The Steel Guitar Forum

It was a pleasure hearing Bobby Black here in the Santa Cruz moutains over the weekend with the band "Lost Weekend". Small intimate venue. I've been drawn to his licks ever since I was introduced to his work on Commander Cody's "Live" album in the 1970's where my friend did the sound engineering at Wally Heider studio in San Francisco. I'm lucky he is still living and playing locally, as I have just taken up the PSG myself and favor hearing as much live PSG as I can...what a treat!

David Guido wrote:Commander Cody's "Live" album in the 1970's where my friend did the sound engineering at Wally Heider studio in San Francisco.

Was it actually a "live" album?

Is this the SAME individual whose BIGSBY triple-8 is up for auction on eBay at this time?

One and the same... http://cgi.ebay.com/1953-Bigsby-Pedal-S ... 255f4cd848

Earnest Bovine wrote:

David Guido wrote:Commander Cody's "Live" album in the 1970's where my friend did the sound engineering at Wally Heider studio in San Francisco.

Was it actually a "live" album?

Yes it was recorded live in Austin at the Armadillo World headquarters "Live From Deep in the Heart of Texas" but later re-mixed in the studio by my friend Steve Mantoani.

Here's a picture of Bobby playing said guitar way back when we were all handsome.

Barry: The Lead Guitar player next to Bobby is his brother Larry Black who passed away just a few years ago. Larry was a monster player. Not sure where that picture was taken. It might be a club run by Cottonseed Clark up towards San Francisco on the Peninsula. I got to work with Larry for a couple of years on the Shorty Joe Band when Bobby left to work with Blackie Crawford.

Billy, the only info I have on that picture is, Napredak Hall Santa Clara, CA. circa 1950. If you go to http://www.theblackbrothers.net/ you will see a lot more. That is where that picture came from. I spent 17 years playing in San Jose, so I came to know Bobby and Larry very well. Great guys and players.

Barry, I did some gigs at the Naperdak Hall back in the 1980's. Man, it brings back some nice memories. My live pedal steel roots are from going to see you and Bobby Black play in the clubs back then. Bobby is the reason I have a couple Franklin steels. I was ready to move up to a better guitar and he let me check his out at Cowtown. I was impressed and ordered one from Paul Sr.
Re: The Commander Cody "Live" album, I believe they overdubbed some solos before mixing the album. You can hear previous takes (live?) leaking into the final take. Maybe they're alternate live takes, but I seem to remember someone telling me they overdubbed (it could have been Bobby). Still a great album with great tunes.

Bobby is one of my steel guitar heroes. He has a sound all his own, just a few notes and you know he plays with a mastery that is seldom heard. Barry, I remember seeing you play at Cowtown on Almaden Rd back in the early 80's, when I was just getting into steel. Fella I was with says to me, "Check out this guy Barry Blackwood - really smooth."

I probably saw all you guys play at Cowtown at one time or another - I grew up about three miles from the place.

Dave Ristrim wrote about how Bob inspired him to order a Franklin.

Doesn't seem to matter which guitar Bobby plays, he always sounds like Bob Black, that's for sure! Whenever I have seen him play the pedals over the past decade or so it's been a Carter D-10. His playing reminds me of perfectly aged Pinot Noir.

Mark, you must live in "Wine Country"!

Bobby has played the Phoenix show a few times - He is scheduled again for this coming show in January.

Two years ago he and Jay Dee Maness did a dual set and it was GREAT - the second best part was you could tell that they were really having fun on stage. If I am not mistaking Jay Dee said that they were ignoring the audience and just having a jam session.

Bobby is quiet and just gives that half a smile and plays.

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com and Road Cases too

Dave Zirbel wrote:Mark, you must live in "Wine Country"!

Dave, even the non - Wine Country types are capable of appreciating Bob Black and great Pinot!

Joe, that was the set that had an all steel player band except for me, when I was singing.
I have a DVD of that show, thanks to John.

I had forgotten about that but now remember - and Ray you are like Roy - close enough to be a steel player.

C-ya soon

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com and Road Cases too

Ron Whitfield wrote:One and the same... http://cgi.ebay.com/1953-Bigsby-Pedal-S ... 255f4cd848

A starting price of $20,000 and no bids. Surprise, surprise.

Bobby and I played dual steels many times back in the day.

Bobby and Dan

He is on of my main musical mentors. Bobby played on my set at the Jazz room at St. Louis last year, and it was a joy.