The Steel Guitar Forum

I've read that in the early 1960's Fender Magazine ranked Bobby Garrett as the number 2 steel player in the world with Jerry Byrd being number 1. Who were the others on that list of top ten and where did they rank? Anybody remember or have a copy of that mag? Thanks!

Rick

Hank Thompson's Band was ranked Number one for two or three years during that time period...I don't remember exactly when Bobby Garrett was with the band...but both Chalker and Bert Rivera followed Bobby. (Bert was with Hank in early 64 and he had just replaced Chalker,who didn't want to play that "hillbilly" music).www.genejones.com <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 August 2001 at 10:34 AM.]</p></FONT>

I don't remember the exact dates but Garrett followed me on Hanks band in 1959. I was only with the band for a month.

Jerry

Bobby White and PeeWee Whitewing were with Hank Thompson I guess in the late 50's but I don't know the time frame. Bobby was from my home town and was with Hank when I started playing steel. Also, Ben Jack was with Hank for a short period of time I believe in the early 60's.
Jerry

Rankings? Don't know about that...but here are some of the top pedal players of the early '60s...

Pete Drake
Jimmy Day
Buddy Emmons
Bobby Garrett
Jimmy Crawford
Hal Rugg
Weldon Myrick
Curley Chalker
Jim Webb
Ralph Mooney
Tom Brumley
Buddy Charleton
Lloyd Green
Walter Haynes
Gene O'Neal
Sonny Burnette
Jerry Merhar

Jerry,I think Pee Wee told me he and Bobby were with Hank in the early 50's.Pee Wee left and of course Bobby stayed on.Maybe Pee Wee will see this and respond.This happened 10 years before I was born, but my dad turned me on to their playing.Both where killer players.-----bb

There is sure a lot of great players on that list. BUT
Let us not overlook "Maurice Anderson" on this list.......al

Bobby left ET to play for Hank Thompson around '59 or '60. Emmons had been playing lead guitar for for ET and swithed to steel when Bobby left. I think Buddy was #6 on that Fender Co. list. Rick my friend, hope you are doing OK. Jody.

'Rank not, lest ye be ranked'. A quote from a great man....wait a minute, it was only me.

Yeah, I think this ranking stuff is not really fair as it is based on opinions. I would have to include Bud Isaacs as one of the major influences and great players from the late 50's and early 60's. Those years are a little fuzzy to me but that is about the time I started playing and Bud Isaacs just about made me go insane with his playing on "Slowly" and "Waltz You Saved For Me". I was in a smaller town and it took a good while for news about pedals to reach me.
Jerry