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Topic: Craig Baker- The Ghost of Christmas Past |
Jack Stanton
From:
Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
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Posted 19 Dec 2016 7:25 pm |
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Exactly a year ago tonight my phone rang around 7:30. Looking at the caller ID and seeing a Georgia number I braced myself for the usual corny joke or prank call, but instead I got " I think I'm close to where you live. I want to come see you." "Where are you?" I asked. "Glassboro". "That's about 40 minutes away". "Ok, how do I get there?" 'I'll give you my address, you can put it in the GPS of your phone". And out came the dirty little secret that the mind that invented the 'Lill Izzy didn't know how to work a GPS. So for the next 40 minutes I stayed on the phone while he made his way to my house. Believe it or not we still had plenty to talk about when he got there, steel guitars, electronics ( I tried to give him my Little Wonder, and he declined)radio stations, music, his beloved Charlton ( he was really proud of that green cowboy hat of Buddy C's). We talked about a lot of mutual musical acquaintances, most of them gone, and he even laughed about the first time I met him.( He had taken my place in a band when I went on the road in the late 70's. I was back for a couple of weeks a went out to see the old band. I walked into the club and Craig was playing a Fender 800 through a Super reverb he had install a horn in and had was using the 'Lill Izzy proto type. He came over on the break and introduced himself and asked me what I thought of his sound. I was young and cocky and had slightly more than a snoot full on and proceeded to tell him he was making my ears bleed. He took it in stride, and we became friends.
If he was ill he didn't mention it, and he certainly looked well and was his usual self.
I really miss him. He truly was one of the good guys
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john buffington
From:
Owasso OK - USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2016 8:11 pm
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| Craig was a super person. He called me about a week before he left us. We would talk for at least 20-25 about our mutual admiration for Buddy Charleton. I sorely miss this friend and his phone calls as we both had a serious interest in Buddy's playing and him as a person. Such a wonderful person. |
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Edward Rhea
From:
Medford Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 20 Dec 2016 5:10 am
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Thanks so much for posting this, Jack...Craig befriended so many of us, including me. I know he had kids in/around Tulsa, and even though it's 2+hours for me, I assured him, I'd make that trip to go and see him, when he made it to Oklahoma...unfortunately, it didn't happen, but man...what a great guy! I miss him too...
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“TONESNOB†|
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Mickey Adams
From:
Bandera Texas
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Posted 20 Dec 2016 9:12 am
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Jack, I purchased 2 Lil Izzys per Buck Reids recommendation...And what I got was a true friend along with that sale..For the next 2 years once a month Craig would call and just chat..I miss him too, and his wit...RIP our old friend..
_________________
ARTIST RELATIONS: MSA GUITARS
2017 MSA LEGEND XL D10, S10, Studio Pro S12 EXE9
Mullen G2, Rittenberry S10, Infinity D10, Zumsteel 8+9
Anderson, Buscarino, Fender, Roman Guitars, Sarno Octal, Revelation Preamps, BJS BARS, Lots of Blackface Fenders! |
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Dale Rottacker
From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
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Posted 20 Dec 2016 9:32 am
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Guys like Craig come along seldom and not near enough... Craig must’ve had WAY too much time on his hands, or he wouldn’t have called this nobody as often as he did... He’d call out of the blue, and start telling these funny stories of how he’d been asked to play the Opry or some other silly story that invariably I’d fall for... I’m sure like the rest of you... we’d talk everything from Li’l Izzy’s to Steels, Buddy and Charleton too... religion and politics, Craig could talk about anything... It was always good talking to him... I always felt like I came away from our conversations, like I’d Won something.... What a SPECIAL kind of man he was... I’ll always be grateful for his friendship.
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Dale Rottacker, Steelinatune™
https://www.youtube.com/@steelinatune
*2021 MSA Legend, "Jolly Rancher" D10 10x9
*2021 Rittenberry, "The Concord" D10 9x9
*1977 Blue Sho-Bud Pro 3 Custom 8x6
https://msapedalsteels.com
http://rittenberrysteelguitars.com
https://www.telonics.com/index.php
https://www.p2pamps.com
https://www.quilterlabs.com |
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 20 Dec 2016 1:41 pm Izzy Plus
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| Hey Mickey, That Izzy plus that Craig sold to me made my Mullen D-10 come alive...The Mullen Steel the Izzy plus, VP and Amp is all I need to get the sound I like. Actually I had the Izzy laying around for a few years because I did not like it, then some guys started talking about them on the SGF and I sent my unit back to Craig and he replaced some elements and sent it back to me w/o charge plus he added some candy..well the fixed up unit made my Mullen sing..just like they were meant for each other and yes he called me and we talked for about 30 minutes..he use to live in Hatfield, Pa about 20 minutes from my place...a great guy..so sad that he is gone. |
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Mike Daly
From:
Tennessee
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Posted 21 Dec 2016 8:50 am
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| I never met Craig, but also had the pleasure of surprise phone calls from him. He would call this time of year to inform me he was featuring one of my Christmas instrumentals on his radio station. One Christmas he sent me as a present a Lil Izzy because " I was the last steel player that had not tried one." Sure enough , it works well, just like he said it would. Wonderful person.!! |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 21 Dec 2016 9:08 am
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I have one of the original Lil Izzys, and Craig offered to replace mine, simply because it had been redesigned with a different jack orientation. I thanked him, but didn't take him up on his generous offer, since mine is working just fine.
He also sent me a recording of his banjo teacher, Al Smith.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Ron Scott
From:
Michigan
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Posted 23 Dec 2016 7:19 pm
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I did finally get one from a guy on the forum but the one I ordered from Craig and paid for never made it and no one answers the phone since he passed so I guess that is not going to happen. Must have been more people because he said he was behind. Sad he passed. Seem like a real nice person.RS
_________________
Franklin D10 Stereo - 8 and 6 - Black Box-Zum Encore 4 and 5 Nashville 400,Session 400, DD3 for delay ,also Benado Effects pedal.
Steeling with Franklin's..and Zum Encore |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 24 Dec 2016 4:35 am
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I miss that guy. Always enjoyed getting and placing calls to him. We talked about steel guitar, ham radio (he was KN3QQ) and about church and our Savior.
I never met Craig in person, which one is he in the original post's picture...?
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Jack Stanton
From:
Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
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Posted 24 Dec 2016 5:53 am
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| That's Craig on the left. |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 24 Dec 2016 5:54 am
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Thanks Jack. Nice to put a face with the name to remember him.
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Jack Stanton
From:
Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
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Posted 24 Dec 2016 7:43 am
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| The expression on his face is quintessential Craig. The wheels were turning working on the next zinger... |
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