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Topic: Who Is This Steeler? |
Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Oct 2003 5:37 am |
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Here's another guy that led the way for the steel guitar in the music industry. How about guessing who this super gentleman is?
This man began learning to play steel guitar in 1937 at age 8 using old Spanish guitars belonging to relatives. He got his first steel guitar (Dobro style) in 1942 at age 13 as a birthday present from his parents. He bought his first electric steel (Supro) in 1943 at age 14 from a pawn shop in Mobile, Alabama. His first job was on a daily radio show on WCBI in his home town of Columbus, Mississippi, in 1944 at age 15. He then hired on full time with a professional band in Meridian, Mississippi, in 1945 at age 16. He built, and still has, his first lap steel, in 1945. He was fortunate enough to join Pee Wee King and Golden West Cowboys in 1946, just before his 17th birthday. He played on The Grand Ole Opry, with King, from 1946 through 1948. This guy played steel with Golden West Cowboys on dozens of RCA recordings between 1946 and 1954, including "Tennessee Waltz", "Bonaparte’s Retreat", and "Slowpoke". He and the group played Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. to a record crowd. In an eight year period he played in all 48 states. Aside from all this he found time to teach steel guitar for several years in Louisville, Kentucky. He played steel in a Columbia Pictures western movie,"Riding the Outlaw Trail", with Charles Starrett and Smiley Burnette in 1949. He was a member of the Golden West Cowboys when the band received the Cash Box award for “Best Western Swing Band” for two successive years. While with King, he wrote several songs that were recorded, such as; "Crazy Waltz" (also recorded by Helen O'Connell, Gizelle McKinsey and Dave Cavenaugh's band) and "Don't Forget To Love Me". Unfortunately the man had to leave the Golden West Cowboys in 1954 to care for his terminally ill father. After his father passed away, being a glutton for music punishment, he joined the famous Boyd Bennett and the Rockets band. He not only played steel guitar, but also played guitar and trombone with the group. They recorded several songs that made the top of the Rock and Roll charts, including "Seventeen" and "My Boy Flat top". He also played the Kate Smith national TV show on NBC out of New York. He wrote several songs that were recorded by Boyd Bennett including “Let Me Love You”, “Banjo Rock and Roll” and "High School Hop.” He left Bennett’s band to enter college in 1956. He earned and was awarded both a B.S. and M.S. degree in physics with minors in math, geology and psychology at the University of Louisville. After graduation he worked for North American Aviation in California as a research physicist for several years, and developed the training display used by astronauts in training for the Apollo mission to the moon. He also worked at Fender Musical Instruments in Fullerton, California as Director of String Instrument Development shortly after Leo Fender sold the company to C.B.S. He worked directly with Leo Fender (who stayed on as a consultant) on guitar designs that eventually became Music Man models. He personally designed the Fender Bronco guitar. He obtained, and holds, several patents on items he invented while at Fender for improved bridges, pickups, etc. Also during the time he was at Fender, he helped develop the first ceramic pickup, assisted in research on the use of hydraulic system of pedal guitars, designed urea formaldehyde nuts to replace bone nuts, conducted research on aging of finishes, and developed improved pickups for the Coronado series of thinline guitars. After leaving Fender, he designed and built a solid-body electric guitar, and began selling plans from which one could build the guitar using common tools. The plans sold over 1000 copies. Receiving a better job offer he left California to accept employment with Texas Instruments in Dallas as a research physicist in laser applications. When aerospace went in the dumper, he took employment in local government in Garland Texas. He continued in mid-level management positions in local governments in Texas and Florida for the next 32 years. This guy recently retired as County Manager for Bradford County, Florida. He purchased a Sierra double neck pedal steel and a Nashville 1000 amp in May, 2003 and resumed the playing of steel guitar as a hobby. He tells me he is presently practicing 2 to 4 hours daily with the goal of regaining enough proficiency to play in steel guitar shows. He also said he's not making any money with steel, but having one heck of a good time.
WOW!!!What a bio!!Who is this Johnny Come Lately who has, and can, probably do it all? 
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The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 21 Oct 2003 5:43 am
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I can guess...is he always reffering to me as
Ugly? and claiming to be better looking than
me?
Is he a humorous character? Does he play a Sierra steel? 
I'll let you guys guess,,I have the answer. |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 21 Oct 2003 6:11 am
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Incredible history. We're lucky to have Roy and the many other veteran players among us.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
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Ric Nelson
From:
Silver Spring, Maryland
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Posted 21 Oct 2003 7:19 am
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| It must have been Smiley |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 21 Oct 2003 7:23 am
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Fred, thank you for posting this bio of Roy Ayers.
What an incredible list of credits; and by a fine gentleman and steel-guitar player who has also earned an equally impressive collection of educational and professional credits in the "civilian" world.
