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Topic: Who Is This Steeler?? |
Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 12:16 pm |
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This "old" youngster's interest and love for country music came straight from his Dad. The old man loved country music with an understanding that love had to be shared with the American game of baseball. He loved both equally as much.
Our player started playing standard guitar as a teenager, but he was always stunned by the sound of the steel guitar. It was natural that he migrated into that genre. Because of his home location it was, however, very difficult to obtain any information about the steel guitar with very little hope of even finding an instructor of the instrument.
He did finally find a gentleman with the moniker of Carl Kaye, one of the veteran steel players of his country, who assisted him tremendously in the initiation of his pedal steel guitar education. All this occurring in 1986 and our guy finally bought his first pedal steel guitar, a MSA single, 3 and 4, and his practice time nearly wore the machine out. In 1988 he went "whole hog" and bought another MSA, a double neck that he is still playing through an Emmons Amplifier.
He is a traditional country music lover but his interest also includes our beautiful Western Swing, Bluegrass (he plays Dobro). He explained to me that "traditional country music" can be interpreted to mean music performed by such artists as Charlie Pride, Mel Street, Gene Watson, Porter Wagoner, Connie Smith and such.
Good enough for me, how about you? He informed me alsothat he listens to the "modern sounds" but he, like I, have a definition problem sometimes, because some of the music that is still labeled "Country" isnt country in my opinion. But it's important to point out this does not necessarily mean it's bad, just that we don't like it as much as "traditional".
Our player is the steel guitar man for his current band "The Country Buskers" in his country. He writes a lot of their songs and he also collects records to the tune of over 4,000 in his collection. He also mentioned that he is currently working an Lloyd Green Back Up Series--those songs
where Lloyd backs up singers--and he is already up to 5 CD's already.
You don't have a clue, do you?
Let me tell you that he went to school in Vienna Austria, he's lived there all his life, and finished high school in 1980 and has a bachelor's degree in History and History of Arts awarded by Vienna University in 1987.He works in the American Embassy in Vienna. He, like a lot of us got caught in the draft (mandatory Military Service) from 1985/1986, but he continued to play even while serving his country. By the way ladies, this cat is still single....
He has participated in helping set up several steel shows in Europe such as: Steel Guitar Solo Shows, Acoustic Music, Western Swing and Boogie. Between 1995 and 1998 he was also involved in the organization of Steel Guitar Shows in Austria.
His Motto is "There's nothing like a good old country song!!".. Hear, Hear.
You can usually find this guy sitting on his butt in front of the stand at Scotty's each and every year, camera in hand, and making light flashes all through the convention. Hell, I have it on good advice, he even sleeps there. LOL
The man has a tremendous website and when guessed, I'll post that site for all to see.
Go Get Him...Who is He? Well I can tell you he uses his degree well, he's one of the best music historians on this forum.
Fred
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The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real
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Billy Wilson
From:
El Cerrito, California, USA
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 1:04 pm
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| gotta be Walter Stettner |
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John P. Phillips
From:
Folkston, Ga. U.S.A., R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 3:21 pm
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Durn it Fred, you finally got me. I'm still a youngun in this group so you can't expect me to know em all. THANKS MUCHO MY FRIEND, good history lesson !!
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JUST 'CAUSE I STEEL, DON'T MAKE ME A THIEF
[This message was edited by John P.Phillips on 28 December 2003 at 03:22 PM.] |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 30 Dec 2003 8:28 am
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Walter, glad to meet you and howdy from Oklahoma. I'm sure you'll recognize the logo on this shirt....(my grand-daughter sent it to me a couple of years ago while she was on a teaching assignment over there.)
www.genejones.com |
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Dec 2003 10:11 am
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Well Yes!! It is Walter Stettner from Vienna Austria...haven't had the pleasure of meeting him in person, but he and I have conversed on the internet several times. I'm cutting this short for the identification in order to post his website. Visit his place and suck in the atmosphere of a well designed site..Walt is one hell of a historian; his collegiate major, but his research adds a lot of dimension to the art. Here's his site:
http://www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf/
You can bet he will be at Scotty's this year too. 
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The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real
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Walter Stettner
From:
Vienna, Austria
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Posted 30 Dec 2003 2:25 pm
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Fred,
Let me say a great big THANKS for your nice comments. It can't be mentioned enough what a wonderful writer you are (I even learned some new things about myself, just kiddin'!), your talent is amazing, but, most important: You are one hell of a nice guy!!!
I definitely hope to meet you in person soon!
Also, let me wish you and the "Forumites" a successful and Happy New Year!
Walter
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