Planning trip to NC, Va, NY, VT & to Il-steel things to see

[Larry Lenhart]

In July I will be making a trip back east and the top of my "steel" list is to go to Billy Coopers Steel shop. Just wondered what else might be of interest to see in regards to steel guitar. I will do all of the usual tourist things, so dont need help in that area.Then be going to Illinois, before returning to Ok. Thanks in advance for ideas.
Hope this is the right place to post this, if not, I apologize in advance.

[Jim Cohen]

Comin' through Philly, Larry? We can dispense with the Liberty Bell and just head for the pub...

[Steve Hitsman]

I64 from Virginia through Illinois? We can probably find something for you to do in St. Louis. I'm doing Always... Patsy Cline at the Playhouse at Westport Plaza.

[Larry Lenhart]

Jim, yep never been to Philly, so probably doing the Liberty Bell thingy,,,,are you playing out any where in the area ? Take care and good to hear from you.
Steve, I might plan on the Patsy Cline show if the timing is right. As of now, I dont have a set plan just come and go places as I drive along.

[Glenn Uhler]

Not steel related, but 60 miles north of Phila, C.F. Martin Guitar has tours of the factory every day. You get to walk through their museum and usually get to walk through the factory, seeing stuff up close. Sometimes they have free soundhole cutouts. They are located in Nazareth, PA.

[David Nugent]

Larry...You may want to call ahead, Billy is not always at the shop especially on weekdays. (Also, they are closed Mondays and have shorter hours on Saturday). Please contact me when you plan your visit, am overdue for a trip there and would enjoy meeting you.

[Larry Lenhart]

David
Thanks for that information...I will definately call ahead and will have my ipad with me so I can keep in touch with the world. Hope to meet you there.

[Mike Perlowin]

Not steel related, but while you in NYC, you should take the tour of Ellis Island. They have re-created the experiences of immigrants who came here in the 19th century. I sat on a bench and wondered whether any of my ancestors sat on the same bench. (My grandmother was only 5 years old when she came here with her parents.)

It was a deeply moving experience. The tour gives you a profound sense of who we are as a people. As much as I enjoyed my trip to NYC (Among other things, I saw Les Paul perform,) the tour of Ellis Island was the best part of the entire trip.

I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[Larry Lenhart]

Mike,
Thanks for the heads up on Ellis Island...that actually was on my list of things to do and after reading your post I think I will get more from it than I realized I would. Thanks !!

[Jim Cohen]

Larry, apparently, email thru the Forum isn't getting through to me, so PM me your likely dates in Philly and we'll see what's up.
Jim

[Don Drummer]

Larry, I live right off of I-64 in Lewisburg, Wv. This town has many historical sights and is very arts oriented. Billy Cooper's shop is another 3.5 hours from here. If your journey falls within these parameters let me know. Stop by a nd let's play some tunes. Don Drummer

[George Kimery]

Larry, if you are the vicinity of Asheville, NC airport (exit 40 on I-26) on July 4 or 18th, I will be playing with the Rick Morris band at a family friendly venue from 7 PM til 10:30 PM. Let me know if you want details.

George Kimery

[Stan Knowles NC]

LARRY...

DON'T KNOW WHICH HIGHWAYS YOU WILL TRAVERSE ON YOUR
JOURNEY...BUT, IF YOU ARE ON I-40 BETWEEN GREENSBORO,
NORTH CAROLINA AND RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA...YOU WILL
GO THROUGH BURLINGTON, N.C.! BURLINGTON IS THE HOME
OF EMMONS PEDAL STEEL GUITARS AND IS OWNED AND RUN BY
RON LASHLY, THE SON OF RON SR., WHO ALONG WITH BUDDY
EMMONS, INVENTED THE EMMONS STEEL GUITAR. RON, HIS
WIFE REBECCA AND REBECCA'S MOTHER, ALONG WITH SEVERAL
STEEL GUITAR EXPERTS...STILL BUILD THE EMMONS THERE!

THEN, IF YOU FOLLOW I-40, SKIRT RALEIGH AND STAY ON
I-40 SOUTH TOWARD WILMIGNTON, N.C....YOU WILL COME
WITHIN 4 OR 5 MILES OF KENANSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA,
THE HOME OF "MR. PEDAL STEEL GUITAR REPAIR MAN
EXTRAORDINARY" - BILLY KNOWLES! UNLESS BILLY IS IN
NASHVILLE, OR IN BURLINGTON, HELPING BUILD THE EMMONS
STEEL GUITARS....HE WILL USUALLY BE IN HIS REPAIR SHOP
WHICH IS BESIDE HIS HOME THERE IN KENANSVILLE...WITH
HIS HEAD IN THE UNDERSIDE OF A STEEL GUITAR...OR BUILDING THE FAMOUS "WALKER (STEEL GUITAR) SEATS"...
BECAUSE HE BOUGHT THE BUSINESS FROM THE LATE RAY
WALKER...AND BUILDS THEM EXPERTLY AND EXACTLY LIKE
RAY ALWAYS BUILT THEM. MANY STEELERS, MYSELF INCLUDED
(AND TOMMY WHITE AT THE GRAND OLD OPRY) USE "WALKER
SEATS!" BILLY DOESN'T KNOW THAT I'M WRITING THIS...
BUT HE IS THE PERSON WHO WAS CHOSEN BY THE LATE TOM
BRUMLEY (WITH BUCK OWENS AND RICKY NELSON) TO REPAIR,
REFINISH, AND FINE TUNE HIS STEEL GUITARS AS A MATTER
OF FACT, BILLY OWNS THE ZB GUITAR THAT TOM OWNED AND
PLAYED ON THE DWIGHT YOAKUM SINGLE, "I SANG DIXIE"
ON CAPITOL RECORDS. BILLY ALSO JUST FINISHED WORKING
ON AND REFINISHING A VINTAGE D-1O GORGEOUS SHO-BUD
FOR TOMMY WHITE! BILLY WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE AND
CHAT WITH YOU...BUT YOU'D BETTER CALL FIRST BECAUSE
HE IS ALWAYS BUSY! HIS BUSINESS IS CALLED "STEEL
GUITAR EAST" AND IS ACCESSED THROUGH GOOGLE OR WHATEVER
YOUR PROVIDER IS!

ACTUALLY, OUR LAST NAMES ARE THE SAME AND SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE...WE PROBABLY ARE KIN...BUT WE DON'T
KNOW WHERE...HOWEVER, HE DOES ALL OF MY STEEL WORK...
AND TO ME...HE IS JUST THE BEST!

MY WIFE AND I LIVE IN WILMINGTON, N.C. WHICH IS THE
BIRTHPLACE OF SHOT JACKSON....SO NORTH CAROLINA DOES
HAVE A STRONG CONNECTION TO PEDAL STEEL GUITAR.
(MARLEN ALSO WAS BUILT HERE IN N.C., IN REIDSVILLE,
N.C.!)