Roy, hurry and find a "chair" in the major steel shows so your talent does not go "unused"!
www.genejones.com |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 21 Oct 2003 12:26 pm
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Roy, hurry and find a "chair" in the major steel shows so your talent does not go "unused"!
Yes sir Fred,and while you're finding that chair,find a wall for Roy & Gene in the SGHOF
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Oct 2003 12:32 pm
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Jody, All those guys are already on my Hall of Fame, along with You, Carl Dixon, Reece, A pair Sonnys, Larry B, Jimbeaux C., Steiner, Ricky D, a pair of Mikes, David and many others. Nice thing about being down here on the bottom, everywhere is "UP".
Fred
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The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real
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John P. Phillips
From:
Folkston, Ga. U.S.A., R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Oct 2003 7:35 pm
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YEAH, MY WALL OF THE HALL IS GROWING AS WELL. ROY, YOU JOIN A LIST OF ALLTIME GREATS ON MY LIST.I WON'T MENTION THEM HERE CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MISS ANYONE, BUT WELCOME ROY, TO MY PERSONAL HALL OF FAME !!
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JUST 'CAUSE I STEEL, DON'T MAKE ME A THIEF
[This message was edited by John P.Phillips on 21 October 2003 at 08:36 PM.] |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 22 Oct 2003 8:09 am
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My buddy John Phillips writes and I quote...
WALL OF THE HALL IS GROWING
He is right on and I hope that those who should be on that wall receive that honor.
There are many who deserve to be in the SGHOF
and in my lifetime I hope that those people
receive that honor.
If it were my decision,,all of you would be deserving of the HOF and like John said..all
of you are right now. That wall will grow and grow as the years go by. Scotty and his crew will see that room is made for those of you. I have that certain feeling.
My best to all of you "All of YOU" |
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Roy Ayres
From:
Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 22 Oct 2003 11:55 am
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I had no idea Fred had posted this until I started receiving emails about it. I was totally overwhelmed when I read it. Fred, you had to do a lot of research to get all of the facts straight. I know at least a dozen steel guitarists on a personal level who are more deserving of such accolades – one of whom is uglier than me but has a bio going back to Arthur Godfrey, another of whom has great “Genes” and was a friend of “Conway” and looks a lot like my bootleggin’ uncle, and others too numerous to mention whom I admire for their outstanding musical abilities and great personalities. And, there is no way I could overlook that fine gentleman who has dedicated a good part of his life to giving us this wonderful place to communicate with one another and the steel guitar world.
I can think of no greater honor than to be recognized by your peers.
Thanks to all of you.
Roy
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 22 Oct 2003 2:07 pm
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A wonderful History. Fantastic.
Fred sure dug up a lot of research and did a great job.
All those Credits couldn't have went to a more deserving guy.
Thanks Fred for letting us know.
And congratulations to you , Roy!......al
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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/
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Ernest Cawby
From:
Lake City, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 22 Oct 2003 2:31 pm
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When I was half way down I said to myself Roy Ayers.
After reading I sent him an E-mail and told him about the write up.
Just think I will get to sit beside or close to him in November at our monthly jam at catfish Johhny's.
Roy it is an honour to be playing with you and count you as friend.
ernie |
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Blake Hawkins
From:
Florida
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Posted 23 Oct 2003 4:39 am
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We all knew that Roy Ayres is an outstanding person as well as one of the top steel guitarists in the nation.
This complete bio just puts "the plug in the jug."
Thanks for posting it.
Roy has been one of my steel guitar heroes
since I first heard his work with Pee Wee King.
I am proud to know him as a friend and to hear him play each month at the Florida Steel Guitar Club jams.
Right ON! Roy.
Blake
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Bill Stafford
From:
Gulfport,Ms. USA
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Posted 23 Oct 2003 5:19 am
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It is about time that Roy is noticed and appreciated! I am glad to see this. Make room on that wall for one more great talent.
Roy, it was, and still is, a great pleasure for me to have met you at the Mobile show along with Dr. Hugh Jeffries. That was a real red letter day for me-a bona-fide "two-fer". Hope we can arrange some future sessions here in the south so all can hear you play.
Stay well and happy!
Bill Stafford |
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Roy Ayres
From:
Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 23 Oct 2003 8:04 am
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Bill:
Thanks, friend. Dr. Hugh and I hail from the same little map dot in Mississippi.
If you will email me the dates on the Gulfport show, I wiil see if we can fit it into our December schedule. It will be worth the trip just to hear that smooth tone and those great voicings you get out of that 14-string Excel. |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 23 Oct 2003 8:11 am
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Roy, bless you for trying to diminish your accomplishments by giving credos to others, but it won't wash! I'm afraid that my legacy is etched in stone...."He was born...he tried....and then he died!
www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 23 October 2003 at 02:19 PM.] |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 23 Oct 2003 4:23 pm
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He was born...he tried....and then he died!
