One Armed Steeler

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

I mean no disrespect but I pulled out some tapes I recorded several years ago at the ISGC in St. Louis. They were recorded at the Chase Hotel. My memory fails me at times but I remember a gentleman playing a steel with one arm. He had the bar mounted to his hand somehow and was playing with his left hand. Do any of you guys remember that and who he was? I have thought about him a number of times and wondered if he is still playing....Paul

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

There was a chap years ago who had no arms, but was able to play the steel on the floor with his feet! He was no "jerry byrd" but one had to give him points for the effort!
I often wonder where he is today also.

Kenny Davis · From: Great State of Oklahoma

I saw the same gentleman in 1980. Pretty amazing - Where there's a will, there's a way! I don't recall his name, but he received a standing ovation, and I know it wasn't because anyone felt sorry for him.

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

I believe you are referring to the man billed as “The Armless Wonder”, who worked a lot in the Penna. area. His name was Ray Meyers! He played a steel guitar with his feet. He also demonstrated how he handled personal hygiene (Brushing teeth, combing hair and shaving) as well as driving a special-equipped car! This was back in the '50's & '60's!

------------------
“Uh~” ƒƒ< “BJ” wknsg®
Franklin, D–10 9/8
Fender, T–8 “The Custom”
Peavey, Classic 50 - 212
Enhancer, E–LG
Red–Rajah, “Phoenix”
http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/BigJohnBechtels

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Perhaps the player George is talking about is Ray Meyers. Ray was billed as "The Armless Wonder", and played a steel lying on the floor using his feet. He played several times at Sunset Park, in PA, years ago ('50s-'60s). He amazed audiences by doing many unthinkable things with his feet. To us, it was a novelty, but to him it was a way of life. I often wondered what became of him. Maybe some other Forumites remember him, as well.

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

Paul; We had a fellow here in Nashville, that I knew years ago. (Around 1980 to '82) At night he came to downtown Nashville and played in the clubs on Broadway, and during the day his regular job was a TV repairman! I made a Tone-Bar for him one time. His name was Dee Floyd. He played a Red Single-Neck Sho-Bud, Custom-Made with the P/U set in the neck, right at the end of the fretboard. He played well! I lost track of him in '82 when I left town for about 9 yrs. {No, I wasn't in Prison!}

I had other matters to take care of!
“Uh~” ƒƒ< “BJ” wknsg®
Franklin, D–10 9/8
Fender, T–8 “The Custom”
Peavey, Classic 50 - 212
Enhancer, E–LG
Red–Rajah, “Phoenix”
http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/BigJohnBechtels

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 20 August 2003 at 02:20 PM.]

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

Ray Myers used to take a metal cap from the old coke bottles and bend it flat between his toes! I had one as a souvenir at one time from a live show he did. I also was at Scotty's when the guy played with his left arm only. I can't remember his name, but it was quite amazing. If I remember correctly, he had the bar attached to his third finger of his left hand in some manner, then played normally with his thumb and first two fingers. The tone he got was quite acceptable, much better than you would have expected. Now there was a man who loved steel!

Bill Ferguson · From: Milton, FL USA

Hey Paul,
I have been doing the recording in St. Louis since 1980.

I dug through my records and think you are referring to Ellis Floyd.
He played the convention in 1981, 1982 and 1984. He was missing his right arm and played with a bar between his 2nd and 3rd. finger and picked with his thumb and 1st. finger.

I don't know what ever happened to him. I did not see him after 1984.

Hope this helps.
Bill Ferguson

------------------
http://www.steelpicker.com/pictures/Carter-Peavey.jpg

Stop worrying about what makes a steel work and concentrate on how YOU make it sound"

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

This just got me remembering how lucky I am to have seen another member of this select club, Hawaii's own - Billy Hew Len.

