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Topic: Louisiana Bros./Earl Ortago/Johnny Bonvillion/Cleat Wooley! |
LJ Eiffert
From:
California, USA
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Posted 1 May 2008 6:58 am |
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| These Brothers! Earl Ortago,Johnny Bonvillion & Cleat Wooley were the not Steel Guitarist in the 60's/70's in Louisiana. How many of you remember them? How bout Papa G ? Also,Cleat Wooley's new Single is coming out so," She Went To The River ". Sincerely in Music,Leo J.Eiffert,Jr. {I'm A No Body} |
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Quesney Gibbs
From:
Anniston, AL
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Posted 2 May 2008 4:03 am Louisiana Steelers
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| I knew both Earl and Johnny Bonvillian when I lived in New Orleans years ago. They both were world class players and Earl showed me more than one lick. I was at the convention In St. Louis with Johnny and he kept me laughing the entire time. I think that his music store is now run by Johnny junior who is a bass player around town still as far as I know. Earl has passed on but as far as I know Johnny is still alive. Both were great guys. |
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LJ Eiffert
From:
California, USA
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Posted 2 May 2008 10:15 am
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| Hello Quesney Gibbs,I've picked with a lot of them Louisiana boys on 4th Street in West Wego At Little Nashville,La Rouge,Key Hole,Bronco & Mud Bugs as well as many other clubs. Great Musicians in them days.Cleat Wooley just put out a new CD Album with them guys [Earl & Johnny] picking on it.You can see on Cleat's web-site/ Cleat Wooley @ Yahoo.Com.Take care my friend,Leo J.Eiffert,Jr. & Pigeons Band. |
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Randall Palmore
From:
Albany,TX USA 76430
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Posted 2 May 2008 8:36 pm
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| If I remember correctly, Bonvillian inspired the late and great Tom Morrell alot! |
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LJ Eiffert
From:
California, USA
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Posted 2 May 2008 10:13 pm
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| Hello Randall Palmore,I didn't know " Tom Morrell " that well. I did meet him a few times in Houston,Texas.Now Johnny with Cleat Wooley,he could cook a great Crawfish Gumbo with Gator Tail soup.I picked a few times with him {Johnny} and had some fun at Allen Fontenot's house.I did a few gigs at Cajun Bandstand in Kenner & The Cabin in the Quarters even with big Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn.Man,that goes back some. Leo J.Eiffert,Jr.& Crawfish Band on 4th Street in West Wego,Louisiana.And,I was the Music Director for a Talent Show on Cox Cabel for 13 weeks one year. |
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LJ Eiffert
From:
California, USA
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Posted 8 May 2008 9:08 pm
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| Cleat Wooley & Jesse L.Smith ask me (Leo) if I would past it on to you all a Big,Big Thank you for your help and support in both of them getting airplay on their songs from some of the local Louisiana Radio Stations that look in on the Steel Guitar forum.Our Steel Guitar is well alive on Radio once again thanks to Garth Brooks,Alan Jackson,George Strait,Brooks & Dunn,Merle Haggard,Aaron Tippin,Joe Diffie,Brad Paisley,Patty Loveless,Tim McGraw,Heidi Newfield,Dolly Parton & Toby Keith & others. > > Leo J.Eiffert,Jr. PS: I'll be in Las Vegas on 5/17 & 18/08 at the all day all night parties with my main Buddies! See'ya... |
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jeff reynolds
From:
Jackson, Ms.
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Posted 9 May 2008 3:45 am JOhnnny Bonvillion
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| I've been hearing of this guy for a few years now. I live in Jackson Ms. which is only 3 hrs north of New ORleans La. I need to meet this Johnny Bonvillion guy. I will be in New Orleans. later this month. How can I get to meet this guy? |
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Hal Higgins
From:
Denham Springs, LA
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Posted 9 May 2008 5:13 am Knew 2 of these!
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I've been very fortunate in these last 15 or so years to have the pleasure of meeting and getting to sit and play with both Mr. Earl and Mr John....both very congenial men and great players. Of course we know that Mr. Ortega has gone on but Mr. Bonvillion is still with us.......>HAL
_________________
HAL...Excel D-10 w/ 8 & 5. SteelSeat.com w/back,SteelSeat.com Pedal Board on Legs with Quilter Tone Block 200 amp, Boss GE 7, Boss DD 3, Boss RV 6, Boss RT-20 Hilton Expression Pedal, Evans Cabinet with 4 ohm Eminence 15" speaker. BJS birthstone bar, Powder coated Tone bar by Michael Hillman. Dunlop Coated finger picks and Zookies L30 thumb picks. |
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Reece Anderson
From:
Keller Texas USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 9 May 2008 6:33 am
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I have been an admirer of Johnny's playing for many years. He is truly one of the pioneers of swing steel guitar. Hearing him play provided me a lot of inspiration early in my career.
