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Topic: "Crying Steel Guitar Waltz" Whozit? |
John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 27 Jul 2008 2:46 pm |
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| Just guessing---Shot Jackson? |
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Ron !
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Posted 27 Jul 2008 2:49 pm
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| "Little" Roy Wiggins maybe?Sure is his style. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 27 Jul 2008 3:06 pm
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| I was thinkin' Shot too. |
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Al Udeen
From:
maple grove mn usa
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Posted 27 Jul 2008 5:33 pm
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| Shot for sure! |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 28 Jul 2008 4:46 pm
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NO way is that "Little Roy Wiggins". For if it was, there is NO way Eddy Arnold would have ever chosen him to be his steel player for 25 yrs.
Roy's "ting-a-ling", was much more mellow, more melodic and less nasely. And it was totally void of any semblance of the "nervous quiver" while using the bar. :
Not sure if it's Shot, but maybe.
Little Roy played on every record in that 25 yrs (where EA used a steel), except for 2:
1. To My Sorry
2. It's a Sin
So, it may have been that steel player. Sorry, I don't recall his name.
For those of you that don't know, Eddy hated country music with a royal passion. His idol was Bing Crosby. To his credit, he was the first "Country" artist that crossed over to the "Pop" charts.
His dream was to be a "Pop" crooner like Bing and Perry Como. So when the producers suggeted he get rid of the steel and use "strings" instead, it was a mecca for him, and something he had wanted for a very long time; and a very sad day for Roy. Because few wanted a non-pedal steel player by that time.
If it had not been for the short tenure with George Morgan and later the Willis Bros, Roy might have starved to death. Sadly, he danged near did even then, and when he died, he was buried in a pauper's grave, where his family had no money even to buy a grave marker.
Roy was the "signature sound" for Eddy Arnold (of course) for 25 yrs. Often the fans would clap louder when Roy kicked off a song, than when Eddy sang. Finally Eddy told Roy to stop the tingaling thing, and said, "They are applauding more for you than for Eddy Arnold".
Roy continued to use it, but in a much more subdued manner after that comment. And he would often play in C# minor instead of his simple E7th tuning. So he added a C# in the middle of the tuning, and also added a hi G# to the tuning.
Little Roy fans (including yours truly) remember painfully the dramatic sound change after so many years of the E7th tuning with Little Roy rarely ever using the 7th tone. But that original sound was as much Eddy as Eddy was. I garontee it! 
A very simple player yes, but as one player once said, "He plays more IN tune than anyone I ever heard play".
He would rarely change strings though. And this can clearly be heard on a number of hit records that EA made. Odd but true. Today a producer would throw Roy out of the session yesterday, when he picked the first dead strang :
But that is "Another time, another story".
A very dear special friend, and I miss him very much. May Jesus rest his dear soul.
c.
_________________
A broken heart + † = a new heart. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 28 Jul 2008 5:23 pm
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| I emailed John Coop. He's a tremendous fan of Shot's. He says it's Shot. Sounds like Shot to me. |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 28 Jul 2008 6:40 pm Back in those days.....................
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Back in those days on the OPRY, it was a special talent to be able to play the style of another whenever the vocalist wanted......that flavor.
Was it: Billy Robinson? I don't think so.
Don Davis? I don't think so.
Howard White? Not likely....
Jerry Byrd? I don't think so.
Bud Issacs? Not likely.....
How about that funny looking, skinny guy who often appeared on the Opry with no teeth and a very protruding chin, funny baggy clothes, suspenders...and had a little Gibson haning around his neck on a piece of rope?
I'll go with him! (whatever his name might be!) |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 28 Jul 2008 6:42 pm
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| Oscar? |
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Clyde Mattocks
From:
Kinston, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 28 Jul 2008 7:22 pm
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The topic is drifting somewhat, but I'll address a couple of things. It is for sure Shot Jackson on
the Kitty Wells version of "Crying Steel Guitar Waltz." The song was written by Shorty and Dolly Long. Jean Shepherd also had a version. I recorded it on my "Over My Shoulder" CD, with Gena Britt doing a fine job on the vocal.
Now, the player with the protruding chin and baggy pants on the old Gannaway films was Clel Summey, alias Cousin Jody.
_________________
LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Fender Twin Tone Master, Session 400, Harlow Dobro, R.Q.Jones Dobro |
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Clyde Mattocks
From:
Kinston, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 28 Jul 2008 9:32 pm
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Several posts above, C. Dixon expresses a preference
for the Roy Wiggins style of ting-a-ling over that of
Shot Jackson. Shot came from a dobro background in
which to get an acceptable sound and volume, you had to employ a harder picking technique closer to the bridge. He brought this technique to his electric
steel playing, resulting in a harsher, brighter sound. To avoid hijacking this thread, I will start a new one under the heading of " steel vs. dobro
technique and we can discuss various players who play both instruments.
_________________
LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Fender Twin Tone Master, Session 400, Harlow Dobro, R.Q.Jones Dobro |
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Paul Graupp
From:
Macon Ga USA
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Posted 28 Jul 2008 9:47 pm
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Shorty and Dolly Long had a ranch type show/arena just east of Reading Pa. My friends and I would frequent it and another such music venue about 12 miles west of Reading called Himmelreicht's Grove. I think Forumite Jack Stoner has played there in years gone by.
