The Steel Guitar Forum

looking for email address for smiley weaver
or another contact info

thanks
p.w

Not sure he has an email address. I can get you a telephone number if that would help.

Weav lives in Braman(sp) Ok. Sorry I don't have an address of any kind. I am pretty sure I can get a phone no. for you. He taught me guitar when I was 13-14 years old and lived in Ada, Ok. He loved kids and we all hung out there at his shop and hoped to pick up any tid bit we could.

I knew Smiley back in Ada when I went to college there and used to play a lot in that area. He offered me a singing job at the Saddle Club in Chickasha that they played for a long time. Got the opportunity to play some music with him a couple of times anyway. He used to own a music store there in Ada, and he built some killer-sounding speaker cabinets.

Hey Alan, Smiley's cabs were about 40 years ahead of their time, at least. If he was still building them I would have a couple. After his patents run out I wonder who built cabs like his? He built a few guitars too but I never played on one.

I went to the Butterfield Stage one night and heard David Weaver, Carl Hefner, and Kelly Ryan play. All incredible players...I sang with them and commented on the great sound of the PA. It was a couple of Smiley's 15" cabs run out of a Lab Series L5 guitar amp. The mic was plugged straight into the L5 and out to the cabs. I couldn't believe it! Yep, definitely way ahead of his time.

thanks ever body about smiley. would like to know what type of msa d-10 he plays it looks custom made and type of amp he plays

p.w

TTT

Smiley told me about 4 years ago or so he was playing an MSA with 10x8 but that is all about the steel. He said he was using a Peavey Session 400 but that's not what it looked like in the pic.

Looks like a SS era plate on a standard black mica. Also looks like the SS era pedal rack if i'm not mistaken. Definately a factory custom job

Hi all
I am new to the forum. I played a long time in the 80's with Smiley. He has been on my mine a lot this last year.....I am just wondering if anyone knows how to get a hold of him or how he i doing.
Thank you
JimmyLee

P.S....maybe David or Vicki

I know this is an old thread, but...
Smiley Weaver is still going and lives in Braman Ok(Joe Naylor's hometown), not even a couple blocks from where I buy tires. Although I've never met him, I'm inclined to do so, as I understand he's had one heckuva career...if I can arrange it, I'll be sure to tell him of the fellas asking, and maybe see if I can arrange some sort of interview? I'm not certain I can pull this off as well as Bruce Bouton or Mickey Adams have in the past with their heroes, but I'd like to give it a shot, if he'll agree to it? I understand he's getting up there in years and think it'd be neat to document his experiences?

Please tell him we miss him.
JimmyLee

I spoke to Smiley about a month ago. We were good friends. He and Dale Holcomb had a music store in Sulphur before he opened the one in Ada. I bought his custom Epiphone Sheridan. One of the first 10 that was made. He sent it back to the factory and had it painted red to match his Casino. He marked the top underneath to make sure he got the same top back on the guitar. I still have the guitar. He was a super picker, singer, and steel player!!!! He's still hanging in there. I owe a lot to Smiley and Dale Holcomb too. Both were exceptional people!!

Hey Cliff, I am very glad to hear that Smiley is still with us. What a guy. Been to his shows and watched him on Channel 10 TV a lot. Been to his store several times. He was and is a good singer and picker. But, How is Dale Holcomb? That is a long lost name. Had some of his records back in the day. He got a lot of air play on our local stations. He had a lot of steel on his records and I never knew who it was but always thought it could of been Smiley. Do you know? Thanks for any info, J.R. Rose

Dale passed from cancer in 1986 I think. He lived in Sallisaw, and had the Green Country Ballroom in Poteau. Our old band, Country High, opened for stars there several times. I'll ask Bennie Kubiac if he remembers who played on the records. It could have been Smiley, Doug Campball,Leon Rush, or possibly Rocky Stone. The WH Corral Boys were one of the best dance bands around at the time! Dale was one great friend and just super to everyone! I loved him dearly too, as well as Smiley.

