What got YOU into the steel?

Mike Shefrin · Posted 6 Aug 2006 9:38 am

This question may have been covered in a previous thread, but since then there may be some new members who could have a chance at answering it. For me it was hearing recordings of Rusty with Poco, and Lloyd and Jaydee with the Byrds when I was a teenager back in the 70's. After hearing those guys, I persuaded my sister to loan me the money to buy a new Shobud. She agreed and I'm still thanking her for it today.
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Emmons Lashley LeGrande S10, 3+4, George L's strings, Acoustic Image Clarus 1R, Raezers Edge cab 1x12
1978 sunburst Gibson L-5(s)

[This message was edited by Mike Shefrin on 09 August 2006 at 09:28 AM.]

Jonathan Shacklock · From: London, UK

Ditto Sweetheart of the Rodeo album (about 20 years later) also hearing BJ Cole on Madman Across the Water by Elton John and a pop track he did with Deacon Blue in the late 80's. LLoyd Maines on Uncle Tupelo's Anodyne sealed the deal.

Mike Shefrin · Posted 6 Aug 2006 1:15 pm

Thanks Jonathan. Any others care to post a reply ?

Gary Steele · From: Columbus, Ohio, USA

My dads brother in Portsmouth Ohio played a D-8 Fender on with legs years ago his name was Merdy Steele KNOWN Also as (Jay Steele.) Also a Forum member Named Bobby Cox from Portsmouth who has been playing on the Southern Ohio opry in Lucasville Ohio for quite sometime,His dad Martin Cox KNOWN AS (MURDOCK) played steel and at one time played in my dads church> Chester Steele. When i was a kid i used to love to hear Murdock play his Sho-Bud back then.Them was good ole days. Plus i listened to the radio every night back then and let it play all night. All that made me fall in love with the Steel guitar. Gary Steele!

[This message was edited by Gary Steele on 06 August 2006 at 07:10 PM.]

Robert Dominick · From: Bradenton, FL

For myself it was in 1984. I was playing lead guitar in a country group and we were opening for Johnny Paycheck at the club I was working at. Anyway, Paycheck's group did not have a lead guitarist that night and the steel player covered all of the parts. If I remember correctely, his name was Jack Smith and I believe he was playing an Emmons SDB-10. I thought it was awesome the way he coverd, not only the steel parts, but also the lead guitar parts. Anyhow, next thing I know I'm out buying a new pedal steel and amp and basically been at it ever since.

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Carter S-10 3x5, Fender Steel king, Boss DD-3

Don Powalka · From: Wisconsin, USA

I listened to a lot of Buck Owens when I was growing up and loved the steel playing. The tune that really got me hooked was "Above and Beyond"(hope I have the name right).I didn't start playing steel until I was in my mid 30's. That one song just grabbed me with the happy sound of the steel.If I'm not mistaken, I believe that was Tom Brumley's steel playing.

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Fender Strat Fender Tele Gibson Les Paul ShoBud U12 Genuine Dobro Washburn B16 banjo for aggravation

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

I always liked the Country players and many Country tunes, but when I heard Kind Woman by the Springfield with Rusty Young playing those very cool phrases behind Richie Furay, I had a new direction. I pretty much kissed the Rock/Blues bands goodbye and jumped into the Country circuit head first with no swim suit..

it was ugly !

t

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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite

Jeremy Threlfall · From: now in Western Australia

I've always loved the sound of it, ever since I was a kid, before I knew what it was. I love all the classic American country stuff - which wasn't particularly popular when I was growing up as a kid in the 60s and 70s. Later I got into Burritos and Mr Parsons, so I guess Sneaky Pete and Al Perkins.

I got initially interested in playing myself when I saw a friend's country band here in Hobart with a pedal steel player, 12 years ago or more, and I realised it was actually a doable thing that ordinary people can actually play in public.

More recently (I've only had my Carter Starter a few months)it was discovering the Great Speckled Bird album, and the New Riders of PS with Buddy Cage. That tipped the scales.

JT

Carter Starter, Blues Deluxe

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

I remember watching the Opry when I was in my teens, and when they panned over to the steel player for a solo, I was always amazed that so many notes were coming from such little hand movement. I vowed to one day get behind this instrument and see what was going on. Later in the '90s, a Canadian band called Blue Rodeo featured a steeler named Kim Deschamps. We had some conversations about steel guitar when I was sharing the bill with this band, and I really liked what he was doing on the Blue Rodeo stuff. I eventually met a few steel players who showed me some basics, and I found a second hand steel in a local store for which I traded a Rickenbacker Bass and a beat Wurlitzer Electric Piano. I've been mentally unstable ever since.