The last time I talked with him was about a year ago and he still had a music store and was living in Lousiana. Sorry, but I can't remember the name of the town. |
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LJ Eiffert
From:
California, USA
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Posted 11 May 2008 9:23 pm
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| Hello Reece Anderson,The name of the town was Gretna & West wego,Louisiana. I've talked to Cleat Wooley yesterday About Getting Johnny's #.He said he would and I past it on to you soon as I get it. > Leo J.Eiffert,Jr. PS; I for one enjoyed picking with Johnny Bonvillion at Bronco's & Little Nashville on 4th Street in West Wego and The Cajun Cabin in the French Quarters with " John Scott Herny " super Bass Player. |
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jeff reynolds
From:
Jackson, Ms.
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Posted 12 May 2008 3:36 am Johnny Bonvillion
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| So, Can I get Johnnys Ph# or Music store name where he is So I can meet him later this month? |
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Hal Higgins
From:
Denham Springs, LA
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Posted 12 May 2008 7:29 am Mr. Bonvillian's City
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 Hey Reece........Johnny lives in Gretna, LA just across the greater New Orleans bridge on the West Bank of the Mississippi. He and his son, Johnny, still have the music store at the beginning of Hwy 23. He's one of the finest players and gentlemen I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and hearing. 
_________________
HAL...Excel D-10 w/ 8 & 5. SteelSeat.com w/back,SteelSeat.com Pedal Board on Legs with Quilter Tone Block 200 amp, Boss GE 7, Boss DD 3, Boss RV 6, Boss RT-20 Hilton Expression Pedal, Evans Cabinet with 4 ohm Eminence 15" speaker. BJS birthstone bar, Powder coated Tone bar by Michael Hillman. Dunlop Coated finger picks and Zookies L30 thumb picks. |
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Steve Spitz
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 12 May 2008 4:16 pm Johnny Bonvillian
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I am proud to have Johnny as a friend and my main mentor. About 4 years ago , Johnny and Earl and a few other veteran steelers came in to see me play a gig. I rarely get nervous on the bandstand , but for whatever reason , it scared me to death.
About 15 years ago , I took lessons from Johnny , and I brought him a recording of Tommy Morrell. I expected to show Johnny how hip I was , and asked him if he ever heard of this guy.
The next week at my lesson, Johnny pulls out a letter dated 1948, pen dipped in ink. Tommy writing to Johnny , asking him how he did this and that , what he used , etc...
As I understand it , as Johnny told me , he was the staff steelman on the big radio station with he megawatt transformer , and many steelers across the land heard him play. He said at the time , to play music , it wasn`t unusual to play swing, jazz, latin, hawaiian , rock, pop, all in one night.
Occasionally , while teaching me , he would do something and say " I taught Buddy Emmons how to do that" . Trust me, he was just making conversation , he was never bragging.
He is still around , you could call his store (Bonvillians Music) in Gretna, LA , and have his son pass any message you might have. He`s a great guy, and a true steel pioneer.
Wish we could get him to do a major show.
He`s still got it. I`d love to hear if Buddy has any stories about Johnny. Lot`s of folks think if Johnny had been more inclined to travel , he`d be as big a steel star as anyone.
Reece: I`ll send you his # |
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LJ Eiffert
From:
California, USA
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Posted 12 May 2008 7:43 pm
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| Looks like our brother " Johnny Bonvillian " is found & taken care of for you guys with his son in Gretna. What a great Musician he is. I know for sure Jimmy Day had a lot of respect in his playing. I would bet the " Big E "- Buddy would tell you the same about Johnny. > Sincerely in Music all Styles. Leo J.Eiffert,Jr. PS: Tune in on KBON Radio Station to Paul Maxx in Eunice,Louisiana. |
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LJ Eiffert
From:
California, USA
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Posted 14 May 2008 7:40 pm
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| I just received " Cleat Wooley's" from Denham Springs,Lousiana new CD single from his Album Tiled " I met her in Salena " song "She Went To The River " on Wooley Ent.Records. > Leo J.Eiffert,Jr. |
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