The World Famous 14 Hole Bellcrank
Posted: 20 May 2002 9:07 pm
Fourteen months ago I was 1000 miles from home just out of intensive care due to a heart valve repair and removal of part of an enlarged septum which is the center dividing partition of the heart at the Cleveland Clinic. A stranger came in my room and said he was a steel guitar player and knew I was a long way from home. We talked steel guitar for about 1 1/2 hours and before he left he gave me a 14 hole bellcrank for an Emmons guitar. Somehow he knew I was an Emmons player. Anyway as it turned out that stranger was Jerry Brightman and he is no longer a stranger but a good friend. I was so proud of the bellcrank and what it means to me that when I was at the Dallas show I asked Mona Lawrence who makes the George L' pickups if she could help me have it gold plated. I received it back from Mona today and it is beautiful!!! I will be playing the Tulsa steel show this Saturday and that keepsake will be mounted under my guitar. Thanks to Jerry Brightman one more time for cheering me up when I really needed it and a a huge thank you to Mona Lawrence. I know George L' is not in the business of gold plating bellcranks but it means a great deal to me. This may seem trivial but there is nothing trivial about open heart surgery, what it does to you mentally and the impact a friend can have during the first few hours of recovery. If you are in Tulsa Saturday, be sure and check it out!
Jerry Roller
Jerry Roller
