The Steel Guitar Forum

A friend just forwarded this to me and I thought I'd pass it along.

http://www.jewishrumble.blogspot.com/

What a great write up about a great guy! Thanks for passing that along Peter...it made my night!

Awesome! Thanks Peter!

I've been lucky enough to have known Jay Dee as a friend for 30 years, and I'll tell you... he's every bit as fine a person as he is a player.

Rick,
It made my morning, Jay Dee is a one of a kind, both playing and who he is, Great write up on a Great Guy..

I had the honor of meeting him once and taking a seminar with him when I was just starting on psg. Man, I asked some of the dumbest questions and he was so patient and gracious and kind. He was indeed everything the author of that article said. He's still my favorite player, there is just something intangible about his playing that moves me. I have both of the instructional dvds and highly recommend them.

Cheers to Jaydee and thanks for all the great music and for the seminarin Spokane years ago, it honestly and truly changed the course of my life for the better...thanks again!!!

Man, that's powerful. I had the opportunity to talk with JayDee in St. Louis one year. He didn't know me from Adam's house cat, but was as cordial as if we had been life long friends. What a guy.

It's a great article, and it's all true. I know, because I know him. Carry on, my friend.

That is one killer article. Don't know the author or Mr. JayDee, but man, that was a great read.

Loved this line:

Music can soothe the savage beast. How or why I don’t know (nor do I care)—but music has the mysterious power to cut though all the bullshit that your mind does to you, and speak straight to your heart.

Thanks for posting the link Peter!

Great write up about one old friend by another old friend. Thanks for posting this Peter!
JE:-)>

Again, Thanks for posting this. What a wonderful, touching tribute to the man and the instrument!

Happy to post it. I'm sure JayDee will be embarrassed, but I think the author hit the nail on the head. For me what distinguishes JayDee from so many others is the amount of blues in his playing. He's got a lot of soul. And I should know, being a white boy from New Jersey.

So well written and an accurate portrayal. Very authentic and heartfelt. In 2002 I'd bought my first PSG. I'd had it about 2 weeks and had a chance to see JayDee play a little impromptu gig at Viva Fresh in Burbank. At the break I got the nerve up and went to JayDee to say hello and introduce myself. Even though I was an absolute newbie, he took great interest in the kind of guitar I had, what I liked to play etc. He even invited me to play a song or two with the band on his Emmons. I was way too inexperienced to say yes, but his asking me meant more than words can say. Yeah, JayDee is not only a PSG heavyweight who could've dismissed me as a no talent rookie, but he's also a humble and truly gracious human being who offered words of encouragement that motivate me to this day.

It made my day to read that article and yes, he really is that fine a person. It sure comes through in his playing. One of my favorite memories of JayDee is at the Jamboree in the Hills, maybe ca. 1989. The Desert Rose Band was in full swing at the time and their set that day was indescribable! Ill never forget JayDee taking a solo on one of their more up tempo songs; just rearing back, eyes closed and letting it fly. He makes it look like so much fun..........

MC

....but he needs to spend a little more time practicing his welding skills....

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for an outstanding piece of journalism about my friend. Jay Dee helped me a lot back in the sixties, not only re-rigging my Fender 1000 but also showing me a lot of "licks". He also showed me how to play "Sawed Off Shotgun". I didn't know the title but I had heard Red Rhoads on Cals Corral play it and I was murdering it til Jay Dee taught me the right way. The first time I met Jay Dee was in a bar in Sunnymead, Ca and his dad was there too. I stood by the bandstand watching him and the thought crossed my mind, "what in the heck is he doing in this joint"? I asked him how to play a Buddy Emmons lick; he said I'll have it next week and he did. Thank you again for doing this; it has brought tears to my eyes. By the way, Jay Dee never charged me a penny. When a musician is this good, IMO, he influences the world.

Peter once again thanks for the find.. Made my day! I was lucky enough to co-produce, shoot and edit his videos. First time I actually got to see him play was with Gene Davis at a bowling alley in San Diego.. It was a life changing experience for me. When we (Jim Palenscar and myself) were shooting the video, we wanted to have a one on one question and answer section. We asked JayDee to talk about his Clapton sessions at one point. He tells this story that has me blown away, completely enthralled. At the end I am panicking, making sure we got that take and he looks up and says is this story really worthwhile telling, does anybody really want to hear this stuff?

That speaks volumes about this man... he is a humble cat and knows there is more to life that steel guitar. Always has something nice to say to lesser players and will show you anything he's got. He and his wife are just the best. The story of how Luaine would come to the nightclubs and do her homework while he was playing during the early years. Luaine knows more about steel guitars and tone than most of us. It's a classic story and I am proud to be Jaydee's friend. Great article, much deserved.

Kudos .J. D. has been a inspiration for at least 35 yrs or more always dug his style. Stormy

JayDee's work on "Start All Over Again" by Desert Rose Band is my personal favorite. Got to meet him one day at a Vince Gill concert he was playing in. He tolerated my cluelessness effortlessly. For that I'll be forever grateful.

The time or two that I met Jay Dee, you wouldn't know he's backed some heavyweights in the business. Yes, he's a normal guy and really down to earth. He also owns a street rod that even makes him look like a So-Cal Blvd cruiser and not a high muckymuck. But set him behind that black Emmons, he can deliver the mail like a lot of us wish we could. Great story, Pete.

To my ears, of the current players, only Paul Franklin & possibly Terry Crisp, are on the same virtuoso level as JayDee. And, JayDee plays much differently than those guys, as befits someone of his musical stature. Paul is the ultimate studio guy, who always plays the right thing, has chops for days, has added KL changes to the instrument and can rip it up when he wants. Terry Crisp plays pedal steel the way you want to hear it and always satisfys. However, JayDee always sounds like JayDee and never fails to amaze and push the envelope. He's so fast, clean and interesting all the time. And yes, a great and humble guy.

Joe

Apparently there is a new link to this article.

http://jewishrumble.blogspot.com/2010/1 ... aness.html

What a great article, it's all true. Probably the most impressive steel playing I have ever heard live was a show with the Desert Rose Band in the early 90s. Jay Dee was on fire and taking no prisoners. He even had Jorgenson sweating. More recently, one of the best sets I have ever heard at a steel show was with Jay Dee and Bobby Black (Jay Dee even played some C6th!). Two of the greatest guys in the music business.

I remember Stuart Goldman (the writer) from when I lived in LA. I don't know about his steel playing, but I always enjoyed his writing (he did a feature story on Asleep at the Wheel for Hustler magazine when I was playing with them ).

I'd add Tommy White to the list, Joe. Dazzling on both necks, and one of JayDee's own favorites. Terry Crisp is really under appreciated. The first time I heard Ricky Skaggs' "San Antonio Rose" I was sure it was Buddy Emmons, but learned it was Terry. There are a couple early '70's JayDee cuts one might also mistake for Emmons. Since then JayDee's tone has become all his own, unique and unmistakable.