The Steel Guitar Forum

Ron Whitfield was kind enough to let me know about a recent discussion concerning Jerry Byrd's music in orbit, and I promised to tell the story.

During Mr. Byrd's last days, I sent a card to him and he and family generously replied with a couple CD's. I brought one of those CD's with me on Space Shuttle mission STS-114, in July/August 2005.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-114

Mr. Byrd's steel sound has always seemed to me to be just about perfect, and so it was an honor to play his music while weightess and orbiting the planet, and even occasionally getting a good view of Hawaii. Near the end of the mission, I took a photo of Mr. Byrd's CD floating in the aft window of shuttle Discovery.

Steve Robinson

BRAVO!!

And thank you for sharing this!

Now that's a unique story and pic! Thanx, Steve, well done.

That's too cool ...

Nice going Dr. Robinson---- Thanks for sharing this!

That's nice, but do you have any unique stories to tell?

I've always considered Jerry's music to be out of this world, and now, here's proof!

I also remember seeing the tarp of all the steel players signatures you took with you. Our dear late friend, Red Kilby shared the story with me, and showed me the pics.

This is so cool. Thanks so much for posting, Steve!

THAT is something to get up in the air about!

This forum & it's members never cease to amaze me.....

Ditto !

i think jerry would be proud of you steve.

I hope that Jack Byrd is reading this......

HowardR wrote:I hope that Jack Byrd is reading this......

I contacted him about it when the subject originally came up. I asked Jack if JB's music went to the moon, and if Jerry knew about it.

"Yes this is true, kinda. An astronaut was a great fan of Jerry's. He took one of his CD's into space, but not to the moon and it was played in space as I recall but I cannot remember which one it was. Jerry was aware of this event. In fact as I recall there was card with a note from him that Jerry received during his first hospitalization before his death."
Jack Byrd

While enthralled in taking in Jerry's reminescing (sp?) by his bedside, ...he mentioned that his music had even been played in outer space, aboard a space shuttle. He paused in a moment of obvious great pleasure. What an appropriate reward for such a great Man and his great Music. THANK YOU beyond measure for making that happen.

That's awesome, Steve, and great photo!

Thanks for all your comments - somehow, Mr. Byrd's music just belonged in orbit!
best wishes,
Steve