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Topic: California steelers |
Eric Corgey
From:
Texas, Friendswood
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Posted 14 Oct 2007 8:54 pm |
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It's amazing to me how many times I'm just doodling around on the Forum and notice how many steel pickers there are in California. What's the country music scene like out there? There sure seems to be no shortage of the most "countryest" of instruments or players.  |
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Stephen Silver
From:
Asheville, NC
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Posted 15 Oct 2007 4:50 am
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It is interesting that there seems to be so many of us out here. Perhaps my networking is poor, but the Silicon Valley area has little to show for country music. The bands playing down here mostly do without steel.
Now, Dave Zirbel is one busy guy *hey Dave* but I think many of us don't play out all that often.
SS
_________________
Life is mostly Attitude and Timing |
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Billy Wilson
From:
El Cerrito, California, USA
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Posted 15 Oct 2007 11:36 am
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| Lots of great steel players around: Bobby Black, Joe Goldmark, Jay Dee Mayness, David Phillips, Ray Jensen, Brownie Brown, Dave Wren etc etc. The country music scene though is nothin' to brag about. There used to be a &h!t load of country gigs around these parts but they mostly died. I turn green with envy every time I read on the forum about all the goings on in Texas. |
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Dave Robbins
From:
Cottontown, Tnn. USA (deceased)
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Posted 15 Oct 2007 9:44 pm
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California was always a good place for Country music for me. My wife "Wanda" and I played out there for many years playing nite clubs, parties, lodges, rodeos and everything else with our band "The Midnight Riders" up until the late 80's. During that time we met many steel players. Eventually we got the bug to move back to Nashville, but we have many fond memories of playing out there and the camraderie among all steel players.
"Bobby Black" was always a favorite of mine as well as a 'Frisco player name "Greg Lasser." Don't forget "Joe Goldmark" and another steel player from back in the day named Duane "Pudgey" Wong. All great players.
Another great Steel player from back in the day and a good friend was Jeff Olpin who also moved to Nashville about the same time as I.
All these guys were great players in their own right and good friends as well.
Dave
_________________
http://www.thesteelguitarshop.com |
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Jim West
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Posted 16 Oct 2007 9:10 am
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Country music is alive and well in my dining room with a flattop every morning!  |
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Eric Corgey
From:
Texas, Friendswood
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Posted 16 Oct 2007 12:57 pm
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| Way to go Jim!!! |
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Dean Batye
From:
California, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 1 Nov 2007 1:28 pm
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Hey Eric,we have David Wright,Frank Carter,I was having a demo made with Jeff Olpin and the Calif.Freedom Band ,we were at Curly Shaw"s studio.Jeff"s steel broke,Dave Robbins AND Jeff were down on the floor working on it.Got the steel fixed and the four songs I wrote got layed down and Dave helped Curly do the mix on it.This is a good subject
Eric.
Dean Batye
Concord,Ca. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Dave Zirbel
From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
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Posted 1 Nov 2007 4:28 pm
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| about 1/3 of my gigs are non country-maybe more. Playing lots of Tele lately. but that's good! |
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Jim Eaton
From:
Santa Susana, Ca
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Posted 1 Nov 2007 5:34 pm
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I'm finding myself playing more coffee house and showcase room gig's these days. I'll be playing at the Rainbow Bar & Grill on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood on Nov 16th.
JE:-)> |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 2 Nov 2007 5:21 am
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I don't know if it's any different in the live L.A. scene now, but 3-4 years ago when I was playing mainly stringbender Tele there was very little country stuff going on. I wasn't really playing a lot of it, mostly original music that was more rock oriented, but got calls for country-rock gigs now and then...and talking to players, there were just about zero actual "country" jobs. Country-rock, yes (The Sin City Social Club/All Stars have even backed those off from what I understand) - straight country, no.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Dave Robbins
From:
Cottontown, Tnn. USA (deceased)
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Posted 2 Nov 2007 7:15 pm
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Other than short visits, I must admit that I haven't been in the California scene for a long time. My wife and I loaded up and left in early '90 and moved back to Nashville.
