The Steel Guitar Forum

Hey everybody,
Does anyone here remember or knew my friend the late, great, "Chordmaster" Don West.
He's the on the left in the back row by the Webb amp. Quite a group of pickers here!!
Also, mention if you knew any of the others in this photo! Sure do miss these guys, some who have passed on!
Any comments or stories appreciated.
Thx, Pat

Is he the same Don West who recorded with Luke Gordon in 1958, with Dub Howington on standard guitar?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK-H3Tiwvf4

Wow Mitch
I really don't have an answer to that. I knew him from up in W.Va.
Maybe some else can chime in.
Pat

When would you guess your Don West was born?

Is he old enough to have been recording in 1958???

Which would likely mean born prior to 1940 somewhere.

When was your pic taken?

Don played in Maryland for awhile, and I was lucky enough to see him near Waldorf at Diamond Jim's a few times. Yes, he was a great chord player and could also do some good Chet Atkins-type stuff on C6th. I loved the chord stylings of Don, as well as Curly, and Big Jim Murphy. Seldom hear that stuff today, except for some occasional gems by Tommy White.

Yes, Don was middle-age when I saw him, and that was in the early '70s, so he was certainly playing in the 1950s. It's even rumored that Buddy Emmons picked up a few licks off of him. And having seen both of them, I could easily believe that.

Is that Buddy Charleton on the far left in the pic?

Definitely!

I met Don in Fairfax. He was playing with Don Reno. Really impressed me. My first pedal steel was a Miller Custom that had belonged to him.

That picture was taken at Jim McCoys Trouabour. I was there that day and I know a few of the pickers in the picture. Sure was some great music that day.

All those Virginia boys and no Tommy Detamore?

I'm late to this party, but does anyone know anything about the story that Don created the intro to Night Life?

Gantt Kushner wrote:I'm late to this party, but does anyone know anything about the story that Don created the intro to Night Life?

Oh yes Gantt, I heard that probably 50 years ago. The rumor I heard was that Don had used that progression in another song ("Stormy Weather"?) when Buddy was in the audience, and that Buddy had asked him about it. Out of respect for both players (and frankly, to avoid being slammed here), I've not spoken about it.

Sometimes, I wish I'd asked Buddy about it the last time I spoke to him. And then again, sometimes...I'm glad I didn't.

Just saw this...That's Tommi Reynolds (standing next to Don West) who owned Culpepper Music in Culpepper, Va. Tommi has passed on and was a tremendous musician and person. Next to Tommi is Brad Gum from Elkins, WV. Brad just passed away last night (8-30-21). Brad was also a tremendous musician and person. Standing in front of Tommi and Brad is Bud Armel. Bud was the original guitar player for Patsy Cline, also a tremendous musician and person. I miss these guys very much.

P.S. Don Whitlock is standing behind Tommi and Brad. Don is a great drummer and a great person!

Nothing like the forum!