They both featured the name acts of those years and I saw them when I was a teenager.
The steel guitarist on the Shorty Long release was Herbie Johnson and SL also had a hit with another song he had written called Mama.
Just an aside on the Eddy Arnold/Roy Wiggings postings: This Forum and it's members took up a collection and had an appropriate grave marker placed at his place of rest. The regard and respect for Lil' Roy has always been strong and consistant on this Forum and I for one have treasured it !!
Regards, Paul |
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Bob Hempker
From:
Goodlettsville, TN.
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Posted 29 Jul 2008 10:12 am
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| The name of the park was; "Ontelaunee Park." I'm not totally positive of the spelling. I worked there many times in the '70's with Loretta. Shorty and Dolly were great hosts. They always treated us well. |
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Paul Graupp
From:
Macon Ga USA
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Posted 29 Jul 2008 3:32 pm
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Bob; That sure rings a bell for me. Tommy Vollmer would know for sure but I don't want to wake him up...
Regards, Paul |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 29 Jul 2008 8:47 pm
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Shorty's Country Music Park East of Reading on Route 422, I think it was, was called Santa Fe Ranch and I worked there quite often when I lived near there and also a few times with Billy Walker, after I moved to Nashville!
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster |
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Harry Dietrich
From:
Robesonia, Pennsylvania, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 29 Jul 2008 9:22 pm
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It was Shorty Long, and Dolly Dimples, at Santa Fe Ranch, just east of Reading. His real name was Emilio Denunzio. Our band shared a few billings with him, a couple being at Himmelriech's Grove in Womelsdorf, Pa.
http://www.hillbilly-music.com/artists/story/index.php?id=12023
Ontelaunee Park was up near New Tripoli, Pa.
Those were the days...how 'bout it Paul & John?
Harry 
Last edited by Harry Dietrich on 29 Jul 2008 9:45 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 29 Jul 2008 9:43 pm
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You're right there, Harry, but; I wouldn't want to have to move back to Pa. to do it again! I think I'm here for the duration!
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster |
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Harry Dietrich
From:
Robesonia, Pennsylvania, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 29 Jul 2008 9:48 pm
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Well it ain't the same as it used to be around here, John. 
But then I guess no place is anymore.
Harry  |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 29 Jul 2008 10:05 pm
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Harry; I know what you mean! I was back to my old Home-Town of Telford in ’04 and could hardly recognize the old homestead for all the new buildings and grown-up trees covering everything. And there were even traffic-lights at almost every cross-road in town! Did you know Tex Carson and Curley Herdman? I worked for both of them in the late 50's and early 60's. I remember when “Crying Steel Guitar Waltz” was a big local-hit for Shorty Long!
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster |
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Harry Dietrich
From:
Robesonia, Pennsylvania, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Jul 2008 2:53 am
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John
I didn't know them personally, but I remember the names.
I still play the "Crying Steel Guitar Waltz." And I still have the old Kitty Wells record, too.
Harry |
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Paul Graupp
From:
Macon Ga USA
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Posted 30 Jul 2008 5:00 am
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Harry and John: I have been doing a lot of backtracking on this thread and ran into a road block. Tommy Vollmer told me, years and years ago about a steel player in Lebanon who got some of the very first Fender 1000's. I think he said they were serial number 1 and 2 or there abouts. I have often wondered why two pedal guitars but now understand his thinking in that area.
What I cannot bring back either from what TV told me or my own recall was his name or anything else about him. Got any ideas ??
Or is they any recall about Herby Johnson who, as I can best recall did the original crying steel guitar work. I still recall seeing them at carnivals and Fairs in those years and I even saw Bill Haley and the Comets when they still used a steel guitar. That was right around the time Rock Around the Clock came out.
Regards, Paul |
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Harry Dietrich
From:
Robesonia, Pennsylvania, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Jul 2008 6:57 am
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Hi Paul
Can't help you on the steel player from Lebanon.
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I even saw Bill Haley and the Comets when they still used a steel guitar. That was right around the time Rock Around the Clock came out.
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I saw him too...at a carnival in Shillington before he became famous. Maybe it was the same one that you were at. 
Harry  |
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Paul Graupp
From:
Macon Ga USA
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Posted 30 Jul 2008 8:25 am
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Harry; I could be wrong but Shillington does definately ring a bell for me. That's also where I first met up with Tommy Vollmer and began my steel guitar journey. I sometimes go to Goggle Earth and check out Robesonia and Bernville and Womelsdorf; all those old stomping grounds and I can only recognize the main roads or highways.
Once, a motorcycle buddy and I took some woods trails and snuck into Himmelreich's.
When Minne Pearl was on, we put our spotlights on her. She hollered at us and came out through the crowd waving her umbrella at us. Scared us pretty good but she was a real fun trip to be near.
Regards, Paul |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Jul 2008 8:35 am
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The only person that I ever knew to own (2) Fender 1000's was a fellow by the name of Freddie Warner, but; I think he was from around the Phila. or West Chester area. He set both up for the jobs in a V-shape and sat on a stool w/rollers. _ _ _ I also remember seeing Bill Haley playing at Willow Grove Park with Frannie Beacher. He at one time had a steel player by the name of Nick Masters (Nastis). I just got well acquainted with him in ’80 while I was living in Honolulu. He just passed away about four or five years ago, in HI.
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster |
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