Wilbur Keeton
Posted: 13 Sep 2005 8:34 am
Everyone has a different approach, and attitude to their instrument, and I'm not sure how many of the Forum brothers (and Sisters) know of someone I consider one of the greatest E9th man I ever worked with, Wilbur Keeton. I met and hired Wilbur to play in my first band waaaay back in 1974 in Lubbock Tx, and for a few years took his touch, tone, taste, and approach to sweet E9th Steel guitar (What some of ya'all call "CORN") for granted. Now, I have worked with some extreemly great steel players through the last 35 years, and they are great friends, and outstanding players, but you should hear Wilbur...Sometimes a person has a way of putting ALL of their emotions into a musical instrument, and that's Wilbur. I talk to him on the phone ever so often, and He bought a new MSA MILLINIUM, and he loves it and the tone. Wilbur still lives in the Lubbock area, and plays a couple nights a week. I'm sorry to say I havn't gotten to hear him live for years, but I have some recordings of some of his work. His kick off to my recording of "I Forget You Every Day" puts chills on the back of my neck! We recorded that one in 1978. He never seemed comfortable to have to play fast, and he didn't try to do something he wasn't comfortable with, but in our last few conversations he tells me that he's been "WOODSHEDING" and can now play fast too. I just wanted the forum to be aware of this unknown MONSTER. This thread is in no way meant to take away from my other great friends, and STEEL MONSTERS in their own right. After all there is room for everyone.