The Steel Guitar Forum

April 3rd is close approaching and the DSSG&MA is gearing up for another big Saturday in Gulfport, Mississippi. Come one, come all. More pertinent details to follow.
(Still trying to get over the big time in Dallas-now that was a show of all shows).
April 3rd in Gulfport. Plenty of food and great steel guitar sounds will abound all day and into the night. VFW on Dedeaux Rd.-just one mile north on hiwy 49 from the I-10 Gulfport exit, turn right on Dedeaux Road and it is within one quarter mile on your left. Easy on and easy off and easy to find. Music starts at 11 AM.

Thanks,,

Bill Stafford - Sec/Treas.: DSSG&MA

This Organization has their act together.
The DSSG&MA always puts on a great show and has some great talent in that area.

Hey, Bill. A bump on me. Wish I could have stuck around for the April 3 show.

HI Roy and John. sure wish you two could be here. Things are really gearing up for another good time and lots of good food all afternoon and evening. Ben O'Dell has a surprise guest hoping to be with us as is another big surprise entertainer associated with R.J. Buras-one of the original "Drifters" with a very big hit song entitled "Under The Boardwalk". Plans are being formulated in this area of "surprise guests". Never a dull moment here in the Deep South...Music starts at noon at the VFW on Dedeaux Road. Take the I-10 Gulfport exit no. 34, go north to the third red light, turn right on Dedeaux and the VFW bldg is less than a 1/4 mile on your left. Come see us..

Thanks,, Bill Stafford

Hey Bill,
I can't hardly wait to get down there.
See you some time Friday afternoon.
Larry

Hey Larry, Bill and the gang will treat you royaly(?). We had a great time with the whole gang. It's a receptive crowd and the music is special. I hope Bill spends more time playing..how sweet it is! Sincerely, Bob

Larry
Bill and the gang are going to spoil you down there.

I'm waiting to see what kind of changes we will have to make to accomodate you in Saluda after the Gulfport show.

I'll get my Artist hosptality man , Stephen Gambrell, right on a new set of guidelines that meets your favor.

You guys have a good time down there, Bill and Betty are wonderful hosts, Thats my home away from home down there.

Bob,John,and Bill it is truly great to travel all over the Southeast, from Gulfport Ms, Mobile Al, Dothan Al, Chatt. Tn, Saluda Sc.
and have friends like these I have made.
And to be part of the Ga Gang Too...
These folk are just another part of my musical family
Thank You All
Larry & Yvonne <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Larry Moore on 30 March 2004 at 08:12 AM.]</p></FONT>

Bill, say hello to J.J. and tell him I'm still alive and to write me sometime.

Ben

Ben, I will put a spur under Jerry Jaye and have him call you soon. Wish you could be here in person and get on him proper.
I am glad that Larry and Yvonne Moore will be coming down from Georgia. Ivan Reddington is coming up from Florida and I just got confirmation from David Easley. David asked to go on the program at two PM as he has other engagements so this will be a very special treat to have David, George Mason and Brooks Hubbert back on our stage from two 'till three. (A 30 min. program is just not enough to hear this group). And all our regular Mississippi coast players will be here also. We will be able to have Ivan play his double eight National with the talents of my good friend Ed Clark on his upright bass and Gerald Ross on his acoustic guitar-just like they do in Hawaii. Ivan plays all the great Hawaiian songs that pleases the crowd so much-and especially me.
And until you hear Hal Higgins do his program where he sings with that powerful voice of his and then backs himself up on his steel on songs like "The Lord's Prayer", "How Great Thou Art", "Look At Us" you just haven't heard a super talent yet. And his rendition of "The National Anthem" when he opens all our shows is the best that that song has ever been played on a steel guitar-bar none. Looking forward to another good time and we always offer our praise and gratitude to the VFW members in our audience who have sacrificed for the freedoms we all have in this country. It is a priviledge for me to be in this association with our beloved veterans. Thanks to them for all they have given to us here in the USA.

Bill Stafford

Sorry I've been missin all the goin's on. Still trying to get Ms. Mickey back on the top rail. She is doing very well. Gonna do everything possible to be there. "OLE PRES" been kinda busy the last 2 weeks. Thank God for my good friend Bill Stafford. He's a prince.

And a special thanks to all that have offered up prayers for Ms. Mickey. They have been heard, cause God has surely blessed her. Hope to see you SADDY !!!!--Ben

You guys need to get out to hear Larry Moore at this show. Larry works hard at his music and has made great progress in the few years I've known him. HIs playing is always one of the high points at the Saluda show for me.


He is also a member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame and a great player.

I'm also one of the Charter members of the Larry Moore Fan Club and a member of the Georgia Gang by birth

Sure glad to hear that Ben's guiding light is doing well and shinning brightly for him and all of us who have been fortunate enough to have been in her presence. Still have a few left-over prayers working for her and all that require this care.
Show is building up quite well. Larry Moore will be arriving on Friday in time for our "Friday Frolic" in my home. Ivan Reddington will be in on Sat. to take us to Hawaii royally. David Easley, Brooks Hubbert and George Mason will take us and the crowd anywhere they want to go. Not to mention where Jerry Jaye and the "Southern Country" band will take us.. lol.. We just have a very good time and always honoring our veterans at the VFW 4526 on this Saturday, April 3rd. Music starts at 12 noon.Thanks to all and especially to Ben O'Dell, Wayne Goff, Ed Clark, Gerald Ross, Randy Carlan and a host of others. See you there, or here in this case...

