The Steel Guitar Forum

S G was the answer to a Jeopardy! question tonight…”as played by Jimmy Day and Greg Leisz.” Sa-lute!

My wife and I looked at each other in amazement when that one popped up!

Did anyone get it right?

My man Greg!

Second person got it right. The first person said “ Steel Drums” lol.

Saw that. Was quite surprised. At least some one knew the answer.

I seen it and surprised someone knew the answer. There's hope in the world.

It gave us a bit of a start, too!

Then I began to wonder how the show's writers came up with those names; both accomplished and high-level players, yet not the names that I'd have thought would spring first to the mind of a layman.

Perhaps a staff writer is a secret fan and has waited for years to slip a 'steel guitar' reference into the show.

I debated whether it was correct or not. The example was def a pedal steel guitar, the clue mentioned using hands and feet to play, the players cited are def more known as pedal steel guitarists. So, wouldn't answering just steel guitar be more wrong than right?

Roger Rettig wrote:It gave us a bit of a start, too!

Then I began to wonder how the show's writers came up with those names; both accomplished and high-level players, yet not the names that I'd have thought would spring first to the mind of a layman.

Would ANY name have sprung at all, not just first, to the mind of a layman? At least the sound of the instrument was recognized by the person who answered correctly (enough), but names?

You're quite right, Brint.

I spoke without thought; there's no 'Eric Clapton' equivalent in the world of steel guitar - not in the public's consciousness, anyway.

...wouldn't answering just steel guitar be more wrong than right?

Not for the average person. I’d say “steel guitar” would cover it all, pedals, lap, even acoustic. When people ask me what I play, I say ”steel guitar”. Adding the word “pedal” complicates things and then I have to explain to the person what a pedal steel guitar is and how it works. Too many years doing that!

I've found that 'Hawaiian guitar' conveys more to the general population than 'steel guitar. Even then, there are still blank stares sometimes.

Roger Rettig wrote:You're quite right, Brint.

I spoke without thought; there's no 'Eric Clapton' equivalent in the world of steel guitar - not in the public's consciousness, anyway.

I agree also. I don't know of a steel player, pedal or otherwise, that would be recognized by the general public. Sad, but that's just how it is. I had some friends that went to see a George Jones concert several years ago and I asked if they remembered what the steel player's name was, the lady told me she didn't know if they even had a steel player or not. Of course they did and I confirmed later that it was Tom Killen. I afraid it's going to get worse. I'm afraid the country acts will go to singing to tracks like many of the gospel groups have done. I realized the convenience of it, but I don't have any interest in seeing them.

RC

I think some steel guitarists of yesteryear may have been recognized by the general public... Alvino Rey, Santo Farina, and (believe it or not) Barbara Mandrell when she had her weekly show on CBS. But in general, most steel guitarists are just sidemen, unfortunately. As someone once said...it's hard to set the world on fire when your seated and looking down at your instrument!

really cool to see Jimmy Day mentioned on national television in 2022. I imagine Leisz is a much more recognizable name these days but still far from a household word

kind of ironic that the most widely known steelers got that way due to their work outside of country music

scott murray wrote:kind of ironic that the most widely known steelers got that way due to their work outside of country music

I was thinking the same thing, Scott. Robert Randolph would be another example of that. BTW he just backed up Reba on the Oscars broadcast the other night and they announced him as one of the band members.