The Steel Guitar Forum

Will be going to Merle Fest in North Wilkesboro, NC next week to see Merle Haggard. Hoping Norm will be there too. Anybody know for sure?

i would expect norm to be there.

Norm was indeed there and in fine form. This was one of the best, if not THE best show I've seen in years.

Merle was great, sounded like he always has. Norm was up in the mix, playing his GFI.

Great job by all the Strangers.

Norm was Barbara Mandrell's steel teacher when she was a kid whiz on steel guitar.

Saw Norm play last night in Morristown NJ. Merle put on a great show. Merle said that Norm has been with him on the road since 1967. Wow! what an accomplishment. Norm played great and with such wonderful tone. He's the steel player I grew up on and one of the reasons I play steel today.

Question answered. Moderator, feel free to close at will. Thanks all.

Just got back from the Merle Haggard show in Red Bank, Nj, great show and Norm was real good, got to shake his hand after the show, seems like a real nice guy. Also got to chat with Floyd Domino who was playing keys after the show.

Sold out house despite to flooding rains here, kinda like Sandy all over again.

Craig Stock wrote:got to chat with Floyd Domino who was playing keys after the show.

Cool. And who was playing keys during the show?

Actually, Jim, he was fiddling with his keys, after the show, I missed a comma, so bad with spelling late at night, been working for five hours this early morning cleaning up what my non functioning sump pump didn't do. Hope you are doing well!

I met Norm at Scotty's show, a few years ago. What a nice man to talk with. We probably spoke for about an hour or so. He was telling me all about teaching Barbara and how she was a musical natural. Then, we spoke about RusLer steels. I still have mine from 1976 and he still has his green D-10, that, he used when playing with Merle. Now, he didn't know me from Adam, but, was willing to converse with me as though we were old friends.
He's a true gentleman and a great ambassador for steel guitar.

I met up with Norm 2-3 years ago after sound check at Gruene Hall. He didn't know me from anyone else but we talked shop like old friends! I was able to stand in front of him at the stage for the whole show that night!! He sounded great & his singer was on his game as well... It just don't get no better than that!!

A very friendly & personable man....another great memory of being in the steel guitar family!!

I just listened to the Merle Live at Billy Bob's album earlier tonight, and was once again struck with what a wonderful steel player and wonderful musician Norm is. They don't come any more tasteful! He gets a lot more room to play in the live situation than on the studio albums, and it just seems there isn't a note he plays that isn't the perfect thing to play for that moment. Never overplays; always expresses the song; imaginative variety of licks and ideas but never anything just for show. He's what I want to be when I grow up.

I believe Mr. Hamlet is also the Bandleader for the Strangers;since the late 60's. That can't be an easy job! One of my favorite musicians in any genre or instrument.

Have a listen to "Invitiation to the Blues" on the Big E record.

Sublime.....