The Steel Guitar Forum

The 39th Annual Pedal Steel Guitar Association Anniversary Show - November 10th and 11th at the Doubletree Hotel 789 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk, CT. (Exit 13 on I-95) Sleeping room rates are $85.00 per night + Tax. Reservations must be made no later than November 5th. After that date room rates increase and selection is at the hotel's direction. Again this year we will have another fine example of the best steel players performing. Confirmed players so far include: Lonnie Bennett, Carco Clave, Jim Cohen, John DeMaille, Jeff DeMaio, Mike Ihde, Doug Jernigan, Chuck Lettes, Raphael McGregor, Stacy Phillips, Tom Reilly, Joe Wright and Lynda Wright. Make plans to attend. The Doubletree is accepting room reservations now! Phone: 1-203-853-3477 and on the Internet at: www.norwalk.doubletree.com Enter your check in and check out dates, click Go Then Scroll to the bottom and enter Group Code: PSL
Continue to follow prompts to complete the reservation and be sure to save your reservation confirmation number.

Reservations can also be made by calling the toll free # 1-800) 492-7148, and requesting the group: Pedal Steel

Doug Jernigan will present an E9th Seminar for intermediate players on Saturday, November 10th from 8:30 AM until 10:45 AM Tuition is $50.00 payable directly to Doug Jernigan. Advance reservations are required.
Students should bring their steel guitars, a pair of powered headphones to hear yourself, a Pak A Seat (or use a hotel chair) and an Audio recorder. NO VIDEO RECORDING.

For Seminar reservations contact: Jeff at: jeffdemaio@aol.com or Phone Jeff at: 1-203-325-0401

Show details and player schedule available at: www.psga.org

Just booked my room and looking forward to it!

I'm looking forward to playing bass again this year, and I'd like to add that all attendees and players are invited to the Rodeo Bar at 27th and 3rd ave in NYC on Monday the 12th where Western Caravan will be holding forth starting at 9:00.

We are happy to know that the following performers will provide Country vocals for our enjoyment at our show: Christina DeMaio, Nick DeMaio Sr. Nick DeMaio III along with the Gunsmoke band with Jeff DeMaio on steel, and Darlene DeMaille with husband John on steel.

BTW Christina has a brand new CD available, a review of which, by Mike Gross, will appear in our October Pedal Steel Newsletter, along with Mike's review of Jim Cohen's latest CD. Jim will have his albums available at the show.

This is a GREAT show..had the honor of playin it once...First class all the way so don't miss it!

Thanks Jr. Great to hear from you and hope you can come back in the future! Maybe for our 40th Anniversary next year?

I have been telling everyone about your great steel work backing Jody Nix on his cut of Silver Due on The Bluegrass recording. That is the tastiest playing I have heard in recent times. I play it every time I boot my computer 1st thing. It is a fine example of excellent steel playing!

Best regards,
Bob

You know, I think I'm going to take a ride up to Norwalk this year!

We will look forward to meeting you Mike. BTW in addition to the pedal steelers, there are 5 lap steel players scheduled to play on our show this year.

One of my favorite steel guitar shows-great music, great backup band. Come to the show, Mike. It's a good time.
Chuck

Come for the steel players.....stay for the back up band.......

Hope to see you there Mike......

getting closer.....................

Just made a reservation--

Looking forward to seeing all of our friends and supporters of the PSGA. It's going to be a great show!!!!

Got my room secured for the show and am looking forward to a great weekend. Will be a great show as usual, if you are on the fence, get off and come to the best and longest running show in the Northeast!

Looking to see everyone in November!

Just bumping it up. The show is high technolgy with close-up viewing of the players` hands. I haven`t seen it at any other show. I just got blown away with "Gunsmoke" performing 10/14 in my neck of the woods.

Just 3 weeks left until the show starts. Our show flyer was mailed via 1st class mail last weekend. The schedule listed has had some changes. Chuck Lettes will lead off the Sunday session, since he has a flight back to Denver that afternoon and needs an early start to get to JFK Airport.

We are looking forward to Lonnie Bennett and Doug Jernigan teaming up for a Gospel segment right after Chuck's set on Sunday.

Chuck will coordinate and play on the Saturday evening Lap Steel Jam and Tom Reilly has agreed to participate in addition to his Sunday set.

The hotel room resevations list includes folks from Georgia, Indiana, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Tennessee, New York, New Jersey, and New England.

Bump for a great show.

Bump up for the northeast's BIGGEST and LONGEST LASTING SHOW. Don't miss it!

I'd love to go again one day but geography says 'No!' When I first came to the USA petrol was about .85c a gallon and distance wasn't even a consideration - no longer!

I've only ever been to three US shows - twice to ISGC and once to Norwalk. I'll never forget how kind and hospitable everyone was. I lived in NYC back then ('99) so it was just up the road.

My abiding memory was watching Doug Jernigan and being so blown away that I had to leave the main hall and sit and digest what I'd just seen - stunning. Minutes later Doug himself walked in and we had a nice chat.

I'd just done a theatre run with Van Manakas and it was he who urged me to attend the show - is he still in that staff band? A fine player and my first-ever musical pal in America!

He sure is still in the band! I always look forward to playing with him and the rest of the gang there including forumite Steve Alcott on bass.

We're out of touch these days, Jim; I'd be obliged if you'd pass on my warmest best wishes to Van.

Roger, Van and I work in the same band. He and I will be at the P.S.G.A. show and Van still plays lead guitar at the show. I even got him to play fiddle with me in 2010.
We'll be playing in Ellenville N.Y. on Friday and Saturday evenings and commuting to the show from there on that weekend. I'll let him know you were asking about him and I'm sure that Jim will also.
Van is a fine musician and a really great guy. I know he'll be happy to know that you thought of him.

Thanks, Ben.

Van was playing guitar with me in Roanoke, VA in Summer '98 on a 'Patsy' show - I was very nervous about playing steel in the USA (it was my very first gig after emigrating) and I was so lucky that Van was there. We found common musical ground, I feel, and I enjoyed our downtime as much as I did playing the gig. I still have - and will always treasure - the kind note he left me at the gig's end...

By the way, that was the time he was just beginning his fiddle studies! I'm delighted - and not at all surprised - that he seems to have made a go of it and fiddle is now in his extensive armoury!

(If you remember, please tell him that I now have a wonderful '53 000-21 - old Martins were always a big talking point with us...)

I just got off the phone with Bruce Chappelle who over the past 25 years has been our musical director and bass player on our shows. Bruce said his wife Sherry had recently fallen, broke her left arm and shattered her right wrist. She was hospitalized for 8 days and underwent surgery. He will not be able to attend our show this year since he needs to help Sherry during her recovery. We are adding Sherry to our prayer list for a speedy recovery.

Bruce sends warm regards to everyone and wishes things were normal, but they are not.

Steve Alcott will play bass on both days at this year's show.

Bruce will surely be missed. Our thoughts go out to him and to Sherry for a complete and speedy recovery.