Charlie Pride's Steel Player

Allen Peterson · From: Katy, Texas

Just picked up a CD that contains a compilation of Charlie Pride's live cuts. Got a real deal, it only cost $5.99 at Walgreens. Anyway, there is some great steel playing on this CD and I was curious who the steel player was. There are no credits given in the liner notes. The copyright on the CD is 2000 but I don't know when these tunes were recorded.

Bill C. Buntin · From: Cleburne TX

Probably Ronnie Miller

Nic du Toit · From: Milnerton, Cape, South Africa

If my memory is right, then Lloyd Green did quite a lot of the older Charlie Pride stuff.

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C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Charlie Pride cut a live album where Lloyd Green did incredibly good back up. That may be what you are hearing. Not sure.

However when Charlie was rising to fame, his long time steel player was the late and great Gene O'Neal. I will share with you how it was that Gene went with Charlie.

Back in the early 60's Gene was playing with a Lake Taho, Reno, Vegas circuit singer by the name of Judy Lynn.

Other renowned members in that fabulous band were Joel Price (Littly Jimmy Dickens' early bass player), Tommy Hicks (Ricky Skaggs' fiddle player) and Tommy Williams (GOO star musician) and ISGC staff musican for many years before he was tragically and seriously injured.

Anyway, one night Elvis Presley's manager called Gene and asked him if he would like to go on the road with a new and upcoming country singer. As Gene said a quick yes (Judy was NOT the easiest singer to work for*), Tom Parker said, "Gene, do you KNOW who Charlie Pride is?"

Gene said, "No". So Tom told Gene that Charlie was a black country singer. He also told Gene that, the other steel players he had contacted, did not want to travel with him. Gene said, "I don't care if he is purple, I will play and travel with him."

A few hours later Charlie called Gene and made the formal proposal and told Gene he very much appreciated what he was doing. He also told him, "I am a semi-pro baseball player, and I do not want to devote all my time to music."

"But if you will be my steel player I will pay you even through those times when I am not performing music. The only thing I ask is that you drive the limo and if needs be, you meet me at airports when I need you to."

Well Gene stayed with Charlie for many years and can be heard on a number of Charlie's classics. Although sometimes Charlie (like other stars) would use others in the studio. A fact that used to hurt Gene like few can imagine. I used to sit and listen to him in despair over that.

But on the brighter side, Charlie lived up to his side of the bargain, and while many steel players were starvun, Gene was fishing. Or so I am told.

May Jesus rest Gene's soul and bless all of you always,

carl

* As proof of the veracity of that singer, one of the band members (who shall forever remain nameless) got so upset in FtLauderdal one night; that as he left the stage on break, he commented to me, "She is the only woman on this earth that could truly tick off the statue of Liberty!!"

Gere Mullican · From: LaVergne, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

Carl, I don't mean to butt in but the fiddle player for Ricky Skaggs that you are referring to that worked with Judy Lynn was Bobby Hicks, not Tommy Hicks. Bobby is a very dear friend of mine for about 50 years. Sorry for the intrusion. You probably had so many names on your mind that you inadvertantly said Tommy instead of Bobby. Thanks
Gere

Jim Hartley · From: SC/TN

What a nice surprise to see Gene's name and to see him remembered so fondly. I had known who Gene was and I suppose he knew who I was but we never really got to know each other until we both ended up in S. Florida in "87-"89. For almost three years I was totally spoiled by having either Gene, Gary Morse, or an equally fine player named Larry Hoeben on every job I worked. Usually about 5 or 6 jobs a week.

Gene and I became very close friends and really enjoyed swappin' old road stories. One night right before he moved back to Nashville, Gene gave me an orange golf ball on stage. He and his family had been to Disney and he said he thought of me when he saw it. I dropped it in my stick bag and kind of forgot about it. We stayed in touch every few weeks until the end, and I still miss him terribly. That orange golf is still and will always be in my bag, as a reminder of a dear friend and his ever present humor. If you ever see a fat grey-headed drummer looking at a golf ball and smiling or maybe even laughing, you'll know it's me and you'll know why.

Jim

[This message was edited by Jim Hartley on 16 June 2004 at 02:32 PM.]

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Thank you Gere,

And you are soo correct. I can't believe I made that mistake. I knew Bobby and loved his musicianship. He was a heckuva singer also. He sang "500 miles" one night at a Judy Lynn show that brought the audience to a standing ovation. Incredible. Not so sure Judy was that pleased

Oh well, Thanks again for the correction,

carl

Hook Moore · From: South Charleston,West Virginia

When Gene was playing Skull`s , he taught me how to fold and barely put your dolloars in the parking lot pay box and pull them back out with your pocket knife at the end of the night

Hook

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John Daugherty · From: Rolla, Missouri, USA

It seems that I remember Joe Wright being introduced at the ISGC as Charlie Prides steel player for 9 years.
Does anyone know about this or am I having another "senior moment"?

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I played for the support act on one of Charley's UK tours ('88, I think) - Joe was on that tour with CP, and told us how he'd been woodshedding on this new technique. First time I'd seen pick-blocking.....

RR

[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 16 June 2004 at 06:04 PM.]

