Steel Player for Jack Greene and Jeannie S Pic Update!

[Eric West]

With God Willing, and I emphasise that, on the 8-9 of April, at the Benton Cty Fairgrounds in Kennewick Wa...

That will be me...

I'm REALLY glad to have the chance to play in the "pick-up" band for this gig. They are the Zack Grooms Band out of Portland. Great bunch of guys that I've worked with before.

Last year we backed Stonewall Jackson at the same place and it was a REALLY great experience.

Got the set list and charts etc today, and believe me, I'll be working on them.

I've heard that they both are the nicest of people, and I've heard recent sets of both of them on the ETRS shows.

I can't wait. These are two of my most favorite artists.

I know who did most of their studio work too... That's what makes it a "heart" gig.

Wish me luck.



EJL

[Carl Williams]

Hey Eric,
Good on ya bro! Playing steel for two of the biggest names in Classic "Real" Country music has to be an honor...good luck and enjoy the ride! Carl

[Bob Vantine]

Hey Eric....

Great gig to have !

I was the stage mgr. on a Jack Greene show back in the 80s and the "new" steel man was sweating it out going over the charts ..... he did okay !

His name ......... Tommy Hannum (pre-Ricky Van Shelton days)
Have a great time playin for my favorite singer !

[joe long]

I saw them back in the early 70's and Ron Elliott wat the steel player. I believe that he was on the road with them for several years.

[Dean Edwards]

They were the headliners at a show in Fort Myers last year, and forum member Larry Bell played steel.
He did a greast job , as usual.
I'm not sure, but forum member Roger Reddig may have played 6 string that night.

Dean

[Eric West]

Well I'm REALLY worshipfully glad I get a chance to do this. They've both been at the top of my list for SO many years. I don't see "Half a Mind" on the set list, but Waltz A/T is.

I always hoped for some kind of chance to back ET in one form or another, and this is as strong as the connection gets for him and a certain Steel Teacher I used to worry...

Off to a gig. I think they might wonder why I'm playing as many harmonic sweeps as I can at the 7th and 5th...



EJL

[Archie Nicol]

Go for it, mate. Break a string..er?..I mean, a leg.
Let us know if and how it goes.

Arch.

[Roger Rettig]

I did a two month stint with Jeannie back in 2000 in the Claridge Casino in Atlantic City - one of the nicest gigs ever, and we became great pals.

Dean is correct; a couple of year ago I did a few shows with both Jeannie and Jack around the SW Florida area. Larry played steel and I played electric guitar.

[Bill Cunningham]

I have worked with both of them, Eric and you will have a fine time. Jack in 1995 and Jeannie in 2004. They are easy to work for and Jeannie is lots of fun.
These were highlights of my music career. I still have their scrapbook from seeing them when I was a kid and they were the hottest thing going in country music.
Here’s a pic of my favorite country singer with me in the background.

[Bob Watson]

Eric, congratulations on landing that cool of a "pick-up" gig. To be able to play "Don't Touch Me" with Jeannie Seely and "There Goes My Everything" with Jack Greene would be an incredible experience, let alone all of the other classics that these two great C&W artists have recorded over the years.

[Kenny Foy]

Congratulations, Eric. Proud you got the gig. Now go have some fun and enjoy. If you get some pics, post'em.------- Kenny Foy---

[Richard Sinkler]

Go Get 'Em Eric. I'm envious for sure. Two of the best ever right there.

[Andy Hinton]

My buddy, Wayne Cox, who now lives in Chatham La. was their usual road steeler in most of the 70s; along with stints with Ace Cannon & Charlie Rich. Wayne doesn't play much now because of ruemetoid arthuritus & gout in his hands but on his good days he can still pick. They're some of my favorites too, 'specially Statue of a Fool' Andy H.

[Dave Harmonson]

Way to go Eric. Pick it proud.

[Willis Vanderberg]

Hey Eric:
Go for it. You will not find two folks who leave more room for the steel to add to the quality of their vocals. Phrasing is so important and they both have it.I believe Jack is my alltime favorite to play behind. When miss Jeanne cranks up on " Don't touch me " you can feel the shivers go up the back.

[Bob Vantine]

never got to play a guitar for Jack , but he showed up to a show here in NY State and had left his voice back in Nashville (around 1996 ?). I got to sing "Statue Of A Fool" with him & band (which included Penn Pennington). Of all the many Jack Greene shows I've been to over the years ....I
won't forget this one , ever !

[Eric West]

Well. Now I'm getting nervous..

I think the "pick up" band gigs I've done over the years with artists that do that have been the most rewarding.

I remember Hank Thompson asking me to take his big old gibson out and do a sound check. There was just something about it...

A bit of practicing to do on a couple of the songs.

You know, I think the best thing about my "career" is that I've worked with so many "bush league" bands that gigs like this will be in my memory as long as I have one. I never got "jaded"...

Not that I ever could have...



EJL

[Cliff Trent]

My band opened for Jack and Jusin Tub in the early 80's and Teddy Carr was playin for him then. He was a super guy and a super picker too. Anyone know what happened to him??????

[Brett Day]

My band opened for Jack and Jusin Tub in the early 80's and Teddy Carr was playin for him then. He was a super guy and a super picker too. Anyone know what happened to him??????

Teddy joined the band Ricochet in 1994 after he'd played steel for guys like Tim Ryan, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Clay Walker. He left Ricochet in 2000 and is now playin' steel in St. Louis, but I don't know if he's in any bands. He just got back to playin' steel after a few years off. He now plays a Derby SD-10.

Brett

[Larry Baker]

Last I heard (about 2 years ago) Teddy was in the St. Louis area.

[Dan Tyack]

I played with them for 3-4 months in the late 70s. Great people, two of the honestly nice folks in Nashville at the time. Say hi from me.

[Eric West]

Turned out GREAT.

What a couple of Class People and performers. Glad I did a lot of practicing.

We did Mr Greene's hits, and he still has "It". Statue of a Fool, Walkin The Floor, and a bunch of others. Same voice I remember. As mentioned, that man has certainly paid his dues, and we owe him for many many years of great music.



Gotta admit though, this one is my favorite Pic:

Ms Seeley has more class in her little finger .. as they say. She seems never to have gotten any older. Made me wish I was Young again...

Her husband was there, and he's one lucky guy, that's for sure.



It was everything I thought it would be..

And then some.

Thanks for the good wishes on this one. I'll remember it a LONG Time.



EJL

[Kevin Hatton]

That's a memory for the books Eric. Good one. You'll carry that.

[Hook Moore]

You dressed for it too, I like it ! Congradulations :)
Hook

[Ben Rubright]

Brett:

You bowl me over with your knowledge...WOW.

Eric:

I was at the Jack and Jeannie shows here in the Ft. Myers area also.....what a gracious lady Jeannie is. We so very much enjoyed her. I became a lifetime fan of hers right there and then. Congratulations Eric, I can only foul off how wonderful backing her was.....and Jack....the voice is still there and of course so is his appreciation of the band behind him.....he certainly paid his dues as a Texas Troubadour. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. I hope you get to do it again.

Aside to Larry Bell, Jody Johnson, and Roger Rettig....thanks so much for the Jack and Jeannie Show here in Fort Myers. (as well as thanks to my friend, Andy Steele, for sponsoring the show)