Barry Blackwood; Killer Steeler

Joe Goldmark · From: San Francisco, CA 94131

You've probably seen his name on the Forum, but you probably didn't know that he and Bobby Black were the best players in the S.F. Bay Area in the late 60's, 70's and into the 80's. When I started playing in the early 70's, my beginning steel buddies and I would go to the Lighthouse and then the Pablo Club, to see Barry pick. He played many years with Wilbert English and they all moved down to the South Bay (San Jose)and continued to play when bookings in the North Bay got slim. As I remember, Barry played an Emmons, and always played the right thing with great tone and feeling. I don't know if he still plays out. Maybe he'll chime in with what he's been up to for the last 20 years. Anyway, he was certainly a hero of mine in my formative years.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

BArry is a great player. I used to see him at Sam's (later Cowtown) in the 80's. On jam day, I would set up my guitar next to him and play and we would both take turns playing parts during a song. I would just watch and listen in awe as he played. He was using a Super Pro at the time. I also hope he is still playing.

johnopsg · From: Tracy, Calif., U.S.A.

Nice note about a great steel player. My past club experiences are similar to Richard's...I spent lots of hours at Sam's & Cowtown, and Naperdak Hall, and others during the 60's-& 70's. Used to like to see Bobby, Barry and Pete Grant when they each played at those places in those years.Great positive inspriation for the rest of us.
Kind Regards,
JohnO.

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John E. O'Neill

Mark Eaton · Posted 1 May 2006 1:06 pm

I probably used to hang out there at the same time as you guys-I remember Barry-man, could he play!

Thanks, Joe, for starting this topic. Were you working at Amoeba in the Haight the day the Campbell Brothers played a mini-concert last fall?

I was hanging out with Darick and Chuck Campbell, along with Forumite David Phillips after the show engaged mostly in "steel talk." Just talking to those three guys-should have brought a tape recorder-what a fountain of knowledge-and fine gentlemen to boot!

A week ago last Saturday saw Bobby Black play again with the western swing band Lost Weekend in Sonoma. Bobby brought his Carter D-10 this time instead of his 12 string SuperSlide non-pedal. Bobby told me he had just done a country gig so he had the Carter with him.

He put on a clinic with the C6th neck! Amazing style, taste, tone, cleanliness.

The last time he had played there he felt he was "under amped" for the room. This time he brought his Jerry Walker Stereo Steel amp head with a cabinet containing a 15" JBL. That was a really nice sounding setup with the Carter.

Sorry about the topic drift away from Barry Blackwood, but this looked like an opportunity to kill multiple birds with one stone!

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Mark

[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 01 May 2006 at 02:08 PM.]

[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 01 May 2006 at 04:10 PM.]

Rick Nicklas · From: Verona, Mo. (deceased)

Joe, You have brought back some memories for me also. The band I was in, in the early 70's got a job backing Stoney Edwards for about a year and a half after "Asleep at the Wheel" went out on their own. One of our first gigs was at the Light House. To this day I still remember Barry and Will and the terrific drummer they had. I was embarrassed to get on the stage after they finished their set. I remember Barry switching back and forth from his steel to the lead guitar. I thought he played really great stuff that always facinated me. I never knew Barry or Will personnally but I played a lot of clubs that they came in as guests and they would take over with the excitement of Buck and Don Rich. Barry and Will were a magical team together and I will always have those great memories. He is one of the reasons I took an interest in this darn steel machine. Thanks Barry for your great music and inspiration to me and all the bands I played with in the 70's.

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Rick
Kline U-12, Nashville 112 and 1000, Hilton Volume Pedal

Barry Blackwood · Posted 2 May 2006 6:22 am

Thanks, guys. I've got a b'day coming up this Saturday, and that was the nicest present a guy could ask for. And just when I thought I was TOTALLY forgotten! Say hi to all our mutual friends for me.
Barry

Mark Eaton · Posted 2 May 2006 8:32 am

And there he is!

Barry, are you still out there playing gigs?

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Mark

Barry Blackwood · Posted 2 May 2006 8:40 am

Sadly, (for me) not at the present time. Tho I would've been happy to have been a steeler my entire life, it's just not working out that way it seems. Things began to wane in the '90s, and it became too difficult to make a (decent) living playing. Enjoyed it while it lasted, though - you do the same .....

Harold Sell · From: Indian River, MI, USA

I have known Barry since 1959 in the far north of Michigan. In fact he was still in high school and I was a recent college grad.
We became strong friends and he was a big help to me on the steel. He first played a Fender and I sold him his second steel, double 10 built by Chuck Wright. We spent many hours together. Always was a true friend and still is to this day. I might add that he was around to see my first born and I think second. Happy birthday to you my good and faithful friend.
It is still great knowing you

Joe Goldmark · From: San Francisco, CA 94131

Hi Harold,
You probably also knew Will Hemry, the bass player who moved out west with Barry. I played with him for almost three years in the Stone Country Band at Bernies Club in Concord in the mid 70's. He then went into Motel management at Lake Tahoe and soon got murdered in a robbery (with his wife). He was a great guy and a fine bass player. Barry, I know you guys were tight, as Will often talked about you.

Joe Goldmark · From: San Francisco, CA 94131

I'm reminded of some of the other excellent players from the 70's and 80's (and some still active now) in the North Bay like, Glenn Andrews, Greg Lasser, David Phillips, Carlos Claveria, Dave Ristrim, Joe Shelby, Lucky Oceans, Pete Grant, Steve Davis (the West Virginia Creeper), Ernie Hagar, and of course Bobby Black and Barry Blackwood. Barry, can you think of some others from the South Bay?