But, during our tenure there, we met and saw many steel players. However, when we decided to leave, the "Country Music" scene was beginning to slowly dry up in comparison to what had been there.
That being said...there were many "very good steel players" who lived out there, and I'm sure they didn't all move when we did!
I think it would be very interesting to have a poll to see just how many steel players there are, who visit this web site, who are "California" steel players. In other words, how many were either born there or spent some amount of time playing there.
I think it would be interesting. I know that I can name "several!"
I myself, actually was born and raised there (although the "Swing Association" out there doesn't seem to claim me). I was born in San Mateo, California and went to High School in Alameda, California. Left in '69 to play on the road, returned "married" in '74, only to once again leave in '90 to come back to Nashville.
During the time my wife, Wanda, and I lived out there, we played Country Music in "many" night clubs. When we left out there, many had already folded up or went to some other form of music. We had a ball back in the day, though!
Dave
_________________
http://www.thesteelguitarshop.com |
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David Wren
From:
Placerville, California, USA
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Posted 2 Nov 2007 10:26 pm
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Hey there Billy, you've got me in there with some mighty fine pickers, any of whom I would be glad to tote their cases.... but thanks for the mention.
As far as CA, I gig as much as I want (for OK $$) if I'm playing with my friends' western swing band... but breaking out of the "norm" is what I like, and often find myself settling for gas money in the younger night clubs... but that's OK, I love playing to the crowds that are new to a PSG
... with all that said, I wouldn't move just to get a paying gig playing current country... just my opinion.
_________________
Dave Wren
'96 Carter U12,7X7; 1936 7 string National; Line 6 HX Stomp; Quilter TT-15/TB202; Quilter "Steelaire"; DV Mark "GH 250"with 15" 1501 BW; Boss "Katana" 100 Head w/Line 6 Cab; Telonics VP.
Last edited by David Wren on 3 Nov 2007 9:26 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Danny Kuykendall
From:
Fullerton, CA, USA
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Posted 3 Nov 2007 7:50 am
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Not much that I know of here in Orange County.
Bill Bergren played around here in the 80s, as well as Gary Morse some, and some other excellent pickers.
I wish there were more around, so I could hear em'.
Danny K |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 3 Nov 2007 4:54 pm
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If I open the windows the neighbors round here probably wish there were a little less Country and Western in Oakland.
(Don't tell b0b, but sometimes I sit on my back-porch and pick the banjo  ) |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 4 Nov 2007 3:57 am
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I was lucky enough to have been in the SoCal music scene when there still was one! I was born in Kansas but moved to California when I was 3 years old. After getting out of the Army in June of '63 I started playing full time around the LA area. My first gig was at a joint in Gardena called "Hap's Lucky Spot" (beer only). I then played at the Lelani Club in Wilmington among others.
I wound up playing full time for over 22 years out there and worked at places like:
Bonnie Price's Foothill Club....Signal Hill
The Swizzle Stik.....Huntington Beach
Shire's.....Stanton
DJ Ranch....North Long Beach
The Cowboy.....Santa Ana
Blue Bayou........Lakewood
Chateau Briand....Pico Rivera
Lou's Blue Fox...Redondo Beach
Holiday II....El Monte
Parrish House....Hawthorne
Club Vegas....Oxnard
King of the Bass....Ventura
Martin's Manzanita Room....Lompoc
Amber Room....Westminster
Crow's Nest....Oxnard
There were a bunch more including lodges, private clubs, some sessions here and there, etc. All in all, I had a great time and made a pretty decent living doing it. What also helped out was the fact that my wife had a good job! That's what every musician really needs to make it!....
