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Topic: What's your excuse? |
Randal Smith
From:
Nashville, TN, USA
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Posted 21 Jun 2009 9:31 am |
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Pardon the crappy cellphone picture. This is Dee Floyd, whom I met yesterday at the Grinder's Switch Hour, a live radio broadcast on KIX96 in Centerville, TN. He was kind enough to let me use his Sho-Bud Pro I during our set. It's a 1977 model with 3 floors, 5 knees. So what's so special about Mr. Floyd?
He only has one arm.
He holds a bar with a special attachment (it's the red piece of plastic) that fits between his ring and middle finger, and plays with his thumb and index. He loves the steel, and isn't going to let a little handicap stop him from playing. In addition, he's a real nice guy.
Determination. If you want to do something badly enough, you'll find a way.
PS: I saw a new story last night about a girl with no arms who flies an airplane. She uses her feet. Now, what your excuse? 
_________________
Randal Smith alias Smitty the Kid
Nashville, TN
Simmons SD10
Warmoth Custom Guitar
Gibson GA-20 Amp
"We have enough youth, how about a Fountain of Smart?" |
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Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
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Posted 21 Jun 2009 9:45 am
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| Well now that's humble-ing to say the least,,,,talk about heart,,,!!!!!!! |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 21 Jun 2009 10:04 am
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I first saw and heard Dee play many years ago. Certainly an inspiration. Good to see he's still at it.
Fine picker too. |
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Don Brown, Sr.
From:
New Jersey
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Posted 2 Jul 2009 2:37 pm
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Thanks Randal,
What Sonny said, says it all.... Don |
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ray qualls
From:
Baxter Springs, Kansas (deceased)
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Posted 2 Jul 2009 4:25 pm
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I remember seeing Dee in St. Louis years ago at the ISGA. He played on stage and was really unique. I'm pretty sure it was him and always wondered whatever became of him. Ray
_________________
Ray Qualls
Member(KSGA)
Inducted into KSGA
Steel Guitar Hall of Fame 2008 |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 2 Jul 2009 6:00 pm
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| I really, really, think that there should be a law that says you can't fly a plane with your feet. |
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Ellis Miller
From:
Cortez, Colorado, USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2009 6:53 am
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Yes indeed!! Thank you for posting.
I always think of Django Rienhardt who changed the face of modern jazz guitar with some of the fingers on his left hand fused together from being burned in an accident. Like my old grandmother used to say, "It is not what you've got, it is what you do with what you've got"
Lessons learned.
_________________
Ellis Miller
Don't believe everything you think.
http://www.ellismillermusic.com |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 3 Jul 2009 7:40 am Re: What's your excuse?
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| Randal Smith wrote: |
PS: I saw a new story last night about a girl with no arms who flies an airplane. She uses her feet. Now, what your excuse? |
other than I don't have an Airplane I have no excuse.
t |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 3 Jul 2009 8:52 am
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Two pictures I will always remember...thalidomide people: One, of a father who plays catch with his little girl. He has no arms. He has agile feet and legs.
The other one is a mother who changes and cuddles her baby. Then she drives her car to do grocery shopping...picks out the freshest produce and puts it in the cart. She has no arms. She does it all with her feet.
Notice I didn't call them victims. They refused to be victimized.
I respect these people deeply, including our own Mr Dee Floyd.
I will also include Brett Day. You, sir, have beat the odds.
I can't play the pedal steel worth a hoot with my 2 hands and 2 legs and no, I can't seem to find an excuse.
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/ |
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2009 9:11 am
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Here's a picture of Ray Meyers, armless guitar player. He could drive a standard car, without any mods, too. I remember hearing some people talk about seeing him in person. I think he might have appeared on the Cas Walker local TV show (where Dolly Parton got her start) here in Knoxville. I guess you work with what you have. I really admire these people and their determination.
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Paul King
From:
Gainesville, Texas, USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2009 11:25 am
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| I saw a man at the ISGC years ago play with one arm. I suppose it was Mr. Floyd, I just do not remember his name. That is something that just gets etched in your memory. I have the deepest respect for someone like Mr. Flody or Brett Day even though I have never met them personally. |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 3 Jul 2009 12:29 pm
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Not much of an excuse, but an undiagnosed, and therefore untreated, whiplash caused by a car accident some 35 years ago left me with pinched nerves in the neck. Brought me close to a vegetative state over a period of 3-4 years, and it took another 2-3 years before the medical experts managed to diagnose it correctly and relieve me from most of the pain and brain/body coordination problems. Will need treatment from time to time for the rest of my life, but apart from that it has been mostly ok for over two decades now.
So, my coordination isn't the best, which does affect my playing by slowing me down a little. Only means I have to practice more to keep my reflexes working in "auto-mode", so no big deal.
I have enormous respect for those who overcome real challenges.
BTW: you should have seen what was left of the car after I'd driven it into that solid Norwegian granite rock face in 50 miles an hour  |
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2009 12:46 pm
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| Georg Sørtun wrote: |
BTW: you should have seen what was left of the car after I'd driven it into that solid Norwegian granite rock face in 50 miles an hour |
I din't think you could drive in miles per hour in Norway. I thought it had to be kilometers. I don't suppose that rock face knew the difference.
Glad you're doing better, and wish you the best for the future. |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 3 Jul 2009 1:08 pm
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80 kilometers limit there (approx. 50 miles). I always stay within limits...
And you're right - the rock face didn't care
Thanks. |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 3 Jul 2009 6:23 pm
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| Georg Sørtun wrote: |
| you should have seen what was left of the car after I'd driven it into that solid Norwegian granite rock face in 50 miles an hour |
I bet there was about as much left as the car that Nils Farstad (steel player) drove into a tree recently. Nils suffered a concussion, broken chest bone, 8 broken ribs, leg fracture. This happened when Nils was 67. Not quite a year later he is back playing his ZumSteel, which by the way was lying assembled in the back of the van. It suffered a broken 3rd string (!)
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/ |
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Tommy Shown
From:
Denham Springs, La.
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Posted 5 Jul 2009 6:47 pm
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My mentor Wilburn, plays with a prostetic arm and hand. When I first met him, I had my doubts about his playing. Well, I saw him play one night and flat made that old Sho-Bud he was playing at that time talk. I was truly amazed with his talent. The Good Lord really blessed him with it. He uses the prostecic arm and hand on his left side and has the bar soldered to a radiator hose clamp. It goes to prove, there's no such thing as a handicap. Only handicapable.
Tommy Shown |
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