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Joe Wright indeed did play for Charlie Pride. This was after Gene left him. There may have been one or more in between. Not sure. Gene was with him for over 10 yrs I seem to recall.

carl

Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

In the late 70's I saw Charlie in Kingston, Ontario. There was a young steel player with him playing an MSA - he also did some singing in the warm-up phase of the show. Not sure who that was, but that would have been shortly before Joe started touring with Charlie. This was also at the point when "Dave and Sugar" opened for Charlie and then sang harmony for him once he came on. Anyone know who the guy with the MSA was?

Terry Downs · From: Wylie, TX US

I was in Europe on 1987 with an artist that worked a show with Charley Pride, and I met Joe Wright for the first time. It was a lot of fun. In fact, Joe sat in with us and sang "The Other Woman".

The great Ronnie Miller works with Charley now. Ronnie is a friend of mine. He is an awesome picker and a true gentleman. If you think you have Ronnie playing on a live CD, I darn sure want to find it!

[This message was edited by Terry Downs on 16 June 2004 at 09:38 PM.]

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

John Daugherty: You are correct. Joe is proud of the fact that he worked with Charlie for eight years, as I recall him saying. Joe is one of the best steel players you will find, and is also a great entertainer. And Joe seldom looks at his fretboard, even on the fast and furious stuff. At the Gulfport show a few months ago I heard someone ask him how he can play so well without looking at the fretboard, and he gave a simple three-word answer: "Practice, practice, practice."

[This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 17 June 2004 at 10:25 AM.]

John Bresler R.I.P. · From: Thornton, Colorado

Ronnie Miller is an awsome picker and is currently with Charlie Pride. He took lessons from Dick Meis in Denver and being the gentleman he is, goes out of his way to show up and play at Dick's Denver Jam every chance he gets. I don't know if he ever picked on any of Charlie's albums, tho.

Bill Bailey · From: Kingman, AZ

John,
The first time I met Ronnie Miller was in the early 70'S he was just off the road from traveling with a fomous girl singer who, maybe Jean Sheppard or someone like that and was playing at a club in Denver called the Zanzabar and it was "THE" place in Denver at that time. I met him on one of his breaks and introduced myself to him and asked if he gave lessons, he told me to come see him at Don Edwards Guitat City where he worked and gave lessons. I met him and took some lessons from him. He is as everyone above has stated one of the best steelers out there and a wonderful and kind human being. When I first heard him play I could of sworn Lloyd Green was on stage. I could never imagine Ronnie taking a lesson from anyone, although he more than likely has. Take care all.
Bill Bailey

[This message was edited by Bill Bailey on 18 June 2004 at 10:08 PM.]

Jim Florence · From: wilburton, Ok. US * R.I.P.

Carl, I have enjoyed your knowlege of steel guitar history for quite some time now. It seems that I remember Charlie anouncing "Here's big Joe Talbot, and his electric hawaiian steel guitar" on one of his records, is my memory accurate?
Jim

Terry Wood · From: Lebanon, MO

Jim,

Your right, the late BIG JOE TALBOT did cut the tune "Gone On The Other Hand," with Charley. He also done some stuff with The Glaser Brothers and many other Nashville entertainers.

Gene O'Neal was a GREAT Steel PLayer! Lloyd Green done some of the most exquisite/beautiful steel work on Charley's recordings during the formative years.

If you ain't read Charley's Biography, ya'll need to do it! You'll appreciate a true County Music Legend's real story by himself, and the best part for usin's is he love's the steel guitar!

Woody
Mark 10:27

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

Jim;
I think you're referring to a Hank Snow Recording! I know the melody, but; I can't recall the Title! I'm like that with a lot of things nowadays! I know how it goes, but; I don't know where it went!

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Ronnie Miller · From: Florida, USA

Hey Allen, You probably have a copy of the Live album Pride did in mid 1975 with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Gene O'Neal played on that.
Over the years there have probably been 30 different issues of that album all with different covers. and for what ever reason Pride had no legal protection on it, and he has still never received a nickel for any of them.
As for Pride Steel Players, as follows
Gene O'Neal early 1969 to Feb 77
Tod Clayton April 77 to Sept 78
Danny Dunn Jan 79 to Aug 83
Joe Wright Aug 83 to Sept 88
Danny Dunn Sept 88 to Jan 89
Joe Wright Jan 89 to Feb 93
Ronnie Miller Feb 93 to present.
As far as recording Pride has used several, Lloyd Green did most of the #1, except for Kiss which was O'Neal. Lloyd & Gene both played on a few cuts. Pete Drake, Weldon, Paul Franklin, Stu Basore, Dan Dugmore,Sonny Garish,Big Joe Talbott, and I am sure there are a few more I am leaving out. Cya...Ronnie

Allen Peterson · From: Katy, Texas

Hey Ronnie I think you must be right. There is a complete string orchestra in the background on most of the songs and one of the lyrics mentions Edmonton, Alberta, Canada instead of Phoeniz, Arizona. Sorry to hear Charley didn't get a nickle for this recording. I am almost starting to feel guilty now for spending the $5.99 at Walgreens. Thanks for your response. Still some great steel playing anyway.

Allen

[This message was edited by Allen Peterson on 22 June 2004 at 02:23 PM.]

Ronnie Miller · From: Florida, USA

Hey Allen, don't feel too guilty I think Pride is going to be OK, with only that one getting by. Worldwide last count was somewhere around 70 Million records sold.
Bill,& John thanks for the kind words, and Terry you are indeed a good friend, and I love your playing...cya....Ronnie

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