I'm glad that I got out of there in Oct. of '85 and moved to Virginia. I took a day job here and started playing just weekends. I retired two years ago and am currently working at least three to four nights a week, every week. I think if I'd stayed in SoCal I'd have been staying home a lot more than I am now. A lot of my old 'buds have left the area and are much happier for it............JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 4 Nov 2007 8:31 am
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What Mike said! Man, I must have played at at least 2/3 of those same joints...and I don't recall a sngle one as still being in business.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Jerry Malvern
From:
Menifee, California, USA
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Posted 4 Nov 2007 11:05 am
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I talked to the folks over at DJ Ranch, oh maybe a year and a half ago, still in business but sadly only booking bands once in a while. True, the heyday of the 60's-80's is done, there is still some venues out there. I'll list a few....
Lorretta's-Fontana
Rt 66 Roadhouse- Duarte
Cooks Corner - Trabuco Canyon
Brandin Iron - San Berdo
Cowboy Palace -Chatsworth
Plus alot of the Moose, Elks, Eagles, American Legions etc.
I know there is more, please post and add to the list. |
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Jim Bob Sedgwick
From:
Clinton, Missouri USA
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Posted 4 Nov 2007 3:58 pm
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| I lived there for 35 years. Like Jerry, I saw the clubs declining and went to work days at the San Bernardino Coroner's office. Best decision I ever made. I'm now retired and only playing occasionally. I moved to Clinton, MO in 2005 to find a small town 9,900 folks. Very little crime here. Fishing is close. Absolutely no clubs here. I do NOT MISS CA AT ALL. Also worked all the clubs Jerry mentioned in addition to the Palomino club in N. Hollywood. Aces club, George's Roundup, Foothill club, Branding Iron in San Bernardino and practically all the joints up and down the San Bernardino Valley. Most are dark now. I wouldn't take anything for the camaraderie and fun of the 60's and 70's though. |
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John Sanchez
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 4 Nov 2007 8:23 pm
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ART SANCHEZ
PLAYED SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FROM THE MIDDLE 50'S TILL
HIS DEATH IN NOV 1985 MISSED BY MANY
HITCHIN POST FONTANA
LAKES GARDENS FONTANA
SILVER SPUR FONTANA
BLUE MOON CAFE FONTANA
SUNDOWNER BLOOMINGTON
FONTANA INN FONTANA
LORETTA'S FONTANA
LONGHORN IN PEDLEY
MARCH INN RIVESIDE
ARTURO CLUB IN COLTON
CAL'S CORRAL LAWNDALE
SWIZZLE STICK HUNTINGTON BEACH
DODGE SALOON IN NORWALK
JOHN WAYNE THEATER KNOTTS BERRY
NASHVILLE WEST
WHITE SANDS RIVERSIDE
Last edited by John Sanchez on 25 Jan 2008 6:48 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Roy McKinney
From:
Ontario, OR
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Posted 5 Nov 2007 6:35 am
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| Also there were the Club Roswell in Rubidoux (West Riverside) and the old 40th Street Correl over in San Berdo. Art was playing at the Club Roswell in about 1958 or 59 when I first met him. |
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Stephan Franck
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 5 Nov 2007 6:53 am
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| Jerry Malvern wrote: |
Lorretta's-Fontana
Rt 66 Roadhouse- Duarte
Cooks Corner - Trabuco Canyon
Brandin Iron - San Berdo
Cowboy Palace -Chatsworth
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Don & Cyn's hideawy-lakeview terrace
Alpine Village-somewhere in the OC, I think...
Viva Fresh-burbank |
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Skip Edwards
From:
LA,CA
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Posted 5 Nov 2007 9:49 am
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The Alpine Village is still there, in Torrance, just off the 110. Don't know if they still book country bands these days.
I used to do some gigs with Cliffie Stone there. |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 5 Nov 2007 9:57 am
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Guys, A lot of clubs past and present have been mentioned here. Let's compile a list of places that are still open and still hiring bands.
For starts,
The Cowboy Palace in Chatsworth,
Viva fresh.
The Hideaway
I think Alpine Village still has live music.
McCabes in Oceanside
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
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