Playing Steel in a Prison

autry andress · From: Plano, Tx.

Has any one played in a Prison before?
Are you aloud extra strings in your pac a seat, power strip cord etc. I'm sure everthing needs to be on the list & approved. I appricate any feed back.
Thanks

Rick Garrett · From: Tyler, Texas

I think I read here on the forum that Al Petty is allowed a lap steel. Don't know any of the particulars though.

Rick

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum15/HTML/002860.html

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Autry, are you "going on vacation" anytime soon?

autry andress · From: Plano, Tx.

Thanks guys.
To Howard: Don't think so.
Hope to c ya in Dallas again soon.
Take care.

Farris Currie · From: Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Autry,i've played 2 times with a gospel group in Avon Park Correctional ins.Florida,its been a long time,but we carried elec.piano,steel,seat,amps,drums,ect.nothingsaid at all.sure gives you chills,when they slam those big iron gates behind you though.It was a real blessing for us.man they received us well.hope thats what you are talking about!! good luck,enjoy/ farris

Frank Parish · From: Nashville,Tn. USA

I took our house band to the Tennesse State Prison once to play for the inmates. Somehow I got talked into it by somebody that worked there. It was a freebee of course but the guys really did appreciate us coming. They made my wife take her mini skirt off and put on some prison jeans with the stripe down the leg. I think she's still got those pants somewhere. They sent us all accomodation certificates and a nice letter thanking us for coming. Those guys in prison are human too and love to hear live music. Most will get out one day and they'll remember you for it. It's still entertaining the folks that want to hear you so why not?

Carlos Polidura · From: Puerto Rico

hi autry,
i play in prison about once a month.
i am a member of the "JESUS CHRIST IN PRISON MINISTRY" and i never had any trouble bringing in my guitar with all my gadgets.i understand that each prison has its owu rules, but i've never been bothered... so far.
carlos

Farris Currie · From: Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

hey Autry,one word,you might not want to ask what are you in here for!!been there,some will make you want to run!!ha ha.
farris

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Autry, I have played one time in a prison service. It was a ladies prison that was minimum security. I was very nervous about going and when they locked those gates behind us it sent a chill up my spine. We were allowed to take all of our musical equiptment with us to the service. The ladies were in the same room with no security guards and no weapons. I will tell you I have played in many places and in many states in the last few years but that prison service was the greatest blessing I have ever received playing my steel. I would do it again tomorrow if I could. They appreciated the fact that someone would take time and come play and sing for them, after all they are people as well. Many have made a mess of their lives and are suffering the consequences. If you can go and play you owe to yourself to go,it will make a huge impression on you.

Stoney Stonecipher · From: Knoxville, TN (deceased)

A number of years ago, I had a band called the Kountry Kings, we furnished the music for a local TV show that was syndicated and played in approximately 17 markets in the Tennessee area. We were invited to put on a show for the Tennessee Brushy Mountain State Prison in Petros, Tennessee. We could not have been treated any better. The inmates were so appreciative of having live entertainment, that they went out of their way to let us know. At that time James Earl Ray was an inmate there. But he decided to do his daily exercise in the yard rather than come to the show. We were able to take a number of local entertainers with us and Jeanie Sealy from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville went with us. The only thing they confiscated from me was my softball ball equipment (I coached a Girl's Softball Team) because it had bats in it. Although we were treated nice, we still had an eerie feeling when they locked the gates behind you as you went in. Over the next two years we made 2 more visits.... we were always glad that we went.

John Cadeau · From: Surrey,B.C. Canada

I played in a men's prison many years ago in Toronto, and I remember the audience being very appreciative of our efforts. We were asked if we would let an inmate get up and sit in with us. We did and this young man played monster country guitar, his talent blew us away. Later in the 70's our band played in the women's section of a prison near Vancouver B.C. This was a little unnerving, as we were setting up in an outdoor exercise area, an inmate was looking through a barred door. When she saw us she turned around, and I heard her yell to the other inmates, "hey you bitches there's four hunks of meat down in the courtyard". Next thing you know these women are looking out any available window or door, making some interesting comments, that would not be appropriate on the forum. After the gig we were invited in to one of the cell blocks for dinner which we accepted. Our guitar player was actually a guard there, so he knew we'd be okay.
John

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

I remember playing a maximum security womens prison in Mass, 30 years back or so.

