Russ Hicks!!!

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Well, I'm just back from a quick visit to the Old Country (so I'm stocked up on Marmite and fish-paste again!), and one of the highlights of my trip was hearing Russ' wonderful playing on Saturday night at the Festival of PSG in Newbury, Berkshire.

The musicians sounded terrific as usual (I'm biased as it's my old band, even if it is a bit scary having Albert Lee in my old 'spot'), but Russ was great - a fine tone, and that super right-hand of his has such authority. Laney Hicks was fighting a bad throat, but put on a really fine show - I'm sure she won't mind me saying how much better the stage looked for her presence... (Sorry, Russ.)

Russ tells me that he reads the Forum all the time, but can't remember his password or how to hit the 'Reply' button. I can't believe that someone who can play like that would be defeated by a mere computer, but maybe Bob Knight can point him in the right direction....

I hope Russ and Laney got home safely - it was a real pleasure to see you both again!

Best,

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Roger Rettig

Rex Thomas · From: Thompson's Station, TN

IMHO, Russ Hicks is an absolute PRO. He has established a lot of the licks that we use today. Having said that, I feel he is in the "unsung heroes" ranks as Charlie McCoy would say. Once again IMHO, the way he layered E9 into rock during the Barefoot Jerry days (yes, the "Code" days too) was ground breaking.
During the mid-'70's, we happened to have a couple of gigs that crossed paths in the Mpls.-St. Paul area, so that was fun, other than feeling like a dummy watching him listen to me spitting out HIS licks. A year or so later I heard him in a niteclub setting, & he can toot a pretty mean trumpet!
Anyway, I'm still a fan. Happy trails, Russ!
Thanx, Roger.

[This message was edited by Rex Thomas on 16 May 2003 at 12:30 PM.]

Bob Knight · From: Bowling Green KY

Roger,
Thanks for the vote of confidence. I did in fact help Russ change his password to something he could remember,

and showed him how to post. So, look out!

BTW, Thanks for the great report on Gerry's Show.

Rex,
You are absolutely right, this guy belongs in The International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. He has created his own licks and style over the past 40+ years and doesn't have to depend on or copy cliche' or other players licks etc. He has also been involved in developing teaching materials, and many teaching seminars.

He also has a new CD available,"Two Mile Pike". It can be ordered directly from Russ at;

Russ Hicks
1020 W. Sears Rd.
Pegram TN 37143
$15 incl. postage

[This message was edited by Bob Knight on 16 May 2003 at 08:25 AM.]

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

Russ has GOTTA be one of the best! And a super guy, as well. Can somebody send me his e-mail address? I've got a little Dobro stuff to talk over with him. Thanks!

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Stephen -

Laney gave me HER e-mail address, telling me that Russ couldn't remember his own (is there a pattern here?)...

Try laneyhicks@aol.com - he's bound to get the message.

I had dinner with the band's drummer, Peter Baron, on Wednesday night. Pete's a fine player, but is not an avid steel guitar fan, even though he's played at Gerry's Festival with with some of the best players in the World (Buddy, Paul, Jimmy Day, Jimmie Crawford, Paul F., Lloyd, Doug J. and Herby, to name a few); given his antipathy to our favourite instrument, I was particularly impressed when he put Russ firmly in the top part of the 'draw' when he was enthusing about his playing to me - he thought Russ was exceptional.

Russ is indeed one of the VERY best!

