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Topic: The 4th of July and pedal steel guitar. |
C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2004 1:50 pm |
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Or should I say "The 4th of July and the ABSENCE of pedal steel."
Folks, I am madder than a billygoat sprayed with pepper spray. Before I vent my spleen, let me say I love Jerry Douglas. I applaud and admire his awesome talents on the Dobro.
But dagnab it. the regular steel guitar is JUST as good if not better and is JUST as much a part of America as the banjo. In fact the Hawaiian steel guitar and the banjo are the only two musical instrments that can be claimed by America.
So why is it that we have a massive national 4th of July celebration on the lawn of the capital and Washington Monument and have Earl Scruggs (playing banjo of course) and a Dobro?
Pray tell, just what is wrong with a pedal steel guitar in the hands of say a Doug Jernigan or Wally Murphy? Or soo many others. It galls me and disgusts me that the ONLY thing they will even begin to allow in the evolution of the Hawaiian guitar is the "Dobro".
I could NOT continue to watch it for what I feel to be truth. And I will say it again,
"IF, the ONLY way the steel guitar can be brought to the masses is thru the Dobro or radical departure players like RR, then let it not become a part of the masses."
When I think of the beautiful music that emerges from our beloved ISGC, as well as other shows, it irks me to the quick, to have to settle for a danged ole dobro. NO matter how perfectly it is played by a great Like Jerry Douglas.
Bah Humbug! 
carl |
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William Peters
From:
Effort, Pennsylvania, USA
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2004 2:56 pm
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The Bang-o is an African instrument.
Mr. Douglas in on because some suit in an office on Wall Street made the decision to have him on. Same reason Liz Taylor MC'd the big show on the 4th a few years ago. The people who mastermind what you see on TV are so out of touch with anything grass roots level that I am amazed that Scruggs and Douglas are on and not some backwards hat rap gangster.
Happy 4th Carl. Think I will run over to First Babtist Snellville and see the fireworks if it does not rain. |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2004 3:16 pm
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Then I stand corrected folks, IF, that is the case. I was taught over 60 yrs ago that the banjo was invented in America, and heard it many times since. I apolgize for my error if true.
Ya live and loin
carl |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 4 Jul 2004 3:50 pm
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Carl the 5 string banjo played as we know it for country is american.
But it is built off the african instruments basis, actually Arabian would be more to the point, though that is still in africa.
The 2,3 and 4 string banjo is used a great deal today in popular "oriental" music read Arabian, Morocain, Egyptian, Algerian. There are several banjo players in the Egyptian National Orchestra.
There is a French/Algerian hybrid sort of dance music with modern lyrics ,
sung in deference to the old styles, but with a dance beat,
with banjos and fiddles. Very unique.
I have stolen several licks for my mandolin playing.
Bluegrass being a mellow kind of thing, even while being very fast sometimes, has made huge inroads the last few years into many segments of society,
it has a higher general level of recognition than what was classic Nashville country, for many of you.
So more people with no clue about Hank Snow, do know Jerry Douglas.
Many who only knew Dolly from 9 to 5, now know her for Little Sparrow and the follow ups..
And Jerry D. has his mits all over bluegrass.
Maybe Bush didn't use a PSG on the lawn, but maybe Kerry will during the campaign,
somewhere down south trying to make some friends.
At least he IS a picker himself. Gotta count for sumthung!
It is hard to imagine the PSG becoming a litmus test for political correctness.
But it WOULD work for Carl...
Maybe not change his vote, but at least make him happy!
Happy 4th all.<
[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 04 July 2004 at 05:01 PM.] |
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2004 4:57 pm
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Tony,
I listened to it just after you posted it in the other thread.
Thanks friend,
carl |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 5 Jul 2004 3:21 am
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Hey Carl..we faired ok...at least they had a Dobro in DC !
Last night in Downtown Charlotte..after Kool and the Gang played a 1 1/2 hour show the Fire Works went off over the Downtown area. Last year Charlotte was rated #4 in National Fireworks displays, this year they were aiming at #1 !
During the Fireworks display which lazted pretty close to 25 minutes, an estimated 100,000 were viewing from where we were in the Downtown area. The local AM radio station produced an incredible American tribute with dialog from former Presidents Kennedy,Bush Sr. Reagon and GW. Behind the dialogs were the songs of America..all of them, including the Country artists with the Steel blasting away ! No it wasn't live but it was there.
The Steel was not absent in Charlotte.At least not during the produced segment of the show which was the primary event..recorded or not.
Oh..and Kool and the Gang were unbelievably COOL !
t
by the way Carl..your continued insight and wisdom regarding our Instrument is no less than a full blown College Education.Always appreciated and enjoyed.
And Bill..ole' buddy, you're much braver than I...thanks..[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 05 July 2004 at 09:43 AM.] |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2004 4:10 am
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Carl, thanks for submitting this topic. I want to add some info that I didn't see in the previous replys.
In the past, The live music at political rallys held outdoors, was chosen so the musicians could be mobile and set up anywhere. This made non-electric instruments the most common selection. They could perform on floats in parades as one example.
I suppose (depending on the popularity of the candidate) being mobile had other advantages... hahaha ... such as outrunning thrown tomatoes, some of them in cans..OUCH.
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John Sluszny
From:
Brussels, Belgium
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Posted 5 Jul 2004 7:37 am
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Thank you Bill F.A very beautiful and original version.What guitar are you playing?
Sounds great.Some more please!!! |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2004 7:14 pm
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| Moved to 'Steel Players' section of the Forum. |
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