The Steel Guitar Forum

I was just curious,but I dont recall ever seeing a post on Lloyd Maines,Isnt he considered one of the big boys ? Maybe I have just over looked his name but I really dont recall ever seeing it.

Lloyd is a long-time dear friend of mine, and he is DEFINITELY one of the "big boys."
In steel playing for sure, but he's also the undisputed TOP record producer in the state of TX.

There, he's been mentioned...

But does he play "Purple Rain" like me? I don't think so!

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

He's been mentioned here before, for sure.

I can't begin to understand a guitar builder who won't participate in the internet. Really misses a major reality of our modern times (although some builders have enough orders to keep them busy for the near and far future) but when I see a picker who doesn't participate here on the forum I tend to lean more to the idea that this guy has more and better things to do than sit in front of a monitor and fritter away his time (as I do).

I'd love to see him here though. Between his picking and his producing, he seems like a big boy to me.

He sure is one of my favorites. I love his steel and dobro playing. Here is a cool little article and interview with him.
http://www.virtualubbock.com/intLloydMaines.html
http://www.takecountryback.com/features/lloydmaines.htm

I have mentioned him in regard to his great video "A Lick A Minute" (I think that's the title I don't have it in front of me). I think he is a fantastic musician.

Without Lloyd Maines I'd still be huntin' for how to play "Look At Us".

Lloyd Maines is a dear friend of mine also, and definately one of my most favorite all time steelers.

I used to get to work with Lloyd from time to time, and he helped me out MANY times when I was in between steel players in Lubbock, Tx. in the '70's.

He is a first class person, and a great musician. (I wonder if he still has that old fender Esquire)?

TRIVIA TIME: The "Maines Brothers Band" is an old West Texas Tradition. Lloyd, Kenny, Steve, and Donny are all brothers, and have a sister La Tronda, they ALL got a double dose of talent. The kids dad, and Uncles also were "The Maines Brothers Band" when the younger generation were still in diapers.

Lloyd was the "Right Hand" of the "Don Caldwell Recording Studio" (In Lubbock)also, and played more than just steel guitar on many, many sessions.

I guess he would still be as easy to talk to today as he was when I first met him in 1973.

I remember a post a few weeks ago asking for a picture of Lloyd. I'll bet you can still pull it up here on the forum under "steel players"...

One of my all time fave...players. All the stuff with Jerry Jeff. I saw him here in a little club called Godfrey Daniels with Terri Hendrix. He didn't play steel at all. He played Guitar, Dobro, and Mandolin and he was GRRRRRRRREAT! Got a pic on my web site if you're interested, I got to visit with him for a little while and he even signed ol' Bessie.

Robbie Bossert
http://members.aol.com/pix1bc/steelguitarhomepage-2.html
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by pix1 on 25 March 2005 at 10:10 PM.]</p></FONT>

I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Lloyd last summer on some sessions outside of Austin, TX (at Willie's place). He was a joy to work with and thank goodness he was in the steel chair and not me. (I had the acoustic guitar job). I'd have been as nervous as a June bug in a chicken coop. As to why he's not mentioned around here more, I'm a bit baffled by that myself. He's world class both as a musician and as a person. He's sure put his stamp on a lot of great music. And his daughter ain't done too shabby either!
JP<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by James Pennebaker on 26 March 2005 at 11:54 AM.]</p></FONT>

Lloyd Maines is the reason I have a steel. From the late-70's, when his work on Joe Ely's "Honky-Tonk Masquerade" album haunted me, all the way to 2004, when I met him and he convinced me to get serious about buying a steel. A musician of amazing taste and a heck of a nice guy.

I agree about Lloyd's being the 'top underrated producer in Texas.' I consider his work on 'Home' as the finest example of production, as his influence seems transparent. (I would guess he had to 'trans'cend being a 'parent' to do it; that's a real pro.)
He's still legendary here in Lubbock, and Caldwell's wouldn't be what it is without him. I dropped in on a session with Jay Boy Adams there, and boy is it state of the art. Nothing like the 4-track studio of the 70's.

Fortunately, Lloyd still keeps his hand in with Terri Hendrix in Austin. He's an admirable man, and a good father.

I have never met Lloyd - but, I can also attest to him being a nice person. I bought a LDG a few years ago from him. During the course of our conversations, I had mentioned to him that my father lived in the Austin area.