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

I saw and met that guy in 84 as well - also known as Dee Floyd.He played a single neck E9 Sho-bud with 3+4. He sounded a bit nervous at the convention(who wouldn't?) but the playing technique he had conjured up seemed viable and I could see how someone with the desire and talent could probably play a lot of music that way. He even played harmonics somehow as I recall. I asked somebody about him at Scotty's a couple years ago and they said he had been a judge somewhere in Tennessee and that he passed away a few years ago. -MJ-

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

I saw the one armed guy in '84 as well. In fa ct, if memory serves correct, Mike Johnstone and I were saitting next to each other when he played and we commented about it.

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Thanks guys for the info. Bill has it right. My first year in St. Louis was in 1981 and that was when I saw him. I have a tape I recorded and he was playing but I did not get his name on the tape. I sure was glad I had some responses because I was hoping my memory was not real bad as of yet. I wonder now if the gentleman is still living. What an experience to watch someone play who was not as fortunate as the rest of us steel players. He sure was an inspiration to me....Paul King

Winnie Winston · From: Tawa, Wellington, NZ * R.I.P.

The player being talked about was NOT Ray Meyers. I saw Ray at Sunset Park way back when.
The Guy from 1980 had ONE arm and played some nice stuff.

JW

Jim Smith · From: Midlothian, TX, USA

As Bill Ferguson said above, the one-armed steel player was Ellis Floyd.

Reggie Duncan · From: Mississippi

There is a one-armed pedal steeler in south Louisiana, Wilburn Stewart. He plays at his church and has played quite a few steel shows in the area. Does a fine job! He has no left arm. Uses a prosthetic device and clamps the bar under the hand. Mr. Buck Grantham knows him well!

David Doggett · Posted 20 Aug 2003 11:45 am

People are always telling me there's a one-armed guy at the door who says he can do my job better than me. Now I may believe them.

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

I guess I've been fortunate as well as being old! I know/knew four of the steel-players mentioned in this Topic! Ray Meyers, Jerry Byrd, Billy Hew Len, and Dee Floyd!
“Uh~” ƒƒ< “BJ” wknsg®
Franklin, D–10 9/8
Fender, T–8 “The Custom”
Peavey, Classic 50 - 212
Enhancer, E–LG
Red–Rajah, “Phoenix”
http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/BigJohnBechtels

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 20 August 2003 at 09:08 PM.]

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 20 August 2003 at 09:11 PM.]

Eddie Malray · From: South Fulton, Tennessee, USA

Hey Everyone: Several Years ago I saw a picture of a man playing a red Sho-Bud. He only had one arm an used the bar and picks with one hand. I believe it was the left. The picture was high on the wall in Tootsie's Lounge on Lower Broadway. I thought about that guy several times over the years.-------Eddie

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Heading in a slightly different direction, I was awed at the amazing ability of a one-armed electric bass player who perform(ed)s at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie. I'm sure Ron will know of whom I am referring to. This guy had a solid beat, no right arm or hand for picking. He "pulled" the strings off the fret with his left hand to obtain the sound. Man, I'll tell you, he played better bass than I do with two normal hands! Of course, as mentioned above, (the late) Billy Hew Len overcame a huge disability when he lost his left hand. Everyone knows Billy's story. He went on to play his own unique style becomming a legend in Hawaiian Steel Guitar history.

[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 25 August 2003 at 10:57 PM.]

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

I had heard of the fellow many years back, but we'll have to submit this to Steve Cheney, the PCCs steeler for a name.

Don E. Curtis · From: St Louis, Missouri, USA (deceased)

Yes, it was David (Dee) Floyd and the first year he performed at the Convention was Saturday, September 5th shortly after the Awards Ceremony, I think that was my very first Convention, Dee was inspiring!
Don E. Curtis
Scotty's Music Inc.
I.S.G.C.

JERRY THURMOND · From: sullivan mo u.s.a.

If my memory is right Harold Fogle played on the same show with Floyd, Harold had just had a bad stroke, an could hardly walk, an believe me he smoked the Orange Blossom Special,it was some thing to hear an see. Jerry

Forum Index > Steel Players		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic