Zane Beck

Dale Bennett · From: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

Hope I have this in the right section. Anyway a piano player friend of mine (Clyde Griffin)and I were talking about Zane Beck and couldn't remember if he made his name playing before he started building steels. I know i'm just a bass & 6 stringer but I have always followed steel players. Seems like he's been around as long as I can remember. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks. db

Ken Williams · From: Arkansas

Dale, Zane was world class in each catagory. He is a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. He also made a designed and made a fine steel guitar(ZB custom). Zane was also a nice guy. He was living just outside of Little Rock,AR when he passed away.
I would assume that he was a player before he was builder, but I really can't say for sure.

Ken

[This message was edited by Ken Williams on 25 December 2005 at 06:04 PM.]

Roger Shackelton · From: MINNESOTA (deceased)

I believe Zane was telling a story on stage at the ISGC one year about playing on the LOUISIANA HAYRIDE in Shreveport in the late 40s or early 50s.

ROGER

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Zane Beck was a genius. I wish I would have known him.

[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 26 December 2005 at 01:34 AM.]

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

The album Zane Beck meets Bobby Caldwell is one of my all time favourite steel albums. Zane's technique was superb - both single string improvisation and his chord work which was exemplary. He is up there with the best and my five personal favourite steel jazzers are Buddy E, Curly Chalker, Maurice Anderson, Doug Jernigan and Zane in no particular order of preference.

[This message was edited by Ken Byng on 26 December 2005 at 09:05 AM.]

Bobby Caldwell · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA * R.I.P.

Zane,Was a dear friend. We recorded "Zane Beck meets Bobby Caldwell" for Scotty in 1973 in Nashville. After the session Curly invited everyone over to his house for a jam sesion. What a great night that was. Curly and Zane playing together. Wonderful memories. Shortly after that Zane built me a black "BMI" D10 steel, which I still have and wouldn't take anything for it.He was a great player, a great builder of steel guitars, and a super nice man. I miss him so much. Bobby

Ted Solesky · From: Mineral Wells, Texas, USA

Guys, Zane was a good friend of mine also and I'm so glad that I got to know him as well as I did. Here's a little story he told me and it makes me tend to believe that Zane made the first knee pedal. Zane told me that when 'Slowly' came out, he put the pedal on his guitar. The band leader he was working with at the time, told him to get rid of it because he didn't like the pedal sound. So, being inventive like Zane was, he decided to put the pedal up on the undercarriage (knee lever) so the band leader wouldn't see the pedal. Zane says he did the pedal licks and the band leader didn't complain about the pedal sound.?? Hey, where there's a way there's a will (is that how you say it?).

Fred Jack · From: Bastrop, Texas 78602

Bobby, Were'nt the 60's and 70's fun!Go to Nashville and there were jamb sessions going on everywhere.I remember when Paul F. was a young man he would play one and go to another.I don't think he missed any.Of course especially on DJ convention time.Sessions everywhere.I think that those type of things is what the young players are missing out on.And of course the steelers were real tight lipped about their tuning and pedal setup.It was a great time.I saw Gene O'Neil walk up to a steel and strum across it,lay down under it and begin crossing pedal rods.Then he set down and played it as if it were his own.Aaaaaahhh sweet momories! Regards, Fred

Ted Solesky · From: Mineral Wells, Texas, USA

Fred, those were the days. I remember the seeing the first jam session that Curly had when he hit town. Hal came in and jammed with him that time. Jimmy Day was on bass. It was like a 24 hour, non stop party.

Dale Bennett · From: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

Thanks guys, I knew I could count on you. I've been so lucky to pick with some of the best including the big E, when he and Phil Baugh would come to my club. But I never got to meet Zane and it sounds like it would have been like I thought. When a person is liked and respected by his peers like you all say, they have to be some kind of person. Thanks again. db

Bobby Caldwell · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA * R.I.P.

Fred, Yes those were great times. I'm just glad I lived in a time to enjoy them. What great memories. It is truly a shame the new group of pickers don't have that going for them. Bobby

Terry Wood · From: Lebanon, MO

Zane Beck was as all have mentioned a super player, builder, inventor, writer and one of the best persons you could ever hoped to meet.

Of all the steel greats I've met he was one of my favorites. He taught me a bunch about steel guitar, players, the music business and life in general.

Yep, I really miss Zane Beck. I named my first born after him, Zane Huy Wood. My Zane just turned 16 months the day after Christmas.

May GOD bless you all!

Terry J. Wood

pdl20 · From: Benton, Ar . USA,

I had the extreme pleasure of knowing Zane in the mid 80s and playing with him on Scottys steel show in St Louis,helping him tune up some of the BMI steels before they shipped and helping him work on building his recording studio and other projects he was into. he was a good friend to many of us local musicans. he was like a second father to many of us here around Little Rock area.he will always be a legend and a friend i miss greatly. Rudy Osborne

Chris Erbacher · From: Sausalito, California, USA

hi guys, i am curious if anyone out in cyberland can tell me who owns the rights to the zb custom guitar company name and such?

Dan Rollans · From: Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

I also have the same respect and admiration for Zane Beck as does anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting him. I played e9th tuning for two years until Zane moved to Little Rock. I received a new single 12 BMI for xmas with Zane's tuning and I have been using the same tuning for the past 25 years. My family and I,along with Steelers Choice pac seat co. are located approx 1 half mile from Zane's former home and Zanbeck Studio. Zane's widow ,Faye,and her very nice husband Joe live at the same location. Zane's daughters and granddaughters live in our community and are very well known and respected. Zane left behind a wonderful legacy of friends and family via the steel guitar. Thank You, Dan Rollans

Bob Simmons · From: Trafford, Alabama, USA

just got to put in my 2 cents. Zane was a good buddy and would share all. Hanging around when he and "spook""(Julian) were together was a blast- you can only imagine how much fun we had when they recorded their album, Bob

Darrell Owens · From: California, USA

Zane Beck was a great influence on the steel guitar community as well as a good friend of mine. We recorded a Gospel album together back in the early '70s and once in a while I put it on and remember the great time we had together. My wife and I had the opportunity to spend a few days with him and Faye at their home in Arkansas. I will always consider him one of the best musicians I have ever known.

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Darrell Owens
www.darrellowens.com

Graham Griffith · From: Tempe, N.S.W., Australia

Zane Beck even related a tale to me that he backed up Hank Williams on the Louisiana Hayride! He said that he turned down an offer to tour with him because he would have made less money. His big influence was a steel player called Ray Noren who could outplay horn players on jazz tunes. Definitely a player that applied his genius and earned his living making steel guitars.

Graham

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