Grand Ole Opry staff steelers ?

Doug Jones · Post by **Doug Jones** » 25 Feb 2023 7:30 am

In watching older and newer videos of the Opry one can see numerous steelers appearing with a variety of artists. Anyone know the chronological order and names of the actual staff steelers on the Opry?

Duane Becker · Post by **Duane Becker** » 25 Feb 2023 9:19 am

Hey Doug, you are right on my favorite topic: Grand Ole Opry. Anyway, I have followed the different fractions of the Opry history since I was a little kid, and one of them being the steel guitar players. This from liner notes on lps, and talking to others who played the Opry.
Off the top, and as you know, artists can bring their bands to the Opry when they are either guesting or regular member. Other artists come solo with the staff band backing them up.
I'll see if I can fill in some info. Remember these dates are off the top of my head, they are pretty close but still approximate.
From spring of 1998, if I remember correctly, Tommy White has been on the staff. Before that it was Weldon Myrick. Weldon was there from 1966 to around 1998 or so. There were three steels in the staff band for a time. Weldon, Hal Rugg, and Sonny Burnette. Hal started in the early 1960s and Sonny around 1968. Sonny and Hal left several years later, leaving Weldon. If I remember correct Hal continued to play the Opry thru mid 1970s-maybe a bit longer.
Weldon mentions in Manual of Style by Winnie Winston that when he started doing the Opry in 1966, "...everyone was gone. Pete Drake, Lloyd Green, Walter Haynes-they were all gone. It was just Ruggs-the whole night."

I knew that Walter Haynes did alot of work on the Opry, but just now, seeing Lloyd Green's name struck me. Be nice to hear from the remaining Nashville steelers about this. I do know that Tommy White is a wealth of information, hopefully he will see your post and reply.

Also if I remember correctly, Pete Drake came from Atlanta to Nashville in 1959-and started the Opry soon after. He was a mainstay staff guy through mid 60s, probably up to the time frame that Weldon got there, which is mentioned above.
As far as the guys in the 40s and 50s, I will go through my notes and books this afternoon to find the staff steel players (if there were indeed staff steel players). Seems like the early years of the Opry, you could just bring your steel down, and start asking artists if they needed a sit in steel player for their appearance at the Opry-Gee's those were the days!!!

Duane Becker · Post by **Duane Becker** » 25 Feb 2023 10:08 am

Doug, I've been speed reading through Don Davis' book. He mentions he was hired by WSM in 1949 to back all artists that didn't have a band. Don was one of the early steel guitar players on the Opry. With Pee Wee King's groups as well. Also Howard White's name appears alot in the early Opry steel players.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 25 Feb 2023 10:43 am

I know that while Weldon was the Opry's staff steel guitarist in 1997, Tommy White was in the Prime Time Country staff band before becoming the Opry's staff steel guitarist in 1998.

Doug Jones · Post by **Doug Jones** » 26 Feb 2023 4:36 am

I remember some videos showing Jerry Byrd playing either steel or rhythm guitar. Behind him or to his side was a pedal steel player.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 26 Feb 2023 8:01 pm

I love those old pictures , they got so much mojo , love it

John Palumbo · Post by **John Palumbo** » 27 Feb 2023 2:41 pm

Really love this post, Great picture and information!

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 28 Feb 2023 9:57 am

Thanks Duane, I was wondering if anyone was going to mention Howard White. Bob Foster did quite a bit of work with different artists.

Steve Green · Post by **Steve Green** » 28 Feb 2023 10:22 am

According to this article / obit:
Billy Robinson was hired to perform in the Opry house band in 1949, at age 18, to become the youngest ever Opry staff musician.
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/hank ... nson-dies/

Duane Becker · Post by **Duane Becker** » 28 Feb 2023 6:50 pm

Yes, I forgot to mention Billy Robinson. He did the pre pedal steel days for a time.

Bill Cunningham · Post by **Bill Cunningham** » 28 Feb 2023 7:56 pm

It was my understanding that the Opry was always loosely organized with lots of different players doing “spots” with whatever artist asked until an official Opry staff band was formed with Linneman (sp?), Capps, Leon, Spider, Sonny, Hal, Weldon, et al.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 28 Feb 2023 8:41 pm

So... anyone noticed how that picture is reversed L-R?