Roger

Russ Hicks · From: Pegram, Tennessee, USA

HEY ROGER
THANKS FOR THE KIND WORDS...THE SHOW IN
LONDON WAS A REAL BLAST...GREAT BAND,GREAT
PEOPLE...WHAT A TREAT TO JAM WITH ALBERT LEE,
GERRY, AND ALL OF 'HOGAN'S HEROS'...BEFORE
LAST WEEK I THOUGHT THAT CHARLIE McCOY WAS
THE ONLY SUPER-PICKER THAT WAS JUST AS COMFORTABLE BEING A BACK-UP ARTIST...NOW I
KNOW TWO...ALBERT IS ALSO AWESOME IN EITHER
POSITION...WHAT A GREAT TIME IT WAS.
THIS IS MY FIRST POST ON THE FORUM...I'M
FINDING THAT IT'S MUCH EASIER TO JUST CHECK
IT OUT RATHER THAN RESPOND...I'M SURE I'LL
GET USED TO IT.
I DO WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND YOU ROGER OF THE FISH-FRY HERE AT THE
HOUSE ON JUNE 14...REMEMBER, THE ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR AN INVITATION IS THAT YOU
PLAY STEEL, KNOW SOME-ONE WHO DOES, OR WISH
TO STUDY THE PSYCHOLOGY OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE
ALL SUFFERING FROM THE SAME DISEASE...

Bobby Bowman · From: Cypress, Texas, USA, R.I.P.

Russ is absolutely one of the very best! I have the utmost respect for him and his beautiful wife, Laney, who is a super talent in her own right.
What I like about his playing is that he "sings" (and I don't mean a vocal)the song on his guitar, putting just the right emotion and feeling for whatever he is "saying in his singing".
He's kinda' out in a field of his own and I wish that was where he was,,,,then maybe some of us old gessars (especially me) could get a little closer to Laney.

BB

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If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Roger... Marmite !!
for most here it would taste like Varmint.
Fish paste you can find in the USA, but Marmite is such a regional thing. And not a huge region either.

Love it or hate.. there is NO in between.
Many a couple has broken up over that stuff being at the same table.
She may look like Gina Lolabrigida, but she don't like Marmite.. DUMP HER.

I have had Marmite on a "Hagis Quiche"... go figure!

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Wecome, Russ - you finally put your feet in the water!

I haven't checked the performance schedule with the theatre yet, but I have a feeling that my next gig ('Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' here in Naples) is going to prevent me coming to Pegram and eating all your fish! You can be sure that, if possible, I'll be there - thanks again for the invite, and pass our best wishes on to Laney.

David -

My Susie says that Marmite's made from crushed bugs - I even have to get it out of the cupboard myself, as she's afraid to get it on her hands! I've NEVER seen fish-paste here in the USA (that's something else she won't even look at) - where can I get it?

Sorry, b0b - I imagine that foodstuffs (IF that's what those two delicacies are) are 'off-topic'. I just thought I'd sneak it in under cover of a 'Russ Hicks' thread.....

Roger

Rick Johnson · From: Wheelwright, Ky USA

Hey Russ

Good to see you posting on the Forum.
Bob Knight and I will see you around
NAMM time.

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Rick Johnson

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

Russ and Laney Hicks. Definetly a class act. Russ, are ya'll coming to Tulsa this week ? See you down the road. Jody.

Malcolm McMaster · From: Beith Ayrshire Scotland

Roger, it was nice to see you at Newbury,pity you could not have played ,I'm sure everyone there would have enjoyed that.I'll second what you said about Russ ,he put on a great show well worth the six hour drive . Malcolm

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Russ appeared for the 1st time at last years
P.S.G.A. grand-jam held in Norwalk, CT.

Russ just blew me away with his great style,
and easy nature.

At this show, they have a video camera setup that is constantly focused on the steelers'
fretboard, and on a big screen, too.

It was mind-numbing watching Russ pulling off his famous 2-finger chicken picking style.

Thanks Russ, for just some outstanding musicianship. Hope to catch you, again, down the line.

Chipper

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

In the band-room at Newbury Russ showed us his two-finger picking style, saying, 'It's easy - this is all I'm doing. You guys can all do this...' (or words to that effect).

Maybe the magic rubbed off while I flew back across the Atlantic - I still can't do it!

Thanks for the kind words, Malcolm - circumstances have prevented me doing the show ('though I did play ukelele for Herb Remington once!), and there may not be an opportunity now that there are only one or two more Festivals scheduled.

Gerry and Barbara and their family have given a great deal of pleasure to all of us with a wonderful series of shows over the years - my sincere thanks to everyone involved!

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Roger Rettig

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