Barry Blackwood · Posted 3 May 2006 6:46 am

Billy Wayne. Played at the Red Barn in San Jose, early to mid '70's. It seems Carlos (Claveria) has re-surfaced in the Nashville area under the name Carco Clave. Know anything about him? Also, would like to know about Greg Lasser. He was a real bud, and also was the first I know of who sold the ball bearing rollers for my old ZB, which completely eliminated any hysterisis problems on that guitar. Also, love ya Harry, and I miss you Will, like it all happened yesterday ....

[This message was edited by Barry Blackwood on 03 May 2006 at 07:49 AM.]

Joe Goldmark · From: San Francisco, CA 94131

Barry,
Greg Lasser sometimes reads the Forum, but doesn't play anymore. He was the last full time player that I knew in this area, and played at the West 40 in Hayward until the early 90's I think. He finally got burned out and hung up his picks. He was the main guy that I traded licks with and helped me immensely. He was also a whiz mechanically, and used to fix everbodys steel guitar in the area. Those were the days when steels didn't work as well as they do now, and I needed Gregs help a lot.

Joe Goldmark · From: San Francisco, CA 94131

One more thing, was Billy Wayne the guy who used to hide his guitar behind a wooden (?) front, so nobody could see what he was doing? There was some guy at the Red Barn who used to do that.

Dave Ristrim · From: Whites Creek, TN

Mr. B'wood. I can't get away from him. I do sessions out here in Nashville with guys that know him. Barry, do you remember Rod Lewis and Tim Grogan? They remember you!
Sometimes I feel like a traitor for moving out to Nashville from CA. Lot's of good (and some not so good) times were had in the many bars and clubs of the Bay Area. I still miss all my CA musical buddies.
Anyway, howdy Barry and Happy birthday.
Dave

Barry Blackwood · Posted 4 May 2006 6:07 am

Joe - tell Greg I said hi and I miss him a lot. As for Billy Wayne, your memory serves you well. That barrier he had around his steel had little finishing nails all along the top of it to repel drunks who got too close. (None ever did, so I guess it worked!) Dave, I miss you too, buddy. (Maybe I shouldn't call you that!) I sure do remember Rod and Tim. Last I knew, Tim was playing for Aaron Tippin. Don't know about Rod. Do you have an email address for them?

Bob Wood · From: Madera, California, USA

I have to say that Barry has been my mentor since day one of my steel playing career, and he still is! Every time I play..., I ask myself, "is what I'm playing up to par to what Barry would've played?" Although..., I don"t know how he plays with his A and B pedal backwards to my setup. Tee hee!

Bob

P.S. Barry..., I sure miss the hell out of you.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 4 May 2006 11:10 am

Bob, I've seen your posts before, never realizing it was THE Bob Wood. Thanks for the kind words, and how are you anyway? What are you playing these days? That was a mighty nice Franklin you had last time I saw you ....

Dave Ristrim · From: Whites Creek, TN

Hey Barry, try going to Tim and Rod's website www.grorod.com and clicking on the e-mail link. I think they check it. If not, their phone number is on the site too.
Keep on keepin' on,
Dave

Joe Shelby · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

I'm glad that Joe posted this thread. Barry is a great player.
I was fifteen in the early seventies, so the
main local players I could get out to hear were Bobby Black and Lucky Oceans because they played in places minors were allowed into. I'm not downplaying Bobby or Lucky's immense importance, I just knew there had to be more
steel players around here that I needed to hear.
There was here a little 10,000 watt country
station here in the Bay Area that was actually very good. That was KSAY. They were
located right around the Bay Bridge toll plaza. I know anyone who was here in the early '70's will remember it.
On Sunday (?) afternoons for a couple hours
they would broadcast from the Pablo Club (and
over time, other local clubs), where Wilbur
English and Country Ltd. held "court." Barry was a big inspiration and I always looked forward to hearing him on the weekend.
Sometimes Carlos Claveira would sub for Barry. Carlos played really great as well, so
even though I couldn't go into the honky tonks,
I still got exposed to some very fine playing.
I think this has always been a tough area for
some fine players to get recognition. Maybe
it's 'cause there are/were so many musicans
and so many different types of music being played here, but it seems like in another area Barry would be recognized just for the kind of player he is--great.
The last time I heard him was in the early '80's, on a KFAT broadcast from Cowtown. Barry just knocked me out, he sounded better than ever, and I just kept thinking "why isn't this guy a household name
amongst steel players..."
Anyway, Barry thanks for the inspiration.

Joe.

[This message was edited by Joe Shelby on 04 May 2006 at 02:29 PM.]

Barry Blackwood · Posted 4 May 2006 2:00 pm

Thanks, Dave. And thanks also to you, Joe. May I always live up to your appreciation.

Bob Wood · From: Madera, California, USA

Still playing Franklins. Of course! By the way..., I sent you an email. Been doing good. Playing for up-coming star Tim Murphy from good ole San Jose! Still got your ZB? Boy! That was sure a pretty guitar.

Bob

Joe Shelby · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

side note: Federal Land Management Bureau should have made the Lighthouse a National Park under the wildlife preservation act...

Joe

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Barry:Is there a chance that you have some recordings of yourself that I could buy?I escaped from L.A. in 1984 and never got to hear you,Stu

Dan Tyack · From: Olympia, WA USA

I'd like to add myself to the Barry Blackwood appreciation society. I played with Barry a number of times at Cowtown in San Jose, and I loved his playing, and he was the absolute best guy to hang out with. It seems like I might have subbed for him once, as well (with Jack Daniels on guitar).

Now to another San Jose steel question. Who was that guy who played at Sams, with the steel hidden behind something, who played through a leslie. He was the second pedal steel player I ever heard live (when I was 17 and looked 14, somebody snuck me in).

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www.tyack.com

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