The Steel Guitar Forum

Skip Mertz, Ed Shoemaker, and Jimmy Brown put on a super jam in Fayetteville this past weekend! It was well run, well attended and a true players jam for all players from the beginner to the professional. A lot of previous members renewed their membership and we gained new first time members. Thanks to you all who worked so hard!! And, what a nice congenial group of steel players. A real family of players.

The next date for a MASGA jam is tentatively set for Wilson, NC on March 13-14. Mark it on your calendar; we should have it comfirmed by later in the week.

I sure missed a great steel show I'll bet. Bowie I thought the Wilson Steel Show was in January. That is what I seen back a month or so on the forum.Hope you had a great time in Fayetteville.
Sam White

Thanks Bowie, we had 41 total members in attendance and most of these brought a guest. I did not count the steel guitars but there were many. All but 1 had pedals. I think everyone had at least 2 opportunities to play in 3 different formats: round robin, to each players tracks, and with the band on Saturday night. By the way, we had the best "put together" band I have heard. Ray Walker (The Walker Professional Players Chair) on rhythm guitar and vocals, Larry Haddock on lead guitar, Mr. Turner (Wilson, NC), on drums, Chuck Campbell on bass, steel, and vocals, Kim Altman on bass, vocals and steel, Debbie Walker on vocals, and Stan Morgan on rhythm and vocals. We had 3 sets with 4 different steel players per set.
Thanks to all for making this a great jam.
Shoe

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Edwin G. Shoemaker
ZB Custom D10 8/5
'75 Session 400 w/JBL Session 500 w/BW

Sam, you missed a good one yesterday and Saturday. We had wall to wall steel guitars both days. I don't think there was a bad player in the house. Much more important to me, is not a persons playing ability but, the attitude he or she brings with them. The comradery and passion that we feel toward each other is what our club is all about and I can tell you from a personal standpoint, the comradery and passion was there this weekend. I will not call any names but (you know who you are), I want to thank all the people that helped me with my personal equipment. Oh yes, I had a great time.

Thanks to Jimmy Brown, Ed Shoemaker, Bowie Martin, Glen Lanning, Skip Mertz, Ray Walker and their wives and friends for a Great Weekend.

Happy Trails...

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kd...and the beat goes on...

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Kenny Dail on 24 November 2003 at 01:33 PM.]</p></FONT>

Kenny the association just wouldn't be the same without you there my friend. Those times when you aren't able to make it does leave a void but you just gotta feel it when we all miss you. You make playing those great licks sound and look so easy...how come mine don't sound that way . What a great time this weekend. Skip, Shoe, Jimmie, Bowie...thanks for giving so much of your time to helping us all have so much fun. And the wives...what in the world would we do without them gals. We missed you Bob Hayes and our prayers are with you. Bob wanted to come and had made his plans but at the last minute he had some medical problems that he had to have taken care of. E-mail me my friend so we can talk a bit. What a great job everyone did. Finally let me say this about a young man who just joined our fine group. He showed up with an old fender 8 string which was turned around backwards "for any of you who didn't notice". That's because he is left handed. What he has learned he learned all by himself. He was a bit shy about playing a lot of the songs that came his way and that's because he didn't know many of them. But he has a unique ability to pick up on a song and after a little prodding he started to play when it came his turn. I saw the look on your folk's faces and I was beaming with pride because that young man is a very special friend of mine and you will hear a lot about him in the future. His name is Jeb Baldwin...a young man with a lot of heart and pride and respect for his fellow man. He looks up to each and every one of us and graciously accepts our help and appreciates it when it is given. "HE" is the new generation...the one that will carry this fine instrument into the future and there is no doubt in "my mind" that we will be well represented. Thanks, Jeb, for showing up to share the fun with us and I look forward to you coming down and jamming a little with me at the house...anytime. By the way...Jerry Brightman would like to chat with you a spell..I hope you don't mind but I gave him your number....

Ray

This was a fun weekend. Kenny, I really enjoyed our duo sets.

I had a great time this saterday. I really enjoyed playing with the band, and listening to all the other steel players. It is really cool to hear all the different style right there in the same room. As usual I learned a few new licks and seen some of my new friend and made new ones. That is the best part of these Jams, the friendship. I really appreciate all those who make me feel at home at these Jams.
Mr. Ray,
Thank you for the compliments. I am lucky to have made friends with you and so many other people too. I hope to get down your way in a week or two and learn some stuff. Thanks for convincing me to play with the band on songs I did not know. I learned alot from the mistakes I made that evening, and I did not want to stop playing it was so much fun. Thanks again,all you guys, for making me feel welcome, and Mr. Ray, for your friendship. It will not be forgotten.
Jeb Baldwin

Joe, let me thank you, the pleasure was mine.

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kd...and the beat goes on...