| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Houston area guys-Who were the steelers?
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Houston area guys-Who were the steelers?
Scott Wehmeyer

 

From:
Texas, USA
Post  Posted 10 Apr 2008 10:11 am    
Reply with quote

I was just wondering if anybody knew what steelers played on the Houston area records labels back in the '50s and '60s.

Labels like D, Allstar, Triumph, Skill, Nu-Star, Stoneway.

Recording with singers like Eddie Noack, Wiley and Jesse Barkdull, Adrian Roland, Phil Parr, Jimmy Copeland, Mary McCoy, Larry Butler, Dave Edge, Jimmy Dry, Don Westmoreland and Alice Kalinowski etc.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Andrew Brown

 

From:
Houston, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 3 Jan 2010 8:31 pm     Re: Houston area guys-Who were the steelers?
Reply with quote

Scott Wehmeyer wrote:
I was just wondering if anybody knew what steelers played on the Houston area records labels back in the '50s and '60s.

Labels like D, Allstar, Triumph, Skill, Nu-Star, Stoneway.

Recording with singers like Eddie Noack, Wiley and Jesse Barkdull, Adrian Roland, Phil Parr, Jimmy Copeland, Mary McCoy, Larry Butler, Dave Edge, Jimmy Dry, Don Westmoreland and Alice Kalinowski etc.


Herb Remington
Frank Juricek
Don Cathey
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Tommy Alexander

 

From:
Friendswood, Texas 77546
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2010 4:53 am     Houston area steel players
Reply with quote

Scott,
here is some additional information:

Don Westmoreland started the "Triumph Label"; he owns and operates the Limelight Studio in Dickinson, Tx. Bobby Gondesen played with Don for some twenty plus years. Bobby currently lives in Lamarque and he recently finished his gospel cd at Don's studio.
Adrian Roland lived in Texas City, Tx and was killed years ago on a construction sight. I played with Adrian in my younger years along with Howard Gregory (recently passed away)and Jeff Newman (deceased); both lived in Texas City, tx. Finis Spier played with Adrian as a fiddle player. He currently lives in Texas City, Tx. and now also plays the steel guitar.
Tony Farr lived in the Lamarque-Texas City area and played in this area: he now lives in Nashville and still continues to play the pedal steel.
Larry Butler moved to Nashville years ago; I don't know what happened to him as of this date.
I lost track of Phil Parr; I heard that he moved somewhere in East Texas, I can't confirm that!
Wiley Barkdol passed away, but he has a son that lives around the HOuston area and used to do some playing; haven't heard anything about him in a long time.
Here are some players that were around this area, but some are deceased.
Jimmy Alcorn (Alvin)- lost track of him
Dale Hull (San Leon)- deceased
Papa Caro (Galveston) deceased
Don Strickhausen (Lamarque) deceased
Jack Featherstone (Galveston) deceased
Dee O'Banion (Galveston) deceased
Jay Richards (W.Texas City)
Louis Fourerat (Alvin) currently works the Alvin Opry
Jody Sanders (Magnolia) currently working
Jody Cameron (Angelton) currently working
Cameron Parson (Danbury) currently working
David Farenthold-moved somewhere in louisana
Some I forgot, but a lot of new players around this area.
Hope this helps........
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Andrew Brown

 

From:
Houston, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2010 8:42 am     Re: Houston area steel players
Reply with quote

Tommy Alexander wrote:
Scott,
here is some additional information:

Don Westmoreland started the "Triumph Label"; he owns and operates the Limelight Studio in Dickinson, Tx. Bobby Gondesen played with Don for some twenty plus years. Bobby currently lives in Lamarque and he recently finished his gospel cd at Don's studio.
Adrian Roland lived in Texas City, Tx and was killed years ago on a construction sight. I played with Adrian in my younger years along with Howard Gregory (recently passed away)and Jeff Newman (deceased); both lived in Texas City, tx. Finis Spier played with Adrian as a fiddle player. He currently lives in Texas City, Tx. and now also plays the steel guitar.
Tony Farr lived in the Lamarque-Texas City area and played in this area: he now lives in Nashville and still continues to play the pedal steel.
Larry Butler moved to Nashville years ago; I don't know what happened to him as of this date.
I lost track of Phil Parr; I heard that he moved somewhere in East Texas, I can't confirm that!
Wiley Barkdol passed away, but he has a son that lives around the HOuston area and used to do some playing; haven't heard anything about him in a long time.
Here are some players that were around this area, but some are deceased.
Jimmy Alcorn (Alvin)- lost track of him
Dale Hull (San Leon)- deceased
Papa Caro (Galveston) deceased
Don Strickhausen (Lamarque) deceased
Jack Featherstone (Galveston) deceased
Dee O'Banion (Galveston) deceased
Jay Richards (W.Texas City)
Louis Fourerat (Alvin) currently works the Alvin Opry
Jody Sanders (Magnolia) currently working
Jody Cameron (Angelton) currently working
Cameron Parson (Danbury) currently working
David Farenthold-moved somewhere in louisana
Some I forgot, but a lot of new players around this area.
Hope this helps........


Wiley Barkdull is still living. I talked to him last week. He didn't sound dead.

