The Steel Guitar Forum

Ok we've done a lot of on longevity of spme sort..I think I may have this one..WON...but then again...concidering the SOGA (is this right?..Steelin Old Geezer ASSN...or is it Stinkin' Old Geezer Assn..somebody knows).I'm not so sure that I am. and it dosn't matter how long..'cause I've been canned after (1) gig,..I've 94 different bands since 1956..playing 4 different instruments (rythym,lead guit,bass, and steel).country,old rock,bluegrass,jazz/big band,Top 40(new Country)hillbilly,rock'a billy, traditional country,tired old country,high energy country,western swing,rock 'n roll,southern rock,british rock,soul,beach,rhythm & blues, blues,. I've played in 20 states,4 foreign countries,and at least 100 different cities or towns. I have never been on the road with a major act/entertainer, but have been on the same bill or backed up some notables..Most venues have been clubs,bars,military bases,and the so called farm circuit (Elks,Moose,ITAP,VFW,AL,Shrinners etc.) I consider my self a semi-pro..or very rural "farm player".
Let's hear it..the road guys most likely will win..!!!

That's a hard one to answer. I've been picking in bands since 1959. At one point for about 4 or 5 years all I did was fill-ins so I played with a lot of different bands in that period.

I'd say about 25 different bands plus the many fill-ins.

I've been in more bands than I can remember. Some good, some bad, some horrible. I have quit bands in disgust and have been fired a few times for various reasons. Once I was fired from a really sorry band for playing over their heads. I have played all over the world and mostly loved everything I have done. Some bumps along the way but all in all it sure beats a sharp stick in the eye...

Well, I've been in a few, country, country rock, southern gospel...bluegrass. Difficult adding steel licks to a bluegrass beat. Met a lot of good to decent musicians along the way, and have some heated discussions on how to play, but, it has always been a lot of fun. Haven't been with a group in about a year and a half, while I take care of some personal problems. Interesting topic...Pat

Hmmm....let's see, here are the names (in chronological order)...<font size=2><B>

"Tony and The Unknowns"........Rock and Roll
"The Satyrs"...............British Rock
"The Tiger Tones"..............Surf/Rock
"Bobby and the Progressions"...Soul/Motown
"Dragon Tailz".................Folk
"The Straker Brothers"..........Country
"The Roane Brothers..........Country
"Frank Turner and the Country Outlaws"...Country
"Stan Howard and the Country Connection"...Country
"Southern Spice"...............Country Rock
"The Dave Nicely Band"......Country
"The Plow-Boys"............NCS Country
</B></font>

Most of the later groups lasted for years. I know nobody's heard of 'em, but I thought it would be fun to list the names and styles. <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 22 July 2001 at 06:16 PM.]</p></FONT>

Bob, thanks for the opportunity to think and talk about all this stuff. -- Marc

Barnyard Trio 1964
The Tornados 1964
The Sensations 1965
The Countrysiders 1966
The Unexpected 1966
The Zyme 1966
Coconut Conspiracy 1967
The Disturbed Users 1967
George’s Boys 1968
Joy 1968
Joy (2) 1971
Joy (3) 1972
Arnold Most Orchestra * 1973
Whatever 1973
It’s All Right 1977
The Heart Throbs 1978
Forever 1979
Russian River All Stars 1979
Surge 1981
RSX 1984
You 1984
Eliot Kidd Band 1984
Menage 1985
Goin South 1993
Ramona’s Band 1993
Paul Norup * 1993
Bounty Hunter 1994
Kelly & the Cowboys * 1994
DK Richards 1994
Julie Taylor Band 1995
Lloyd Stout Band 1995
Untamed 1995
Wild Card (S. CA) 1995
Brother Ernest 1996
Sam Morrison Band 1996
Leather and Lace 1996
Spaghetti Western 1996
The Joey D. Band 1996
Silver Star * 1996
Fit 2-B Tied 1997
Country Store * 1997
Appaloosa * 1998
Winslow * 1998
Western Justice 1999
Dustin James Band 1999
Wild Card (N. CA) 1999
Rosemarie’s Band 1999
90 Proof 1999
Jun Sumundo * 1999
Savin Rock 1999
Medicine Man 2000
Sorci & Tomich * 2000
Loose Cannon * 2000
Cheyenne 2001

The Asterick (*) indicates that I was just an occasional fill-in or a one-nighter.
The year indicated is the first year I played with that band and does not indicate when, and if, I stopped playing with them.
I didn’t purchase my first PSG until the end of 1993, so in all bands before that, I played either guitar, bass, keyboards, or a combination of them. After that point, I played at least some steel in most of the bands indicated, and many of them about 50% on psg.
There were three totally different versions of the band “Joy”.
I would estimate that there were another dozen or so one-nighters throughout the years, but I don’t recall the names.
That would bring the total number of bands to approximately 65.

In January of this year I reached the half century point. In celebration of it we staged a fantastic party. It was a “Marc, this is your life! – musical history event”. To summarize, it basicly went like this:
1. Rented a large Community Center for 14 Hours.
2. I was on stage for approx. 10 hours straight.
3. In chronological order, bands came up and performed from 10 to 30 minutes, doing only the songs that we had originally played together.
We even had five of us that went to elementary school together, singing our school song, etc.
Twenty two (22) bands started and ended on time, without a hitch!
There were approx. 85 people there, and about 100,000 miles were traveled in conjunction with the event.
It was a Tremendous tribute and I am so incredibly fortunate to have been friends and to have played with some many beautiful people and to have it all represented on this one day!

Started playing jobs on bass at age 12 and switched to steel in the early 60s in Cols. Ohio. I've worked with a lot of bands since then and backed a lot of single acts, but really haven't changed bands often. I've been with the same Western Swing band about 7 years now. Hope it lasts a long time as it keeps getting better. For three years prior, I played a top 40 country house gig at the Bluebonnet Palace in San Antonio. Some of you road guys may have come through there.

Thanks for postin' guys..I thought it would be fun to jog your memorry and get the cobwebs out.. All those bands and jobs are apart of our musical history,..good or bad..and we've touched a lot of people..good or bad..along the way..And when you start thinking about it...sometimes you realize how busy you were along the way!!!
Bob the grouchyvet..
also there are a number of us that have crossed paths along the way..!!

What Quesney said:
"I've been in more bands than I can remember. Some good, some bad, some horrible...I have played all over the world and mostly loved everything I have done. Some bumps along the way but all in all it sure beats a sharp stick in the eye..."

Couldn't have said it better.

Drew

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www.drewhoward.com

'60s - garage band with my brother and two friends; drums
'71-'73 - Prizm (high school pop/rock band); keys, guitar
'75-'77 - Rushmore Alley (rock); keys, guitar
'78 - New Burbon Blend (lounge band); elec piano
'84-'88 - Chuck Snow & Friends (Christian); keys
'85-'89 - Chuck Cline Band (Folk/country, Christian); keys
'89-'97 - Band at church; keys, bass
'87-now - Home MIDI stuff (see below)
'99-now - PSG in a bedroom @ home

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<font size=-1>Bill (steel player impersonator) | MSA Classic U12 | Email | My music | Steeler birthdays | Over 50?</font>

Here's my bandography as near as I can figure it out. There are a number of short-lived or fill-in gigs that I've probably forgotten.

Guitar gigs
1956 - The Premiers - Rock 'n' Roll
1957 - The Dukes - Rock 'n' Roll
1958-61 - The Jumping Jax - 'Rock 'n' Roll/Rockhouse
1962 - The Page Boys - 'Rock 'n' Roll/Rockhouse
1963 - The Four Guys (w/ the Kalin Twins) - Pop music
1964-65 - Unnamed Union group on Wilson Cruise Line in D.C. - Standards/Rock 'n' Roll
1966-67 - Leader of same group - All Rock (Jack Casady, later with Jefferson Airplane, on bass in '66)
1967-75 - Joe Carta Combo - Rock and Country (started steel in '73)
1975 - Free Country - country (all steel)
Steel & Guitar gigs (unless noted)
1976-80 - Woody Graham & Circus - Mostly Country
1981 - Johnny Norris Band (Played mostly guitar - Sonny Purdum on steel)
1980-81 - HoneyWagon - Country/Rock
1982-85 - Various groups - mostly country
1985-92 - The Blue Armadillo Band - Country
1988-Present - Good News - Country Gospel - Guitar, Steel, Dobro, mandolin
1993 - Rick Holley & Friends - Country & Southern Rock
1994 - 1998 - SilverWing - Country

Looks like about 16 that were long-term enough to remember.

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Rick Richtmyer
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