The Steel Guitar Forum

Does anyone know where Sonny Purdam is? Sonny was playing with Connie Smith last time I saw him and that was years back. He was a fantastic player and fast as lightening and very tasteful player.

A few years back, I attended a steel jam outside Frederick, MD. with Sunny in attendance. The last I heard, he had some health issues; haven't seen him since said jam.

Thanks Gary, Sonny really impressed me with his speed, taste and accuracy so just wandering if was still around. He was playing an SD-10 Emmons thru an old Session 400. His tone was awesome.

sonny is still alive and kicking, i still stay in touch with him quite often. he still has some health issues. but i would kill to have as fast a right hand as he has....thanks jack

Thanks Jack, good to know Sonny still around. Yes, he does have a fast right hand, awesome player.

Received via email

Good evening,
My name is Jaime Smith. I live next to Sonny's brother, Bob, in Thurmont, MD.
Bob told me about his brother playing with Connie Smith, and I looked it up. That brought me to you and the Steel Guitar Forum.
Sonny is in a nursing home in Florida. He had another stroke, and the onset of dementia.
Bob said that Sonny is getting depressed and that cards or letters may help.
If anyone would like to send cards to Sonny, here is the information.

Carlton Sonny Purdum
Villa Health & Rehabilitation
120 Chipola Avenue, Room 513-D
DeLand, FL 32720

The facilities number is 386-738-3433.

Thank you so much.

Jaime Smith

i still stay in touch with sonny, mostly through his wife. the last time i talked with him he only talked about 5 minutes before his voice got weak....thanks jack

What a strange coincidence, I was thinking about Sonny just a few days ago. I haven't seen Sonny since he was working on steels at Corner Music in Nashville TN. I had heard he was in Florida so I knew he had left Tennessee. I remember first seeing Sonny play at either Gabes or The Rose Room in Nashville. I first met him at a Jam session that Judy Martin ran at the Rose Room. I was sitting in on his Sho Bud and we had a great conversation afterwards. He had told me that I sounded good, but asked me if I was open to some advice. I told that I would love some advice from him and he told me to pick a little harder. He said something like, not real hard like you would a Dobro, but harder than you are now and be more decisive when you pick. It was some of the best advice I have ever gotten and I noticed an improvement in my steel playing within a few weeks. Sonny is really a great guy, I hope and pray he starts to feel better asap.

sonny had the first stroke when he was 44 years old (he was working with connie smith at the time) since then he has had 12 strokes. he is still in the nursing home. he is 68 now....thanks jack

BoB, i talked with his wife day before yesterday and sonny had just home. his condition has not changed much. i am going to call again today and will update any changes....thanks jack

That's all I could find ! Solo at 18:47
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm4lX7ags0w