The Steel Guitar Forum

Show time is near. Friday, November 6 start time is 5pm, Saturday, we start at 11am November 7. VFW 15206 Dedeaux Rd., Gulfport, Mississippi. Phone number at the post is 228 832 0017. My phone number is 228 832 6454. The Ramada Inn, 9415 Hwy 49, Gulfport I-10 exit south, has special rates and that is where all the out of town steel players are booked in also. Ramada Inn phone number is228 868 8200.VFW provides food each day at nominal cost. Admission is $10.00 per person each day, children under 12, free. Confirmed players are: Bill Ferguson,Roger Crawford, Billy Carr,Barney Miller, Billy Robinson, Lynn Owsley, Jim Vest, Buck Grantham, Steve Sanford, Howard Coakley, Arvis Moore, Gordon Dodson, Jack Goodson, R.J. Buras, Malcolm Kirby, Joe Wright, "Big" Will Stewart, Dave Easley, Danny Harrell and myself (if there is room).
Jim Vest will give a special performance Saturday afternoon featuring the songs he recorded with Vern Gosdin and Johnny Paycheck. Jerry Jay-Rockabilly Hall of Fame member-will do the vocal honors with Jim for his one hour show. Joe Wright will be on both days with an hour show Saturday afternoon. Bob Saxton, Chet Atkins award winning thumb picking guitarist, will be one of our staff musicians along with Gene Breeden Hall of Fame guitarist will also be on stage. The Bakersfield Sound Music Group from Nashville will have a special program Saturday afternoon also. Ellis Olsen will give us a program featurine the good country hits of Hank Williams. Howard and Dave Coakley will be on stage with Ellis, plus the band featuring the greatest piano player in our world-Roy Rosetta. Dave Easley, probably the busiest steel guitarist in the USA will give us a program Friday evening. David is usually accompanied by a few leading New Orleans top flight musicians and his show is a treat to be heard.I am very, very proud of all the support we receive from all these wonderful and great players. A special program will be on the schedule for Saturday afternoon, early evening also to remember Dewitt Scott. We will have the Hall of Fame Players and a few others on stage to speak a few words in honor of Scotty and then two songs will be played by this group of steel guitarists-"Amazing Grace" and then the last one will be "Sweet Memories". Scotty and his family gave us much Grace and a tremendous amount of the Sweetest Memories. Since Jim Vest was with Scotty when the very first show that started all this,his presence with us will be the best honor we could ever imagine to have. When Scotty and family was with us about two years ago, he told me "...you guys have more fun at your show than I do at mine". We all know how really big his show was, and is, and he did not have much time for fun. We will all have fun and enjoy the sweet memories the Scott Family gave to all of us in our steel guitar world. Thanks to all for this wonderful support. Just a few more days. We are also fortunate that Bill Ferguson does our sound, as he does for the ISGC there in St. Louis. He is on the program too.

Special performance with Julie and Glenn Musgrove and their band will appear Saturday. This is a very busy group and we are most fortunate that they will be here with us too. We just never know who we will see and enjoy when we open these doors here in Gulfport, Mississippi.

We'll make a playing spot for you. Mr. Smooth if I have to give you one of mine. Bring the 14-stringer and we'll have a Excel corner to present some of the very best built guitars being built today. See you Friday.

I want to let all know that Billy Carr has been selected to be the steel guitarist with The Bakersfield Music Program and will play all those well known " Mooney Licks" that are indicative in that West Coast sound. Only wish Scotty was here in person.

Hey now, only been playing two weeks! My Excel actually plays itself.

You only have a few days to make it down to Gulfport for a really great weekend.
I will be in mourning all weekend because I can't be there.

Interest is building quite a bit now. Ray, you will be missed too. All are in mourning because you will not be on stage with Jim Vest and all the rest of us, especially me. I still can remember when we went to Scotties show the first time. Proud of you then, as now too, my Hall of Fame genuine friend. I am truly humbled with all the interest we are receiving for you Gulfport show. Thanks to all of you. I just had to add another program to our Saturday Show. The Davis County Band will be able to drive down hurriedly on Saturday afternoon to give us a special program with Glen and Julie Musgrove featuring Winston Street on steel guitar. Ray, if you remember, Julie was the vocalist that sang with Rudy Osborne when he played all those wonderful songs he recorded with Dottie West and Julie did a great job with the vocals. Julie has now recorded a great Gospel CD too. This band stays very busy opening for the big shows that hit their area and I am so proud that they will make the big efforts to be here with us. Thanks to all.

Bill, please include the state in the subject line of your Event Announcement posts. Many people don't know where Gulfport is.

Thanks, Bob. Sure wish you could be here in Gulfport, Mississippi with us for the ole times sake. I did list it at the top insertion. We have a good number of the best players and a band stand group of musicians second to none in our band. Again, thanks for the reminder , Bob.

This is one on the best Steel Shows I have ever attended. Jean DeVore and I played it 2 years ago, and had a blast. Hope to return some day. Bill is a great host and puts on a great show. Larry

I have my trailer loaded with sound gear and a couple of steel guitars, my wife and Roger Crawford. hehe

Will be headed out very early tomorrow morning for this great show.

Are you saying I'm riding over in the trailer?

Hey, that is a good idea.

Roger just think if ya riding in Trailer you can practice get sharpened up for ole Bill, or steal some licks off his guitar.. what ya think ???

Hope Bill brings the green Emmons. That guitar and the Emmons Danny Harrell plays are probably the best sounding Emmons I've ever heard. Player might have something to do with it! See ya Friday!

Roger, just be glad that Bill doesn't tie you to the luggage rack on top.

Don't give him any ideas, Larry!

Time is near !!! We're leaving Texas for Mississippi in the morning. Looking forward to working with all the great players this weekend. Fear not Roger, Linda will keep brother Bill on a tight leash and we'll see all of you tomorrow afternoon.
Our dear friend,Bill Stafford, has put together a great group of talent for this show and deserves a "ton" of credit for all the work and time he has put into the show. See ya tomorrow "Mr. Smooth".
....Roy and Barbara

Wishing all a safe trip today. Jim Vest has already checked in and we are all waiting anxiously too. Thanks in advance for being with us this weekend. We will have a group of Veterans who live at the Armed Forces Retirement Home drop in for us to appreciate properly. I am so very proud of all of you and humbled and gracious of ALL you players and friendship given to us here in Gulfport. Thanks in advance.

Man what a good line up of pickers. Cant hardly wait till I get there Saturday to see what looks like a great show. Bill always works hard to put on a good show.I will have the Ritt with me if anyone wants to give it a try.

i'm ready for the country....
i have arrived....

country jack....

Glad you have arrived. See you very soon, and thanks in advance.

Bill, thanks for a great show and letting me be part of it. I got to spend time with some old friend, made a bunch of new friends, and listened to great music all weekend. And thanks for the invite to next year. Good Lord willing, I'll be there with bells on.

Hey Roger, your tone with the Mullen and Milkman amp was great. It was good to meet someone I had only seen on the forum. I'm hard to impress but you did it with the tone/sustain of the D-10 and the amp. See you down the road buddy. Thanks.

Roger, it was a delight to have you here. Glad you enjoyed our efforts, and your presence and wonderful talent was most appreciated, especially by me. Thanks, looking forward to next year with you too.