When I related my concerns about shipping the guitar to Oklahoma, he offered to drop the guitar by my dad's house. Not only did he take the time to do this ... but, he insisted on setting-up the guitar to show my dad that everything was just fine with it.

I certainly appreciated his efforts - pretty neat coming from someone that I had never met!

Charlie, either you misread my post, or we have a slightly differing opinion of Lloyd. I don't think he's "underrated" in the least. He's incredibly sought after and busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest. Rather, he's the "undisputed" top producer in Texas, at least for Texas Music... which I consider the "main" music right now.

Well there you have it folks,Lloyd Maines has been mentioned.I was starting to worry,but all is good now.We cant let our hero's or legend's fade away.Us up and coming kids need all the mentors we can find to help keep the steel guitar alive !!!Amen
PS:Herb your still the undisputed purple rain champion of the world ,in fact if word gets out and prince finds out !!!! Johnny may be looking for a steel player.HaHa

Yes, Lloyd Maines, 'Honky Tonk Masqurade', 'Boxcars', 'West Texas Waltz' on that alone, he is a legend. Being a TexasTech graduate and student during the early 80's (remember John Hinckley?), every club you went to , Coldwater Country, New West, you would hear Lloyd. I'm suprised that we don't hear about him more, but that is good, because he is busy and in demand.

The Virtualubbock website also has great interview with Jay Boy Adams and mentions a time when Lloyd met Jimmy Page, who watched Lloyd play one night and introduced himself, Lloyd had no idea who he was. great story

I remember hanging out at the original Stubbs playing pool with Terry Allen, Stubbs was a genuine gentleman, and being a Jersey boy, he made me feel at home, he was stationed in jersey during the war in Bayonne or Perth Amboy and his daughter still lived up here.

Sorry for rambling, Craig<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Craig Stock on 26 March 2005 at 05:21 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Craig Stock on 26 March 2005 at 05:22 PM.]</p></FONT>

Lloyd Maines is the sole reason I picked up pedal, too, after hearing his playing on Uncle Tupelo's music.

I spoke to LLoyd today (on the phone), and asked him if he ever gets on the forum. He said he didn't get on it very often, and appreciated all the kind things that were being said about him.

He asked me If I knew anyone that had a single neck 10 Sho-bud for sale, and I told him I'd put the word out. If someone has one, please post here and I'll alert him, and you can get together with him about it.

I believe he was wanting it for his home studio.

He tickles me, he is so humble about his steel work!

<SMALL>TRIVIA TIME: The "Maines Brothers Band" is an old West Texas Tradition. Lloyd, Kenny, Steve, and Donny are all brothers, and have a sister La Tronda, they ALL got a double dose of talent.</SMALL>

I had the privilege of playing in an opening act for the Maines Brothers (minus Lloyd, he's too busy in Austin) a few weeks ago at a show commemorating Bob Wills out here at South Plains College. Kenny and the boys can still really belt it out. Anyone remember their old keyboard player, Cary Banks? He's the program director of our music school out here.

-Garnett

West Texas Waltz has the penultimate steel break; melodic and hot and fancy all at the same time...sounds Lloyd Green inspired but is mostly pure Maines. I have listened to it for over 25 years and I still am not tired of it...Peter

Michael,

Randy Brownlow was their keyboard piano player back in the 70's, maybe the 80's as well. He is on most of their albums and pics. I've played numerous times with him the last several years. He lives in Graham, TX and picks only a few times a year. Great player & guy, IMHO. His brother, also played with the Maines Bros., I think bass, back then. His name escapes me....

Hey Danny, I know the Brownlow Brothers! Like you mentioned, Randy was, (and I'm sure still is) a very good Keyboardist, and his brother, Jerry, a great bass player. They both worked with the Maines Bros. for a long time.

If you see, or talk to Randy, tell him howdy for me. I had heard he was around here someplace, but don't know how to contact him. Have a good 'un!

I just bought "Thunderstorms and Neon Signs" by Wayne Hancock, produced by Lloyd Maines, with steel by Lloyd (4 cuts) and Herb Steiner (5 cuts). I haven't listened to it yet, but I am about to.

Now, will I, without cheating, be able to tell who's playing the steel on each cut?
Cheers,
Alan Shank