The Steel Guitar Forum

Who's playing steel for Johnny Paycheck on this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abLyO2_P3Xk ?

I'm not sure who the steeler is, but you can catch a glimpse of him around 2:50.
I know Bobbe Seymour played with Johnny when this song came out, in the mid 80's, but it's obviously not him. Great song.

Jay Andrews is the steel player in this video but not on the original session...might have been Jim Vest!

Big Jim Murphy worked with Johnny for a while but I don't remember the dates.

The steel sound is excellent and reminds of Seymore's clear sound, but I really can't tell.

It looks like Jay Andrews to me.

here is another video with Jay playing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDFCvfh-Dj8

I really like his style

Tasty steel playing!

And Paycheck's voice and range? Good thing he was in George Jones' band... George copied Hank William's style until he heard Paycheck sing! Then he emulated Paycheck. The throne was all Paycheck's to take and he did all he could do to tick off fans and destroy himself. Listed to him sing a few of George's songs.. he smokes George! But George is great and had longevity.


Greg

Did you guys read the commit below the video? Truer words were never written...

I can't understand how Country Music became what it is today when they had teachers like Paycheck, Hag, Waylon, and Jones... What we have today is sort of like replacing a Caddillac with a Pinto.
I hate to repeat others comments, but they are right- these guys are the REAL DEAL. Now we have auto-tuned fools standing on the same stages claiming to be Country Artists.
Sadly I fear that when the last few of the remaining living legends have thier final curtian call, Country Music dies with them

It's Jay Andrews. Here's a pic at The Wheel. Me, Jay, and one of the best guitar players in Nashville Jeff Garris and his wife Jill. Jay's had a haircut since the vid. Great player!

...speaking of Paycheck and steel guitar...

Great picture, Chad S.! Boy, the guy had a lot going for him, didn't he? I'm glad he found some peace before he died. Those performances with "Old Violin" and "If You Think You're Lonely", yeah I'd like to see anyone current try to touch those. I can't think of a soul. Of course, I wouldn't wish the experience that a person has to draw on to get to that feeling on anyone.

Just great playing by Jay Andrews. Superb classic steel tone. What he is doing in that song is not technically hard. It is artisticly hard. Big difference in knowing what to play and laying it into a song hauntingly the way Jay Andrews does there. That's country steel playing at it's best.

Why don't we know more about Jay?

Is he still around and playing, and does anyone have any background info on him?

Thanks, Craig

I think he's originally from Rhode Island, and moved to Nashville back in the 1980s. That's what I've heard anyway.

daniel...you're right! the way paycheck and haggard do what they do....it's country soul to the max, with hardly any words getting in the way.
it sucks you right in.
sung with their own personal conviction. something some younger artists these days haven't quite developed yet.

sometimes i forget how good paycheck was. he was as good as it gets. there was a song called 'a woman's touch' or something i haven't heard for a long time. about how (with her gone) there's dust on everything but the ceilng.

Jay's been discussed lots here, even a simple forum search will turn up a bunch. I got a chance to hang with him a few years ago when I was in town. He said he was from RI originally. Last I knew, he was playing some gigs on Broadway, but I haven't been down this year yet. Great player, nice guy - I agree that his work with Paycheck has a magical feel to it.

Here's a little deja vu all over again - http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=190396

I gotta tell ya', Johnny Paycheck is as good as country music gets, to me. No BS, straight from the heart. These examples from late in his career/life are bloody awe-inspiring.

Early Johnny Paycheck ( I never get sick of re-posting this!!!!!!):


Hear it!


Greg

Thanks for that one Greg, never heard it before, but won't ever forget that!

In 2003, Joe Nichols had the video "Brokenheartsville", which Jay Andrews appeared in, playing a black '60s Emmons. I think it's awesome that Johnny Paycheck was a steel player too

Still lives in Nashville. You may get lucky and catch him downtown as I did. Was playing a blk Emmons when I saw him. Very nice guy.