Terry was inducted into the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2012 and received the NTSGA Legends Award in 2017. He started learning to play Steel Guitar at a very young age at the Honolulu School of Music in Flint Michigan. He worked almost 40 years in Mel Tillis's "Statesiders Band", both on the road and at Mel's theater show in Branson, Missouri. Back in the 90's Terry & Dick Miller partnered up to manufacture and produce the well known "Bethel Pedal Steel Guitars" for several years. Terry was once married to female country artist "Billie Jo Spears" who recorded the big hit "Blanket On The Ground". His contributions to the country music industry include session recordings (on the majority of Mel's number one hits), and backing up other well-known artists. He consistently supported the steel guitar industry by founding the Ozark Steel Guitar Association, which hosts an annual steel guitar jam every July. Terry utilized his expertise and talents to expose and enhance the steel guitar worldwide. He spent some of his time as a Internet DJ on SteelRadio.com. Terry had an impeccable reputation as both an innovator of style, and a leader of perfection. He dedicated his life to music, as one of the most worldly renowned steel guitarist' of our time . . .
Terry's Obituary:
Terry Medwick Bethel, age 80, of Hendersonville, TN passed away Monday, June 17, 2019 at NHC Springfield. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.
Terry was born July 14, 1938 in Monette, Arkansas to the late James Elvis and Ethelyn Hancock Bethel. He was a musician. In addition to his parents, Terry was preceded in death by two wives, Patricia Wainscott Bethel and Billie Jo Spears Bethel, also his sister Sherry Gold.
Terry is survived by his children, Valerie (Jeff) Rogers, Michelle Sterling, and Mike Bethel, all 3 of Hendersonville, Sisters, Barbara (Terry) Morris of Ashland City and Stephen (Linda) Bethel of Greenbrier, brother, Bill (Margie) Bethel of Hot Springs, AR, 10 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
Austin & Bell Funeral Home of Springfield is in charge of arrangements.
I'll miss his "Hello my friend" That's how he would start our conversation at every event or jam. He was always approachable and friendly, and a great cheerleader for beginning and intermediate players. At the Ozark Steel Guitar meetings/jams in Branson he always encouraged me and so many others to not pass on a song but play "something" even the song wasn't familiar. He leaves a huge vacancy in the steel guitar world. RIP my friend....