Gene I disagree..You are a fine musician and
a A1 Human being. Dont ever say that again. |
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Roy Ayres
From:
Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Oct 2003 9:17 am
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Good news for me. Bill Stafford emailed me the date of the Gulfport show – it will be Saturday, December 6. That date fits nicely into our December schedule, which is pretty loaded up with Christmas guests, etc. Thanks for the invitation, Bill. I'll be there for sure.
And Gene, Jody is right. Any more talk like that out of you and we will have to beat you severely about the head and shoulders. It may take us 50 years to catch you, but someday when you least expect it two hundred-and-twenty-year-old men will jump out of an alley and . . .
Hope to see some of you guys in Gulfport.
(Now I have to practice more; after that build-up Fred Shannon gave me, I don’t dare hit any sour notes.)
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John P. Phillips
From:
Folkston, Ga. U.S.A., R.I.P.
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Willis Vanderberg
From:
Petoskey Mi
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Posted 26 Oct 2003 4:56 am
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Roy:
What a great place this forum is. Without it I wouldn't be able to tell you how much it meant to me to see you perform at Buck Lake Ranch. I was very young and strugglig as a steel picker. At that time I had never seen a right hand do so many things.Then we move ahead fifty five years and we meet again at the Florida Steel Guitar Club.
It was you who stuck in my mind all those years.Well I never did get my right hand up to speed but I sure enjoyed trying.See you at the next jam...Bud
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Oct 2003 7:13 am
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Roy, Hope to see you in Gulfport on the 6th of Dec. Won't be able to bring my axe, because we're flying in our plane and it just won't fit. Pat has to bring her purse you know. We'd be over the weight and balance limits of the bird if we brought both. Hope to see all the guys. Bill Stafford and company really put on a good show they tell me. Besides that's my old stompin' grounds.
Fred and Pat
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The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real
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Barney Y. Miller
From:
Covington, GA, USA
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Posted 30 Oct 2003 5:59 pm
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| Remembering back in Meridian, Ms., not sure about the date but maybe '46, Hugh Jefferys and I was working there, Hugh with the Big Diamond Band and myself with Sonny Burns and this other fellow with Red Stanton. Hugh and I was amazed at his playing ability, its not a surprise to us that he became a superstar! The other accomplishments are also great but his playing at that early age was fantastic. A true pioneer and our hero. |
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Dr. Hugh Jeffreys
From:
Southaven, MS, USA
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Posted 31 Oct 2003 8:14 pm
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| For Roy, Barney, Bill, (& others)- I hope to make the Deep South Club gig in the not-too-distant future. My wife usually has the first week of Dec. booked for the Christmas shows in Nashville (last year for the Radio City Rockettes); later, a quick visit to Daytona Beach and that tops out the week. I'm getting up some background arrangements that I've recorded so that I can play on top. The review of Roy by Fred was splendid! I printed it. Congrats Roy! What a background! I talked to the great piano man, Billy Simmons in Dallas today; he and the Lightcrust Doughboys are doing great and enjoying their Grammy Award this year. By the way Bill, I hope you don't mind if I send Albert Vescovo a copy of your CD. He visited us a couple of weeks ago, and I told him what a fine CD you turned out, especially Devorac's Symph. #9. HJ |
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Bill Stafford
From:
Gulfport,Ms. USA
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Posted 1 Nov 2003 7:32 pm
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WOW!!!! Have no proper words for all of this. It will be a great pleasure to see all of you ih Gulfport on the 6th Dec. Details will be forthcoming in the announcement section. But I can inform you all that along with Roy, Pee Wee Whitewing, Roy Rosetta and "The Heart of Texas" Band will also be on hand. And then, add David Easley, Brooks Hubbert, George Mason and our DSSG&MA regulars, we will have a full slate. John Heinrich is trying to work his schedule out to allow him to be here also. More later, and thanks so much Roy for giving us this wonderful opportunity to hear you again.
And Fred, just give me a call, and we will meet you at the airport and loan you my car also if you like....This is really getting exciting. Thanks to all......
Bill Stafford |
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Bill Stafford
From:
Gulfport,Ms. USA
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Posted 1 Nov 2003 7:42 pm
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Dr. Hugh. Nice to see and read you here. Yes that is fine. Send it all to Al. lol I am very excited after seeing his new EXCEL at the St. Louis show. (I got to see it before Al). The finish on that guitar was exquisite.
Thanks for the nice words Dr. Hugh, and come see us whenever you can. Always welcome here.
We are all looking forward to hearing Roy.
By the way, our mutual friend, David Brown, has had a bad time with his heart. Seems to be doing OK now but tires out very easy. Hopefully, he will be here on Dec 6 for a little while if possible.
Bill Stafford |
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