Smiley is a superpicker. I'm talking Buddy Emmons class of player. It might not be as evident on a local bandstand but Smiley gave me a recording he made in his studio and he played ever instrument on it and it will blow the best players away.
I'll tell you how I met Smiley back in 1985. I was running a state of the art recording studio in Ft. Worth, Tx. and a studio owner in town knew Smiley but I didn't. He told me you need to call this guy because he has a state of the art studio in Okla. that he is selling and maybe you two could do some business. I call him and he drives down to Ft. Worth and we spend a day together talking about recording equipment and go out to eat together. Very nice man!
So I traded him a couple of big JBL concert sound system speakers for 2 Neumann U87 mics and pay him $2,000.00 cash for a current Lexicon 200 reverb.
We get to talking eventually about musicians in the studio and I mentioned that I used Tom Morrell mostly on steel. He said "You know Tom Morrell?" I said pretty well. We've been on sessions together for years and I was the engineer." He said "Do you know where I can meet him?" I said as a matter of fact yes . He's playing with Tommy Allsup tonight out at the New West club here in town. So we go out to see them and walk up to the bandstand. At this point I had no idea Smiley was a musician but I noticed Tommy Allsup and Tom Morrell was grinning ear to ear looking at Smiley. When they had finished the set Tom Morrell comes running down to Smiley and hugs his neck. I've never seen Morrell so excited in his life. Morrell always had the personally of Mr. Spock on Star Trek.
Morrell looks at me and ask "Do you know who this is? He says "This is the best picker in the world."
I didn't even know he picked but thought Morrell was just using a figure of speech. He talks Smiley into setting in on his steel and he just blew everybody away even Morrell. Hadn't talked to Smiley since those 2 days back in 85 but he sure left in impression on me.

I love threads like this.

I do glad Weav is still with us. Met him in 1966 when I started taking guitar lessons from him. Bought lots of equipment from him way back when. Loved hanging out in his store in Ada. Everybody came in there. Ah the good old days.

Some Smiley Weaver 'Tubes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWCP-3Bk9EU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2CLLKPz0yc

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

Hey Cliff, Thanks for your info. Enjoyed reading for sure. Should of know some of it. But I was gone from here several years. Keota is 15 miles from Sallisaw & 25 miles from Poteau. This is my home town, born and raised here. The old Green Country Ballroom is still standing, do not think it is in use in any way. Bennie Kubiac is a name long forgotten. Have not heard that name in forever. I knew Doug Campbell from OKC. Did not know Leon, Rocky or you. Where are you located and do you still play out? Larry Hamilton here on the forum I have know for years & years. A great guitar picker and steel man plus a very nice Gentleman. Are you going to the OSGA convention this weekend? I will be their Friday only, have family matters Sat. Maybe we will get to meet. Thanks, J.R.

Hey there J.R.
I don't know if I'll make it or not. I play Friday night in Whitesboro Tx. with Doug Martin and the Rustlers, so it makes it a little tough. I live at Ada now and play with Benny Kubiac and Dusty Rhodes every Mon. night and Fridays except the 4th and 5th fridays of the month. I wanted to bring my Williams D10 and try to sell it at the show, but I'm really having a tough time turning loose!!!
I did know Doug Campbell in OKC too. I lived up there for several years. Bob Wood, Tex Wilburn, all those guys. I miss them too!!
If I do get to make the show Saturday, we can visit! Sounds fun!!

I played lead guitar with a band in a New Years eve show at a casino in Newkirk, Ok several years ago and Smiley played steel for us...never came to a practice, said just tell me the key, but showed up to play the show and needless to say, he blew us all away with his playing ! Great player...he also played steel with the Oklahoma balladeer Les Gilliam (from Ponca) for many years after Don Compston (past president of OSGA) passed away.

Delores and I went to see Les and Smiley at Silver Dollar City several years in a row,3 to 4 times each season. One Sunday Buck Trent walked into the back of the building with another guy. After the music stopped, Les told the crowd that Buck was in the back of the hall and Smiley stood up and screamed out "my baby" One day I was talking to Buck and if I remember correctly Buck said he lived with Smiley for a season in his life. I know Smiley helped many young artists. I remember what Reba said about him. Many of his friends have told us that he has a giving heart and a precious spirit.
While at Silver Dollar City I tried to visit with Smiley a few times after their set was over but he was always in such a hurry to tear down and get off the stage so I just stayed out of his way. I did get to visit with the entire band at a restaurant in Muskogee the evening Les Gilliam and Jean Shepard were inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. They were a hoot and eager to share stories with me. I always appreciated that about them.