We had to take the backs off EVERY amp and cab for drug and weapon smuggling inspections.

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Farris Currie · From: Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Hey John,being a little mean!go back there,better load up on Viagra huh. ha ha

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

In 1970 I worked with a Country group out of Nashville/L.A. and we worked every prison up and down the West Coast. I don't recall having any particular restrictions other than what is required from any visitor. You name the prison, we played it and as far East as Las Vegas. In fact we played mostly prisons all over the U.S.. Fortunately, I was never asked to remain indefinately! Although it was no loner an active-prison, we were the first Caucasion Group to play on Alkatraz in ’70 after it was opened by the Am. Indian.

------------------
“Big John” Bechtel
’49/’50 Fender T–8 Custom [X2]
’65 Re-issue Fender Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here click here

Jerry Lee Newberry · From: Prim, AR USA

Jerry has played in a couple of prisons. We took anything we wanted too. It is spooky though when they close all the doors behind you & put the prisoners between you and the door. Some of the guys came up to Jerry after and told him they sure would like to have him in their band. I thought about leaving him with them!!!!!!!! Ha Ha!!! Donna

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

I once played at a minumum security prison for non-violent offenders. On the way out I was suprised to see there were no guards at the exit. Merely a sign that said "out of bounds."

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Actally I'm playing in a prison right now.

One of my own making..

EJL

Mike Scaggs · From: Nashville, TN

I played at Folsom Prison years ago. It was not a good place to be.... I told the band leader that was the first and last time I would attend those gigs.

T. C. Furlong · From: Lake County, Illinois, USA

I did a gig (as a sound engineer) a couple of years ago for a special concert at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. At first it was, let’s just say “different” but after a while it was all about the show. We worked along side of inmates, all of whom had previously worked hard for the privilege of being included as crew for the show.

The corrections officers were really great to us. We ran a few minutes late on the first day and they had to lock down the entire prison because of the rules. We were recording prison bands that day, something that had not been done there since the 1930’s, I was told. Bringing equipment in was not a problem. The officers seemed to be more interested in what was going out of the prison than what was coming in. The rules were no weapons, no cameras and no wallets. I think that was to protect us and to remove any temptation for inmates.

Spending two days in Angola ended up being a five-star experience for me personally. When the show was over and the gear was all packed up, reality hit when I noticed that the same inmates we had been working with were standing in a line, single file, in the rain waiting to get on a bus to go back to their world.

TC

David Wright · From: Pilot Point ,Tx USA.

I played San Quentin... it's a different world to say the least, funny, I was with a country act, and Bobby Black was with New Riders, also playing the same day...Bobby and I still laugh about that day, the band he was with , brought two girl dancers...they danced with a guy on stage while New Riders were playing there set, the girls were cute and nasty.... needless to say...they got shut down well befor there set was finshed....it got very tence out in the crowd!!....

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

For all those shows we did up & down the West Coast and elseware, we were an (11)-piece show, which included (3)-very attractive Tahitian-Dancers, but; never any problems! One reason we got along so well in that environment was the fact that at age 34, our leader had already spent 17-years behind bars and kinda knew how everyone had to act to survive! I guess he actually felt more comfortable on the inside. According to him, only a very few really belonged there! He was a big advocate of prison-reform in the late ’60's - early ’70's.

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“Big John” Bechtel
’49/’50 Fender T–8 Custom [X2]
’65 Re-issue Fender Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here click here

Kurt Graber · From: Wichita, KS, USA

I played at the Hutchinson Prison in Kansas about 10 years ago. We did 2 shows and it was one of those gigs you always remember. Expect them to take your wallet, keys...etc so avoid any uneccesary belongings. The place gave me the creeps but I thought it was a good experience. I would probably do it again if I ever get the chance.

DeWitt Scott · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA * R.I.P.

I've played at the prison in Pacific, MO and also in Cairo, Il and had no equipment problem. As I looked at the inmates, and owning a music store, Scott's Music, I alway would see two or three guys that owed me money. They did approach me and told me that they would pay me once they got out...and they did!

Al Petty has a non pedal steel and plays it in the church chapel. He also is allowed to teach and has many students. His guitar is a non pedal with 13 strings and he sent me 9 pages of his tuning chart and shows how many chords he can get by pulling the strings with the left hand. There is now a slight hope that he will be allowed to have a pedal steel now. Only time will tell. Scotty

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