The Steel Guitar Forum

Reba had a steel player (with his own riser) at the Oscars last night. The steel was kinda buried in the mix but I was intrigued by the steel player's style. Did not seem to do much finger picking but a lot of dramatic raking. Anyone know who the player was? Pete Townshend? I would guess he is not playing Nash E9?

Check around 2:20 to see what i am seeing...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wMa5y-BQ1hQ

Robert Randolph

Definitely Robert Randolph.

Thanks guys. I am a big RR fan. Sorta thought that might be him but then said naaaaaah not with Reba. Good to see the meeting of genres. If only it were out front in the mix a little more...

was Robert trying for an Oscar too? that was quite the dramatic performance he gave

scott murray wrote:was Robert trying for an Oscar too? that was quite the dramatic performance he gave

Yes, quite a few dramatic flourishments/embellishments from the band members.

Gotta keep it entertaining.

Reba is such a great singer.

Good thing that Will Smith didn't try to slap Robert

In the 35 plus years I've been playing steel guitar I am YET to ever play in that fashion.

I know Robert is an awesome player but think he was put on stage for show rather than steel fill in. I have yet to hear it in mix. It’s all about show now, not the music.

OMG This is why i never watch this crap.Put Terry Crisp or Mike Johnson to play steel. RAP CRAP dont cut it with country.

(bump to hear Ron tell us more about what makes this rap).

Steel seems pretty up in the mix to me. Robert Randolph sounds great, as always. He's an incredible musician.

Yes, ron - please elaborate. To me, this classic "disney sounding" ballad by Reba doesn't scream "Rap Crap" - but I'm sure you have a compelling reason for saying that.

Aren't these bands/orchestras used for the entire event?

There's usually a sound company etc. that arranges the music and it's used for the entire program.

It's not like they have the luxury of having their regular bands.

I have no interest in the self serving Oscars so I didn't watch it, but I believe that is a common configuration for these shows.

Robert is just Robert. He plays like he plays and nobody expects anything different.

Robert Randolph is awesome and I'm glad to see him playing on such a high-profile stage. There's a short video somewhere of him talking about the different styles in sacred steel, and it's very cool.

To each his own, Robert's direction is a modern approach. My bet is Robert recorded on this song and maybe other songs in the film...
Robert contributed steel throughout the song with rhythm parts, and sometimes with effected keyboard like pads, I heard a few soulful hints at the blues when it was appropriate, and most importantly Robert served the song to support Reba's vocal. Loved it!
Paul

It sounded like a pre- recorded track to me.Still great to see Robert up there on the stage. For his style of steel guitar , he is second to none. He's an amazing musician and singer . Steel guitar just happens to be his main voice. The fact that guys like Eric Clapton have Robert as a headliner on his crossroads should negate any question of Robert's credibility. I was lucky enough to get to play with him years back. He blew me away.Funny that people associate him with Rap (hip hop) music. They're so far off the mark. It's gospel, rock and old Rhythm and blues all blended together.

I’ll agree with Paul and Bruce! Robert is fantastic at what he does. Incredibly gifted.
I played the Oscars with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in 2020. These moments are significant and enormous exposure for pedal steel guitar, no matter who is playing. To have someone who can play like Robert on the Oscar’s stage is a bonus.

I agree Robert is a talented musician. However his style of playing does not appeal to me. That being said, when someone tells me steel guitar is a country music instrument only I pull Robert up and give them a listen.

I enjoyed the performance, and I thought it was pretty cool that the MC announced that Robert Randolph would be playing with the band (mentioned prior to to the break before Reba’s performance).

Sounds like two steel players.

Rap? Seriously?

This is a power ballad, and what is being played fits the song. Of course, not every song or style will appeal to everyone. But this is nothing like any rap I've ever heard. And I've heard a lot.

Actually, for the first half of the song, it sounds like pretty traditional steel guitar padding, and very nice at that. And it all sounds like a steel guitar to me. Aside from giving visibility to the instrument, I think the steel adds a lot here. It's very subtle in places, but so is a lot of classic pedal steel. I really have a hard time finding anything negative about this. YMMV, I guess.

question for Tommy White:
did you play live on the Oscars stage or was it prerecorded?

the steel seems prerecorded in Reba's case which gives Robert a bit more freedom to play to the camera. I'm a RR fan and always happy to see/hear pedal steel on such a high-profile gig, but he's distracting from the singer and that's a no-no

Scott,
My performance with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper was live.
It is my understanding, I was the first pedal steel player to be on the Oscar’s stage.
I had performed with Gaga a few weeks before on the Grammy awards. Gaga loved the sound and treated me like family. Gaga threatened to hold my guitar hostage if I didn’t return for the Oscar performance. I’ll be forever grateful to her.

Great exposure for you and the table guitar, Tommy.

Tommy -
I was thinking that Doug Livingston, Greg Leisz…or maybe even Jay Dee had played on an Oscars broadcast.
If you were the first…that is something special!

Tim