Benefit for Nelson Stoneking, Sunday

Kenny Burford · Post by **Kenny Burford** » 30 Mar 2005 3:14 pm

This coming Sunday, April 3, 2005 there will be a benefit at the Alamo Lounge in Sedalia for steel guitarist Nelson Stoneking who is battling cancer. For those that are able to attend the benefit starts at 1 pm, and will go until closing that evening.

I want to provide you with a little background on Nelson Stoneking, his musical heritage and extraordinary musical talent.

Nelson is a native of Clinton, Missouri and comes from one of Missouri's most notable musical families. Nelson is from a family of a dozen or so children and I believe everyone on them play one or more instruments. His brother Gene has won more fiddle contest than most people enter in a life time, his brother Bobby was an outstanding lead guitarist, his Janie one the best singers I ever heard, and his father, Lee Stoneking, was sought out by historians for the purpose of recording his fiddle playing and placing it on file at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC.

Nelson friend and mine, steel guitarist, Big Joe Green told me the first steel guitar he and Nelson ever got a hold of was one rigged up with chains for pulling the strings. For years Nelson was the top dog on steel guitar in the KC area and the house steel guitarist at the Club 95 with Clayton Howerton and the Western All Stars. But in all the time I have known him I have never known a humbler individual. I think one of the greatest compliments ever given to Nelson, was done without words, which I witnessed at a jam session at Bill Jobes. When Nelson took his ride on the song "Together Again," Lloyd Green laid down his bar, leaned over the top of his steel guitar and watched and listened to what Nelson was playing. Now when you can have someone of caliber of playing pay attention to what you are doing in my opinion you are up there.

The point of all the above is this, I know that some of you have met Nelson, heard him play and know what a good guy he is, so I am not telling you anything you don't know first hand. I just want the folks that haven't heard of Nelson or met him to know how much he has contributed to the Kansas City country music community throughout his life and what real talent he is.

Billy Keeble · Post by **Billy Keeble** » 30 Mar 2005 7:55 pm

Hey Kenny,

Wish I could be there for that.

Best of luck & maybe someday we will get to meet.
Billy Keeble www.billykeeble.com

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 31 Mar 2005 3:03 am

I too would like to make it, but living in Florida, I can't.

I first heard of Nelson through Ron Haake that I was working with. Ron and Nelson are about the same age and Ron is fron near Clinton. We would go to Club 95 to listen to him (and occasionally listen to Bruce Zumsteg when he was filling in).

I have an 8 track of his father on fiddle that was done at Charlie Kellogg's "Big K" studio in KC.

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 31 Mar 2005 2:08 pm

Wish I could be there, I'm stuck in Jacksonville FL working. Nelson is a very good player and one of the nicest guys I have had the pleasure to meet. We got acquainted at the Zum shop. It should also be mentioned that Nelson is one of the fortunate ones who has always worked a day job and didn't let his music playing mess up his life. Let's all remember to keep him in our thoughts and prayers.