Bill Stafford

A very nice surprise guest for us this Saturday!! Just confirmed that Royce Tarver will be on our stage this Saturday. All those beautiful steel parts behind the gospel group, The Hensons, came from this man. It will be a delight to have Royce with us. Can't wait to hear Royce playing his pretty music with our own Ed Clark and DSSG&MA musicians. It will be a great opportunity for all to hear "PRETTY MUSIC".

Thanks, Royce for coming down from Baton Rouge area. See you all soon.

Bill Stafford

Bill
You are way too modest, becuase you didn't mention the guy who can play pretty with the best of them, Yourself.

Folks, Bill Stafford probably has the best taste in music of anybody I have ever picked with in the past 44 years. He has that unique ability of transferring that good taste to his hands and what you hear coming out of that Excel SUPERB U14 guitar is beautiful music to match a beautiful guitar.

None Smoother than my best friend, Mr Smooth

I just had to put a "word" in! I am so sorry we can't be there this year. Roy and I had such a good time last year and with all that talent! WOW! Bill, I too love Hawaiian steel guitar songs and now I'm going to miss it. We hope to plan on next year!

The hardest of all is not being able to hear, our dearest friend, "Mr. Smooth" play again. I could never tire of hearing him and the best part, he and Betty are WONDERFUL people who we dearly love.

Have a good time, think of us and let us know how it went. God willing we will see you all next year! Laurie

DSSG&MA is striking GOLD this weekend! As soon as I was off the phone with Royce Tarver my phone was ringing off the hook with a message from Texas!
On the west end of this phone call was the very famous Bobby Bowman. Bobby informed me that he will also be on our stage tomorrow. Keeps getting better and better folks -so if you are in the area it will really be worth the drive to Gulfport. With Bobby Bowman, David Easley, Larry Moore, Jerry Jaye, Royce Tarver, Mike Brewer, Ken Henderson, Jim Morgan, Ivan Reddington with us, the day will abound with the sweet sounds of steel guitars the way it is supposed to be.
Thanks Bobby and Royce and Larry and Ivan for driving the miles to allow us to see and hear you guys in the Deep South. Music will start at high noon.

Bill Stafford

Ain't heard nuthin from the Old Folks this morning.

They must be all worn out from all the Hot pickin at the Friday Night Frolics at the Stafford house last night.

Heard a Rumor that the Volunteer Fire Dept was out on D'Herde Rd all night long, Just in case they set the house on fire.

Well - Saturday was a real nice day, so I loaded up my mama and drove to Gulfport where I met Bill Stafford,(the first forumite I ever talked to in person).

Bobby bowman was at his area with a Sho-Bud pac-a-seat for sale. I asked him if he had ever personally sat on it himself, (to add to its collectors value,) and he said "no", but he took it off the table, sat it on the floor and sat right down! He said "it sits pretty good" and I said "I'll take it"! I also got his "Pure and Simple" CD. Very nice work. It got a good listen to on the 2 hour drive home!

The music was great! The house musicians were top notch! The atmosphere was good and the people were friendly! What more could you want? Well...

I got to meet the Jewelry Lady! Larry Moore was there to play and Yvonne was there spreading joy and sunshine and happiness and the ocassional purse and necklace. She even got up on stage and sang during Larry's set! My mom likes her very much, and wore her new necklace home and to Winn Dixie today. Mrs. Moore was the highlight of the show for me. She truly lit up the place!

(And if she ever carries gold horseshoe rings, with or without 4 leaf clovers, I would be honored to purchase the first one!)

My Thanks to the GSSG&MA for a great time.
I will be back! June 5th is too far away!

Hi Budd, thanks for being here this past Saturday. It was our great pleasure to have you here with us. It was another pleasure to have met you too.
Your words and support are really appreciated and we will be looking forward to seeing you again. June 5 will be here soon. Hope to see you then.
And yes, Yvonne Moore lights up every building she is in, and also the hearts and minds of all she visits with. Having her and Larry here is very special to us. And words will never be able to describe Bobby Bowman-his friendship and talent is the best to be associated with under any circumstance. Thanks to all for giving us here at DSSG&MA a great time. It is just not possible without you guys.

Bill Stafford

Your new friend,

Bill Stafford

Man....I sure hated to miss, but work wouldn't let me get back.....I was thinking about all of you and wishing I was there to hear you all play.......Mr. Smooth (Bill) can sure do it up right.....HAL

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Be Blessed........HAL
'85 Emmons LeGrande D-10,(8 & 6) Hilton Vol. Pedal, BJS Birthstone bar, Rack w/Evans Pre-amp, Lexicon MPX100; (2)1501-4 BW's in custom built cabs by T.A. Gibson, & a Peavey DPC 1000 Power Amp.