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Topic: My old friend: Bobby Hines, Steel Player. |
Billy Tonnesen
From:
R.I.P., Buena Park, California
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Posted 9 Mar 2008 3:42 pm |
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| I just received a call from my old friend Bobby Hines. Bobby worked in Southern California during the 50'& 60's with Billy Armstrong, Eddie Miller, Wade Ray, and in San Diego with Smoky Rogers at the Bostonia Ballroom. After mastering the Steel Guitar Bobby also learned to play the Clarinet & Saxaphone. During 1965 & 1966 Bobby went to Las Vegas to play Steel and Saxaphone with "Curly Chalker" at various clubs. (Yes, our own C.C.) Curly was fronting his own band playing lead guitar and singing. Bobby doubled on Steel and Saxaphone. In 1978 Bobby moved and settled in the Denver, Colorado, playing with various Colorado Bands. He also worked a steady day job tuning pianos. Going back, when he graduated from High School he went to work at Leo Fender's factory. He became very good friends with Leo, and one day Alvino Rey came out to the factory to pick up his new Fender-1000. Leo told Bobby to explain and demonstrate the guitar to Alvino. That was like explaining the Theory of Relativity to Albert Einstein. Unfortunately Bobby is not on the Internet. If any of you "old timers" remember Bobby I will pass your posts on to him. |
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Jason Odd
From:
Stawell, Victoria, Australia
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Posted 16 Mar 2008 10:49 am
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Billy, did you ever go to the Bostonia and see him in action with Smokey's band?
Sneaky Pete Kleinow (back then he was Pete Ervin) told me about joining Smokey's band in '58, sounded like an amazing venue.
cheers
J. |
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Billy Tonnesen
From:
R.I.P., Buena Park, California
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Posted 16 Mar 2008 11:51 am
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| Jason: No, I did not ever see Bobby playing at the Bostonia Ballroom. I did see Bobby several times when he was playing with Billy Armstrong's Western Swing band at the "Western Corral" a large nightclub in Long Beach, Ca. Billy had about an 8-piece Western Swing Band on par with Tex Williams and Bob Wills. Billy's other fiddle player as I remember doubled on Sax and Clarinet. The guitar player was "Billy Carter" who was quite well known over the years. I don't know if there was any recordings put out by this band. Biily Armstrong in later years had his own solo act playing on Cruise Ships. Several years ago Billy had a stroke and to my knowledge never recovered enough to play again. Back to Bobby: Bobby told me when he was first learning to play steel (basically self-taught} that he received a lot of information about chords from Ole's Guitar player, and my buddy, Earl Finley. |
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Jason Odd
From:
Stawell, Victoria, Australia
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Posted 16 Mar 2008 10:31 pm
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thanks Billy, I think Dale Norris mentioned that he also got pointers from Earl.
I don't know much about Billy Armstrong recordings, probably moreso his 70s albums.
J. |
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Robbie Daniels
From:
Casper, Wyoming, USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2008 6:22 pm
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Billy
I knew Bobby when he was in Casper, Wyoming. He worked at Les Parsons Music Store here in Casper. Bobby Is a fantastic talent. If you see or talk to him tell him Robbie Daniels says hello.
_________________
Carter D12, MSA S12, 12 String Custom Made Non-Pedal, Evans FET 500LV, Evans SE200, Peavey Nashville 400, Fender Steel King |
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Tracy Sheehan
From:
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2008 9:58 pm Bobby Hines:
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I had wondered about Bobby Hines for years.I knew him when he worked at a music store in Casper Wyo.I sent Billy a P.M.Hope he gets it as Bob and i had a good friend who worked at the FAA radar sight in Lusk,Wyo.I still have the tape he made jamming with Curly Chalker in Vegas back in the 70's i believe it was.
Ain't this forum something? Tracy |
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