I saw Weldon play at the Opry, 1981. Pretty awesome.

Duane Becker · Post by **Duane Becker** » 1 Mar 2023 7:44 am

Skip, yes, I've notice that photo being reversed ever since my mom bought the album back when I was 15 years old. My dad played steel and first said, why are they setting with left handed steels before he realized it was the back of the steels facing the camera. Since he was into photography, he's said the photo got reversed. The front of the lp shows the three steels without the guys in the correct orientation.

Also, I've been quickly going through Jerry Byrd's auto bio book, and he never mentions any long term Opry. I'm sure he played it on occasion, but anyone know anything more?

Bruce Zumsteg · Post by **Bruce Zumsteg** » 1 Mar 2023 8:07 am

Weldon, Hal and Sonny, during the great years of the Opry.

A few others from the 'golden years'. There was never a shortage of steel guitars during those times. I'm thankful that I got to witness it numerous times.

Bill West (Dottie's Husband at that time). Jerry Whitehurst and Hal Rugg looking on.

Hal Rugg, early 60's

Lloyd Green sitting in on Pete's guitar. Lloyd was still selling shoes at Harvey's Dept. Store at that time, and would come over to the Opry after work, and sit in on a few spots.

Pete with his 'talking steel guitar' box.

Sonny Garrish with Bill Anderson's band. That may be Weldon to the left of Sonny.

Hal Rugg. Weldon's guitar on the right.

Weldon on steel, Hal and Shot Jackson looking over his shoulder. Spider Wilson on guitar

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 1 Mar 2023 3:46 pm

Just incredible pictures there Bruce...Just WOW... and thanks for sharing a few of those with me last year and now some I haven't seen....wow....Just Historic and Memories of why we all play Pedal Steel Guitar.
Thank you!!!!
Ricky

Joe Krumel · Post by **Joe Krumel** » 1 Mar 2023 6:06 pm

Great photos and memories. Thanks Bruce.

John Palumbo · Post by **John Palumbo** » 2 Mar 2023 4:00 am

Terrific pictures, brings back memories.
Thank you Bruce!

Steve Green · Post by **Steve Green** » 2 Mar 2023 6:07 am

Here's a pic of Billy Robinson backing Hank Williams on the Opry in 1949.

John Sluszny · Post by **John Sluszny** » 2 Mar 2023 9:17 am

No pac- a- seat days !

Bruce Zumsteg · Post by **Bruce Zumsteg** » 2 Mar 2023 3:00 pm

That must be Grady Martin with the Bigsby 6-string ??

Dave Campbell · Post by **Dave Campbell** » 2 Mar 2023 3:14 pm

man, those pictures are amazing. so many great players, so many cool steels!

Tiny Olson · Post by **Tiny Olson** » 3 Mar 2023 4:55 pm

Those pics are just awesome Bruce..!! Thanks for posting them. I hope you're well my friend.

Yes, no pac-a-seats.... Looking at the guys sitting on those piano stools and folding chairs brings back uncomfortable memories. My old, arthritic hips and knees would be absolutely screaming if I tried to use something like that now. Especially with my guitars being 2" taller than standard.

This post is very cool and so are the photos. I love the history..!!

ken collins · Post by **ken collins** » 3 Mar 2023 11:04 pm

Wasn't Larry (Wimpy) Sasser on staff there for a while?

Doug Jones · Post by **Doug Jones** » 4 Mar 2023 4:00 am

I know Wimpy was the staff steeler on Ralph Emery's TV show "Nashville Now". He also had "Pop goes the Country", but not sure who that steeler was.

Big thanks to Bruce for so many great pics. Let's dredge up some more!

Bruce Zumsteg · Post by **Bruce Zumsteg** » 5 Mar 2023 8:21 am

Here are a couple more. The first one is Jim Baker, who played a few spots on the Opry. He wasn't well known, but Larry Sasser told me that Jim played the solo on Mel Tillis' "Heart Over Mind".

This one is unknown, but as I recall, he was playing with Roy Drusky that nite.

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