The Steel Guitar Forum

found these pictures on the web form a show in CT.anybody know what year that was??

p.w

I think this would have been either 1979 or 1981. There was a PSG store in southern CT called Steel Guitar Country at that time. The store was run by Harry Guffee, and he had a lot of PSGs in stock. He put on an annual show called the "Eastern States Pedal Steel Guitar Exposition". I played on the 1980 show, and the stage was different than the one shown in the pictures. I'm guessing this was the 1979 show.

I believe the year of this show would have been 1978 (possibly 1977 or early 79) and it was put on by Harry Guffee and probably in or near Meriden, CT.

The backup band was the Harmony Grits Band which I joined after this show sometime in 1979, a band later which split to form the Dixie Doughboys.

It was a great bunch of guys, all fine musicians. That's Bruce Derr playing guitar behind his steel with Buddy, Bruce Lang on Bass, Billy Lang on Drums, John Keys - Guitar, Rich Mars - Harmonica, Gary Hayes? - Guitar.

I still remember my reaction when they told me about this show in the van on the way to the my first gig with them. "You played a steel guitar show with BUDDY EMMONS ?!?!"

This is the first time I saw the picture... Thanks!

Fooch

Sorry Doug,

I didn't see your reply when I posted the previous message.

I started playing with the backup band guys in May of '79 so it was before that date. I know I wouldn't have missed it if I had known about it.

Doug, you were missed in Norwalk this past November show!

Fooch

Thanks Fooch, I had a bum finger. Recently had hand surgery that's still healing. I hope to be back picking soon. It sounds like you had a great show in Norwalk, as always.

I was at the show Buddy played at. It was the summer of 1978 and it was at the VFW Hall in Wallingford, CT. A great show. Buddy fit in perfectly with these guys and vice-versa. I am just now listneing to an old cassette tape I have of some shows they did and marvel at how far ahead of their time these young players were. Look what Bruce Derr is playing for a steel. A Sho-Bud Maverick!

Wow Fooch Fichetti ,One of the best fiddle players I ever heard in New England. This guy could have played anywhere.

Great photos, thanks for posting them..Fooch, if the backing band was capable of hanging with Buddy and Maurice Anderson, they must have had impressive chops indeed!...One of the things that I miss most since relocating to Va. is the inability to attend the Norwalk show. Herby Wallace,(who was a fixture at the show for a number of years) I feel certain is sorely missed as well.

Does anyone know what guitar Buddy is playing there? It looks like an early one.

Hi Brett, yes, it looks early. It's hard to tell, but the logo looks like one of the clear stickers with silver lettering. Same logo as my '66 Emmons.

Hi Doug, it just occurred to me that I played at Artsblock not that long ago and I failed to let you know... Next time I will!

It sure looks like the sticker logo to me. Maybe impossible to tell whether its a wraparound or not, though it doesn't look like a bolt-on.... Hmm.

Yes, let me know the next time you play in Greenfield. I'm playing mostly in central MA nowadays, mostly guitar gigs and a few on steel.