstrumentalist' ( I just made that word up!). You never know, I might find myself setting up a small PA and a steel in the local church to me and doing this on a regular basis, we will see?.
David.

David,
You'd better be careful!
You never know where the Holy Spirit might lead you.
There's no such thing as a "church person",
we're all just sinners saved by grace.