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Post new topic Red Foley's Grand Ole Opry steel man................
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Author Topic:  Red Foley's Grand Ole Opry steel man................
Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 6 Mar 2009 10:49 am    
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BILLY ROBINSON, played with Red Foley for a number of years along side the likes of Grady Martin and Hank Garland, no less.

Can anyone determine from BILLY what ever happened to his historic BIGSBY lap steel AND, could he possibly share some of photo's of it, here on the FORUM?

THIS would be appreciated!
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John Drury


From:
Gallatin, Tn USA
Post  Posted 6 Mar 2009 1:30 pm    
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Ray,

I have never heard Billy mention a Bigsby lap before. The only Bigsby I know of that was connected to him in any way was the six string guitar that Grady played when he was with Billy and his brother Floyd when they were younger. There is a picture of them in his music room.

E-mail Bobbe, I bet he would know.

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John Drury
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Paul Norman

 

From:
Washington, North Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 6 Mar 2009 1:34 pm    
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Do you know if Billy was kin to Steve Robinson, Steel
player and Astronaut.
I haven't heard from Steve lately. They must be keeping him too busy to get on here.
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Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 6 Mar 2009 4:02 pm     I'm pretty sure.......................
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I'm pretty sure Billy had a lap steel BIGSBY at the same time Grady and he were playing together..

And, I have no idea if he's related to the astronaut.
Never heard ANYONE make that connection.
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John Drury


From:
Gallatin, Tn USA
Post  Posted 6 Mar 2009 5:11 pm    
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Ray,

Thats interesting, and the more I think about it, it seems like he did tell me there were two of Pauls instruments in their band, but I can't recall what the other one was. Next time I am over there I'll ask.
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John Drury
NTSGA #3

"Practice cures most tone issues" ~ John Suhr
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John Bechtel


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 6 Mar 2009 7:30 pm    
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Curious you should bring the subject up now, however; this past Tue. I was talking to Billy about the Clinesmith [Bigsby] and Billy did tell me that years ago he played a Bigsby Lap-Steel! I, however; neglected to ask him whatever happened to it! Maybe Billy will tell us, “The rest of the Story”!
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Jussi Huhtakangas

 

From:
Helsinki, Finland
Post  Posted 7 Mar 2009 1:45 am    
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He indeed had a single neck Bigsby lap steel. Grady and Billy acquired their guitars at the same time, Billy his lap steel and Grady his single neck standard. Bigsby even placed an ad about this on a country music magazine and that ad can be seen in the new Bigsby book.
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Billy Robinson


From:
Gallatin, Tennessee, USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 7 Mar 2009 7:58 pm    
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Grady Martin and myself purchased guitars from Bigsby
in 1949 while we sere playing at the Los Angeles
Shrine Auditorium. Bigsby wanted to get his guitars on the Grand Ole Opry and we were the first ones to have his instruments on the Opry.

I traded my guitar to Shot Jackson for a Sho Bud guitar and I don't know what happened to it. I have some photos of it on stage but I don't know how to send them on the internet. When I figure this out I will send them to you.

Billy Robinson
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Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 7 Mar 2009 8:05 pm     Well what'ya know!
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Hey Billy...........thanks for posting on the Forum.
We were hoping you might have the last word on the where abouts of your Bigsby lap steel.

I'll be bringing, most likely, two Clinesmith lap steels to the TEXAS show.

Rick Alexander most likely will have them on display at his booth or in the Hawaiian/lap steel room. For those of you interested in lap steels, you should not let this opportunity pass you by without taking a close-up look.

Todd had mentioned earlier, that he might also have his 8-string coustic g'tar there.
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Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 8 Mar 2009 11:45 am     Paul Bigsby's NEW BOOK
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There's a photo of Grady and Billy in this great new book. Sadly, no close-up of Billy's Bigsby lap steel guitar.
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