The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm not saying that he wasn't famous, because more accurately, he was slightly "unsung" possibly, but DON WEST was the most inspirational player to me.

His attitude of sharing what he knew, thought, and played at any time, to anybody, gave me a real inspiration.

I hear people talking about the Steel Player "needing to be" a demure, little tinkling side effect or a smattering of syrup woven delicately into the underlying fabric of a song.

I hear " be tasteful, supportive, and tonally delicate" to the point where it makes me want to puke. Mostly coming from the "chronically timid", or those that think they play better because they stay home and whine about how "nobody plays tastefully" instead of getting out there and actually putting wear and tear on their vintage guitars (read: stringed bookends).

THEN I think of DON. Launching into a "Solo from Mars" as somebody here aptly put it, with all the exuberance of somebody running a line with a football, or playing an intro that would make the "best of them" GET UP AND SING. The band didn't have to be perfect for him to want to go out and do his thing. Lord knows.

If I got anything from Don, it was "heart". That and that I'm not "too good" for anybody that asks me to share my meager knowledge on breaks from LIVE gigs.

It's served me better than anything I got from anybody else. It's probably why I work as much as I do.

That's where I got my "stage" name. (With his permission some 24 years later.)

Yup.

Don West.

That's the guy.

EJL<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Eric West on 16 July 2003 at 01:43 PM.]</p></FONT>

Gary Carpenter

Gary Carpenter

All steel players are famous.

I would have to say,,,it was my Father. He sure was Famous in my eyes, always had one ear listening to what I was playing, and ocassionally say,,,,"try it this way". not just a father, but one heck of a good friend. even today, I know he's looking down with a big grin and somehow I can still hear his voice saying..."There ya go" Those that knew him would have to agree he sure was quite a special person.

God Bless:

Joe
Derby SD-10 4X5 Nashville 400 Fender twin
Profex ll Lexicon MPX 100

oh man there are tons that I have soaked up inspiration from some of them are fairly famous like jimmy powell, roger blevins, but their are other unsung heros like vern page, bob cease, and Tommy bolinger. Tommy played for patsy cline in the early days and picked a mean 6th neck. My first was a guy who I never met. I heard jeff pickering play on a cassette tape and decided that was where I was going(steel player) I am glad to hear he is now back playing after a hiatus.

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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com

There are 3 players in the San Antonio area that have and continue to inspire me....I'm happy to say I'm good friends with all of them......they are Don Pack...Denny mathis...and Tommy Detamore....

My very first was'nt famous at the time but that has certainly changed big time since.
Non other than the great DeWitt Scott !!
Remember "The Brush Apes" days Scotty ???
Incidently, how many of you younger or "late comers" have never heard him play pedal steel ??? He's gonna surprise us one day at one of the shows, IMHO. -

Well, let's see there was Don West, Rudy Gabriletto (whom I saw in the D.C. area), and around Balto., there was Gene Rye and Lin Strauf. I also met "Big John" (real name John Bechtel), Wayne Tyler, and Stu Basore at Sunset Park back in the early '60s. Stu was just starting out, and playing for Kitty Wells back then, and I give him the "the nicest player I've ever met" award. <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 10 August 2006 at 01:08 PM.]</p></FONT>

David Crow from Lawton, OK

Don Curtis from Indianapolis, IN (now St Louis)

The local player that inspired me and got me started was Frank Rogers. He convinced me I could do it. I would go to his place and he would put enough licks and such on a one hour tape to keep me busy for a month.
Thanks Frankie.
Duane

We have a local player here in Arkansas that has inspired a lot of people I am sure. I know he has my husband ( Jerry Newberry ) & my grandson ( Austin Stewart ). They both look up to and have learned a lot from JERRY ROLLER. He is the best on steel and dobro in our area and in other area's too. He can play with the best of them no matter where he is. Thanks Roller for all of your help. Donna

Randy Sorrells who played around Atlanta for years before going on the road with Montgomery Gentry.

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<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gaylon Mathews on 14 July 2003 at 06:56 PM.]</p></FONT>

I'm with Eric and Donny on this one... Don West (I'm also responible for the "solo from mars" quote)-
and Rudy Gabrilleto-

and then Buddy Charleton left the road and became "local" again - but I guess he doesn't count, him bein' famous and all

Dick Meis-here in Denver.

JB

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Fulawka D-10 9&5
Fessenden D-10 8&8
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

Charley Gore in Nashville, early '70s, playing his D10 Emmons P/P. First pedal steeler I heard up close. He helped me buy my first pedal steel (a Maverick from a young Bobbe Seymour) and learn the basics. I think Charlie was originally from Bristol, TN. He still lives in Nashville. Hi, Charlie.

Canadians will recall (the late) Jack Mooney who was years ahead of his time back in 1946. Jack could really swing and had a tone to die for ! He was my mentor back in the late forties.

Tommy Cass--he got me up and going and was a big inspiration, as well as a heck of a good guy.

Also, Mike Smith, who I saw play 5 nights one week before he was a household name, and that got me over a biiiggg hump....

Gib Wharton and Fats Kaplin when they where in town.

Bob

Bobby Lee,,,,,OOPS, You said NOT famous,
Sorry!!

Doyle Page, Doug Campbell, Frank Arnett, and Jerry Hall.

Gary Carpenter

Glenn Childers got me started in '77, and my pals Kenny Forbess, Eddie Rice, Jim Taylor keep encouraging me to keep diggin. PTL for the steel pickin family.

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"Steel guitar is where it are"

Greg Lasser and Barry Blackwood probably were my early mentors of the non-famous variety