Steve Palousek?

[Bob Jennings]

What happened to Steve Palousek? He has a Website and it appears he's taken over the Jeffran College; but, the Email is not accepted and telephone number is not in operation. It Seems the only way to contact him is to set up an account--but what for? Does anyone know anything about him and if his DVD's on the E9th Beginner and Intermediate can be ordered from him or ordered from whom?

Bob Jennings

[Robert Simms]

Steve used to live up near Temple, Texas, but I heard recently that he moved. I haven't talked to him in a while.

[George Duncan Sypert]

Steve actually lives in Holland, a small town right outside of Temple. I sure you can do a search for him on the web. His studio is there.

If you can not get in touch with him email me at syp4353@msn.com and I will try to put you in concact.

George Sypert

[Shaan Shirazi]

He plays regularly in Austin at Sam's Town Point's Steel Monday show. Next one is January 19th. Sam's has regular steel guitar based shows every week featuring rotating players on Steel Monday, Marty Muse's Strictly Hardly Marty Party, and Rose Sinclair's Cocktail Steel.

Sam's Town Point

[Chris Templeton]

Steve was in my class with Buddy @ Jeffran, in the 80's. I think he was 19 and was a fantastic player then!

[George Duncan Sypert]

Chris I think he was closer to about 16 when he took that course. I heard him at Doyle Grisham's parents home about that time and he was already a great player.

George

[Chris Templeton]

Yes. That's right.

[Jim Cooley]

Steve still plays in the Texas area with Kelly Spinks and Miles of Texas. He is as incredible as ever. The band are a traditional country band based in north Texas. I have been to several dances where the band played, most recently on December 13. A friend who knows Kelly told me that Steve moved from Holland to north Texas.

[Paul King]

Steve also plays the Texas Show every year. He is a killer player and just down to earth guy.

[Wayne Steppy]

I have all of the DVDs and feel they are criminally not talked about. Recorded from VHS to DVD, they're old but have so much info. You will love them. If you play C6, those are great too!

[Herb Steiner]

Steve Palousek,... and his wife Donna (who herself is an excellent vocalist)..., are good pals of mine, and I speak with total admiration of his skill and innate knowledge of the steel. His set in the Non-Pedal room (?!?!) at last year's TSGA Jamboree was so powerful, I walked away shaking my head, literally. It was a physical experience for me. I felt his playing in my chest. Not volume, mind you... just total control as well as beautiful note choice with amazing speed and fluidity.

Steve, who's a big man, is physically imposing and projects total domination and power over the instrument. He manhandles the steel and shows the guitar without any question who's the boss.

If anyone remembers how Tommy Dodd, who was also a big man, exhibited complete mastery, physicality and especially showmanship in his performances, Steve Palousek has that same quality, one that rarely comes along; I can't recall ever seeing anyone play like that since Tommy passed away, before OR after.

And he's a great hang and totally approachable. I dig what he's putting down.

[Roger Rettig]

Herb:

That's a good summation of Steve.

I was watching the band at the Nashville Night Life and was stunned by Steve Palousek's mastery of both necks. Then Andy Reiss (he'd invited me) called me up to play. That could have been awfully intimidating (playing Andy's guitar next to Steve on steel!), but Steve couldn't have been nicer, or more encouraging.

I consider him to be one of a select handful of elite steel players.

[Rich Ertelt]

Herb:

That's a good summation of Steve.

I was watching the band at the Nashville Night Life and was stunned by Steve Palousek's mastery of both necks. Then Andy Reiss (he'd invited me) called me up to play. That could have been awfully intimidating (playing Andy's guitar next to Steve on steel!), but Steve couldn't have been nicer, or more encouraging.

I consider him to be one of a select handful of elite steel players.

I was playing guitar at the Coupland Dance Hall (Coupland Tx) back in 2000 I think it was. We played there a lot. Our steel player had to take a night off, got a sub. Steve. I stood next to him all night. I had played some straight steel, never pedal. It was mesmerizing. I had always wanted to play pedal, that kicked me in the butt to finally go out and buy one. Still trying to figure it out, lol.

[Andy Vance]

I saw Steve two years ago, by chance, in Fort Worth. I never moved from the seat I took where I could intently watch him, not even to get a drink, I made my buddies get them for me. They had no idea who Steve was but as soon as I walked in and saw him, I told them, you are about to hear a master at work. Was a great evening and I hope I get the chance to watch him again sometime.

[Paddy Long]

I first met Steve at Jeff Newmans school in Nashville in 1982, along with Jody Cameron and Mike Daly (George Straits road player) - Steve was about 17 then I think, he has definitely grown into one of our best players around I have to say, and it's always great to catch up with him at the Dallas Steel Show most years I am able to get there :-}

[Jim R. Harrison]

Here are a few photos I took of Steve playing at the TSGA Jamboree. This should help you to 'visualize' what previous posters have said about this great steel guitarist.

Steve Palousek.2.jpeg

Steve Palousek.3.jpeg[ /attachment][attachment=0]Steve Palousek.4.jpeg

[Bill Terry]

Steve is such a great guy, and as Herb and many others have mentioned, he plays stuff that just resonates with taste and emotion.

I was playing steel with a local country band around the Austin area a few years back, and one of our regular gigs was at the Cotton Club in Granger, TX. That's just down the road from Holland, TX where Steve has (had?) his studio. I got a call from the band leader the day of the gig, wondering if I knew an available guitar player. Our regular guy wasn't going to be able to make it and had to cancel at the last minute. I gave him a number or two, and didn't hear from him again until later in the day, when he called and told me not to worry, he got it covered. So I'm at the gig, getting set up, and the band leader wasn't there yet, so I was wondering who the guitar player of the evening was going to be, and Steve walks in.... carrying a guitar case. Yep, he was the 'hired gun' guitar player for that gig. He said 'hey' and started setting up his stuff right over on my side, where he'd be pretty much looking over my left shoulder while we were playing.. No pressure there, right?

As the gig began and I started hacking my way through the set, I couldn't help but think "Steve is bound to be cringing, and pretty close to booting me off that pack seat, before I mangle yet another tune." But he kept smiling, played some great guitar (I'd bet not everyone knows how good he is on guitar), and I was eventually able to relax a bit. On breaks, we talked about Emmons guitars, pedal steel in general, his studio, gigging, etc. I'd been around him a time or two before, although we hadn't really met, but he was the coolest guy, and had a way of making me really feel comfortable. Not a touch of ego or attitude..

It's always a pleasure when you meet a musician of that caliber, and he turns to be a nice guy to boot... I'm a huge fan.

[Roger Rettig]

Bill! What a great story!!

I was apprehensive about playing guitar in the band when Steve was playing steel. If I had been asked to play steel in front of him, I think I'd have got a doctor's note!

[Chris Templeton]

Anyone have info on his Texas Pedal Steel Custom Shop guitar?

[Rich Ertelt]

I was playing steel with a local country band around the Austin area a few years back, and one of our regular gigs was at the Cotton Club in Granger, TX.
It's always a pleasure when you meet a musician of that caliber, and he turns to be a nice guy to boot... I'm a huge fan.

Cotton Club is fun, played there once subbing on bass.

Back in 2000 or so, I was playing guitar quite a bit at the Coupland Dance Hall. One night, the steel player couldn't make it, so he said he got a sub. It was Steve. I stood next to him all night, just stunned by how good he was. I got my first steel not long after.
I'm still not brave enough to be able to play steel in front of him.