The Steel Guitar Forum

Here's an interesting 2001 interview with "the father of the pedal steel guitar", Alvino Rey. He talks about early pedal steels, pickups, and the first Gibson pedal steel guitars.

---click---> https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/alvino-rey

Good post. Thank you.

I sent one of my CDs to Alvino a few years ago just out of respect. Not expecting anything back, I received this letter from him. Will always cherish it.

That's a nice keepsake, Mark.

Really enjoyed that Doug!
Thanks for posting it.

Roy

The video just spins for me in Chrome. Right click shows that it is powered by JW Player. From what I can find, it doesn't require a plugin, but it won't play for me.

edit

It played fine for me on my laptop in Firefox just now. Interesting commentary from this pioneer.

Thanks for posting this—interesting to hear and see.

Thanks, Doug. That was fun to watch.

Mark, very nice remarks about your CD.

Alvino Rey and "Stringy," the talking steel guitar:

https://youtu.be/jPd9cxqKCVg

Wow - to say that interview is interesting was a real understatement. Fantastic.

Bumping up because another interview has been added.

I got to see Alvino at the ISGC St Louis and was quickly a fan. Even at his age it was an inspiring and incredible experience. I enjoyed the interview and history.

Dan Robinson wrote:Alvino Rey and "Stringy," the talking steel guitar:

https://youtu.be/jPd9cxqKCVg

Really cool.. Stringy looks like something Rod Serling would have dreamed up.. CREEPY, and demonic looking.. However, the "talkbox" effect used was decades ahead of its time... An interesting, and kind of disturbing video! bob

Yes, I agree, Bob. That Stringy video is bizarre and creepy!

It's interesting to hear Alvino talk about the early "pedal guitars" and how they were designed to expand the chord possibilities for orchestra and big band work. He says they were not intended to be used in country music, and it's "a shame" that the pedal steel is now considered a country music instrument.

very interesting indeed. it's also kind of a shame that he doesn't acknowledge all the great players who played jazz on the instrument.

I didn't realize he was something of a frustrated guitarist. seems like that's where his heart and his interests really were but he had an injury to his right hand. the stories about his friend Segovia were quite revealing

Scout says:it's also kind of a shame that he doesn't acknowledge all the great players who played jazz on the instrument.
My thoughts exactly, JB, SW, BE were greater players than he ever was..yet he does not even mention them..I was put off by his omissions.

It seems like he's longing for the good old days of big band, vaudeville, and swing that he grew up in. Reminds me of Roy Smeck, who according to accounts I've read, didn't seem to know any music post-WWII. Just talked about the 20's and 30's music.