The question was who was playing on the records, not who every steel guitar player in Houston was. If that was the question, the list would be about 50-100 names.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Jody Sanders

 

From:
Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2010 10:29 am    
Reply with quote

Fred Heiney played on a lot of records back then. I played on some at Doggetts studio, Middlestetts studio, and one other I can't remember the name. Jody.
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Tommy Alexander

 

From:
Friendswood, Texas 77546
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2010 3:19 pm     Houston players
Reply with quote

Andrew & Scott
here is a picture of some of the old players. Hope this comes out ok.
You may remember the "Utah Carl Show" of the late 50's.
Utah Carl Beach, George champion, Phil Parr, Herbie Treece, Wiley Barksdull, Don Cathey,JW Wheelis and Clem Kujawa.
If your old enough, you might remember this players.
No Steel player at that time.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Larry Kinner

 

From:
Texas, USA
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2010 6:29 pm    
Reply with quote

My dad recorded on "D" label back in the mid 60's and from what I remember there was no steel. I'm trying to find his records. Glad Music has one I can get, and I've seen the Bear CD that has 4 or 5 of his songs on them. I'd really like to get the 45's. I know this doesn't answer Scotts question. Tommy can you email me that photo? I know Herbie Treeces brothers and I think they would like to have a copy.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
billchav

 

From:
Houston, TX USA
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2010 6:37 pm     Houston Area Steel Players
Reply with quote

A few more:
Fred Goree
Lee Holeman
Ozzie Middleton
Deacon Anderson
Ted Daffan
Joe Kelley
Robby Springfield
Buddy Doyle
_________________
"Keepin' the steelin' going strong"

www.billchaviers.com

Steel Guitar Tabs
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Andrew Brown

 

From:
Houston, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2010 6:57 pm     Re: Houston players
Reply with quote

Wow, great photo! Thanks for sharing. Don Cathey IS playing steel in this picture, but he's sitting behind Utah Carl so it's hard to see.


Tommy Alexander wrote:
Andrew & Scott
here is a picture of some of the old players. Hope this comes out ok.
You may remember the "Utah Carl Show" of the late 50's.
Utah Carl Beach, George champion, Phil Parr, Herbie Treece, Wiley Barksdull, Don Cathey,JW Wheelis and Clem Kujawa.
If your old enough, you might remember this players.
No Steel player at that time.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Andrew Brown

 

From:
Houston, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2010 7:05 pm    
Reply with quote

Well, if we're going to list every steel player who ever lived in Houston....

Bob Dunn
J.D. Standlee
Deacon Evans
Harris Dodd
Joe Brewer
J.W. Ingham
Benny Morris
Jerry Shea
Lazy Luke Colburn
Hoyt Skidmore
Joey "Curly" Long

are a few more names that come to mind.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Jody Sanders

 

From:
Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2010 7:17 pm    
Reply with quote

I remember Utah Carl very well("I'm just a wanderer of the wasteland",his theme song and boots at the start of his TV. show). Sponsored by a funiture store in Alvin. Jody.
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Herb Steiner

 

From:
Spicewood TX 78669
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2010 8:30 pm    
Reply with quote

Nobody's talking about Tom Bath? Bobby Bowman (Jones)?
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Andrew Brown

 

From:
Houston, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2010 8:41 pm    
Reply with quote

Or Dusty Stewart?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Andrew Brown

 

From:
Houston, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2010 8:44 pm     Re: Houston players
Reply with quote

Tommy,

Is Phil Parr in this photo? I think this was before his time. This must date from the late '50s.

I think the guitarist on the far right (behind George Champion on the piano) is Wiley Barkdull.

I think Phil came in later, during the early '60s.

Tommy Alexander wrote:
Andrew & Scott
here is a picture of some of the old players. Hope this comes out ok.
You may remember the "Utah Carl Show" of the late 50's.
Utah Carl Beach, George champion, Phil Parr, Herbie Treece, Wiley Barksdull, Don Cathey,JW Wheelis and Clem Kujawa.
If your old enough, you might remember this players.
No Steel player at that time.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Andrew Brown

 

From:
Houston, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 4 Jan 2010 8:51 pm    
Reply with quote

Here's another Utah Carl pic from the same time frame. No steel, but otherwise the same group of guys, except Sam Reece is on electric bass. I think Don Cathey was the sole steel man for this group?

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Finis Spier

 

From:
Texas, USA
Post  Posted 5 Jan 2010 8:49 am     houston players
Reply with quote

Phil Parr was not in the pictures shown, and the guitar player was smiling herby treese fiddle player was clem cadiddle hopper or something like that. also the steel player on Adrian Rowlands first recording was Howard gregory who recently passed while living in fort worth.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Don Euton

 

From:
Texas, USA
Post  Posted 5 Jan 2010 7:51 pm    
Reply with quote

If I remember right, Phil Parr was blind and played a bass guitar. He also could sing.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Finis Spier

 

From:
Texas, USA
Post  Posted 6 Jan 2010 1:23 am     houston players
Reply with quote

Phil Parr now lives in lufkin texas and is very active in the music world he has a recording studio there and does a radio show , he also is a fine acoustic guitar rythym player. I would also like to mention a local player now deceased Happy Harvey Thompson played bass and was a disc jockey at kikk and i remembered the fiddle players on utahs tv show was clem catava, hope i got it right.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Finis Spier

 

From:
Texas, USA
Post  Posted 6 Jan 2010 1:32 am     houston players
Reply with quote

I just remembered another steel player that grew up in texas city that some of you may have heard of Jeff Newman ! He took steel lessons from Manual Pedraza went on to nashville and you know the rest of the story
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Andrew Brown

 

From:
Houston, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 6 Jan 2010 7:47 am     Re: houston players
Reply with quote

Finis Spier wrote:
Phil Parr now lives in lufkin texas and is very active in the music world he has a recording studio there and does a radio show , he also is a fine acoustic guitar rythym player. I would also like to mention a local player now deceased Happy Harvey Thompson played bass and was a disc jockey at kikk and i remembered the fiddle players on utahs tv show was clem catava, hope i got it right.


Clem Kujawa.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron