The Steel Guitar Forum

Who is doing his steel work these days?If I recall he's on the forum but can't recall his name.Lightfoot is coming to Spartanburg this coming Thursday.

Bari,

Gordon Lightfoot has not carried a steel player since the late '80s. Pee Wee Charles did the duty for the majority of Lightfoot's live shows and studio work up until then. I believe Ollie Strong might have been in the mix there somewhere briefly, but Pee Wee mas the main man. He now plays with George Canyon.

Prob still gonna go but was hoping for an extra treat!Thanks Chris!

Oh ya....that show will still be great. The man's a legend and won't be around forever. He's coming here in March and I will be going for sure.

There was a report here last week that Gordon had died but it was later cleared up and he was at his office as usual.He is truly a legend.

Ollie Strong played on one song with Lightfoot
"You are what I am"

Bent Romnes wrote:Ollie Strong played on one song with Lightfoot
"You are what I am"

He probably played on the song "Old Dan's Records" too. It's off the same album. It's also on Gord's Gold (1975), and Ollie is listed along with Pee Wee as the steel players in the musicians' credits.

This is majestic music, whoever played. This stuff is a huge reason why I took up steel.

You are so lucky over there. Since the singer-songwriter days in the early seventies, I was only able to see James Taylor and Paul Simon over here. How I'd wish to see him in concert!

Leslie, if "You are what I am" is on Old Dan's Records then that's it. Ollie told me once that this was the only tune he ever did on Lightfoot's recordings

Lightfoot is always worth seeing, if for nothing else but the straightahead class of the show: no opener, announcer, strobes, fireworks, film bio, first rows populated with drop-dead gorgeous girls, cable car aerial entry, bleeding-ear volume, etc., etc., and perhaps best of all, a truly appreciative audience, there for the fine music of a gentle man and musical treasure.

James, thanks for the great assessment of Gordon Lightfoot and his show. I believe you are right on.

Hi Everyone, I was fortunate to have toured & recorded on all of Gords songs from 1975-89....He is truly a legend & taught me so much about music...Had a chance to tour the world for 15 years & play some of fabulous halls like, Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Holywood Bowl, Greek Theatre & so many more...I left in 1989 & when I drove to Gord's house to let him know it was time for me to be with my young family & get off the road, even though it was the a first class gig, flying around the world in a private Lear Jet & playing 30,000 seat arenas every night in his prime ....It was time...He totally understood & said he would never replace me....To this day he is still touring with all the original members who have been with him from the get go, minus steel...some members have been with Gord over 40 years...I took a hiatus & started a new career with Rogers Media, never stopping playing & recently took early retirement & am back out with George Canyon www.georgecanyon.com you can see a video clip on band page.....doing lots of studio work & out with George full time, just finished an Alan Jackson run in Jan/Feb also put together a Western Swing band, like the Timejumpers that has been a blast & cut 11 tunes live off the floor which will be out very soon http://www.myspace.com/thewesternswingauthority .........All the best to everyone...Peewee www.myspace.com/peeweecharles

Peewee, It is nice getting to know you through the forum here. Through out my steel playing years, which were too few for me to make an impact, I heard about you from the other steel players. I marveled at the great sounding steel on Gord Lightfoot's records.
Listening to you today, on your myspace, shows that you haven't missed a beat. Congrats on the gig with the great George Canyon. I read in another thread that you learned from Reece. Well, you have learned from the best.
I also read about the jam sessions you do, not far from Waterloo. I really have to try and get up there some evening and give you a listen. What I have heard of it, it sounds great!
I hope you can make it to London in the near future. I will be part of the audience!
best regards,
Bent

Hi, Peewee ... thanks for the info. Do you mind if I ask a quick question? On this video of Gord & the band playing "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" it looks like you're playing an MSA Classic XL ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0DqPSF2fyo

I'm just curious ... is that, by chance, the guitar you played on the Summertime Dreams album (with "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", "Protocol" and all the other great tunes from that album)?

Hey Jim, Yes, that was the guitar....I studied under Reece for 7 months & lived in Garland Texas around 1972.....That's when I switched to playing MSA....used there guitars for many years on all the Lightfoot recordings...Playing an Emmons LeGrande 111 & have a Showpro now, that Jeff built me...All the best...Peewee www.myspace.com/peeweecharles

Hey Bent, Thanks for the nice comments...If we're in London with Canyon or the area....drop me a line & will get you tickets & stage pass so we can meet...All the best & thanks again...Peewee www.georgecanyon.com

Peewee. You bet I'll take you up on your kind offer!

I'll follow the Canyon bookings. Thanks!

Hey guys, I just received my copy from Bill Stafford, what sweet sounds he get's out of that 14 string, not only that if you meet this guy, he is one of the Nice's guy's you would ever what to meet. Keep on playing that 14 stringer Bill I love to hear you play those ballads you add so much with it. Bill I love your .music
javascript:emoticon(':)')
Roger Allen
Drummer
Jacksonville Beach, FL

Hi PeeWee,

do you remember playing with Dave Paul(stage name) in the Hamilton area. I played with him out here in the Silver Dollar Band for several years. You may not remember this but I got a very nice steel guitar lesson from you at his house back in the seventies when you were out here in Vancouver. We had our steels face to face in his living room. You taught me a lot in a very short time and I am very greatful to you for that.
John