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

I had been playing bass in country bands since 1977 although none of them used steels.

One night in 1980 a steel player asked if he could sit in with us at a small club in Dallas and we said sure.

After hearng him, I went out and bought a used MSA sidekick and proceeded to take lessons from a great friend by the name of Steve Lamb who some of you may know.One night I finally got up the nerve to go out and sit in with a band and they hired me on the spot. In addition to having a regular day job,I have always played professionally since and it's been great fun.

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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.

Mike Shefrin · Posted 6 Aug 2006 4:23 pm

Thanks guys. Interesting and fun to read all the different replies. btw, thanks b0b for correcting the topic title and for moving it to Steel Players where it belongs.

[This message was edited by Mike Shefrin on 06 August 2006 at 05:43 PM.]

Mike Shefrin · Posted 6 Aug 2006 4:25 pm

any others care to fess up?

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Being stoned-out one night with my head against
a friend's speaker[s] and listening to Jesse Colin Young & The Youngbloods playing "Sugarbabe" with "Banana" at his first, or so, attempt at pedal steel.

It worked for me. The simple A/B pedal mash said it all. I was hooked. This happened in 1986 on Cape Cod, so being hooked, took on a new bent.

Banana was no steeler by any stretch [according to the criteria today] but he [ and Jerry Garcia] made MUSIC with it.

That's all I needed. Thanks Banana and JG.

Luke Morell · From: Ramsey Illinois, USA Hometown of Tex Williams

I always just liked the steel guitar sound. When I was 18 I bought a lap steel and amp for $100, but the lap steel wasn't what I was wanting, so I traded the lap steel for a coon dog, ( yes, a coon dog, a English Red Tick Hound) gave up the thought of playing steel till I was 30 years old, my father in law bought a pedal steel so I went and bought me a Sho Bud and learned to play it.

[This message was edited by Luke Morell on 06 August 2006 at 06:12 PM.]

Mark Edwards · From: Weatherford,Texas, USA

Growing up as a kid, I was forced to listen to late 50's early 60's George Jones, early Willie Nelson, Hag, Web Pierce etc... and at that time hating every minute of it.

But as I got older, I began to appreciate first the singing style, then the music, and when I heard the music, I heard that soulful, crying, heartfelt STEEL GUITAR, and knew somewhere and someday in the back of my mind that I would learn to play the steel guitar.

I went through some of life's pretty tough lessons, and learned that I took a lot of everyday blessings for granted. When I got to the other side of all that, I needed something that would help keep me focused. Therein is when I took my first steel guitar lesson, and now have been playing for about 2 years. Started at the ripe old age of 44 years old.

I guess you could say, the steel has become a very important part of my life, because it has given me back the self that was lost, and a reason to move forward instead of staying in one place. Thank God for the STEEL GUITAR. I have to give God all the Glory for influencing me to be a steel player. Not that I'm a good one, but it has put a bright light in a very dark place.

Mike Shefrin · Posted 6 Aug 2006 5:32 pm

That's great Mark.

Jim Peters · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.

Panama Red for sure. I play 6 string, but just couldn't figger out that sound. JP

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Somewhere around 18 or 20 years ago I was playing guitar in a band in Columbus Ga,the band leader had a friend named Lynn O,that would set in with us some weekends,standing on the bandstand looking over Lynn's shoulder and watching him got me hooked.Don't know if I should hate him or love him for giving me the steel sickness.

Damien Odell · From: Springwood, New South Wales, Australia

I remember when I was growing up and hearing steel on country recordings and always being fascinated with how smooth and sweet it sounded. Then when Paul Franklin recorded with Dire Straits in the 90's I was even more interested. It wasn't until 2004 that I was able to find out enough about the steel guitar and finally have one sent to Australia...now I'm addicted.

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

I took leave in the Military in 76, and on a ferry coming from the Hook of Holland, going to London on the way home. I ended up in the crew quarters of the ferry across the English Channel, drinking green beer, after smoking a joint laced with god knows what and was handed an electric guitar with a raised nut and a bar, I really liked it.

When I got back to Wa DC, I walked into Oxon Hill Music, and heard Bud Charleton giving someone a lesson. I don't remember what day it was. Probably July of 76, but I talked him into taking me on with lessons, and practiced 4-8+ hours a day til I got out in 79.

Came home and played full time for a half dozen years, living in cars and other peoples' houses, got a day job, and still played full time. I still play every weekend, and sometimes midweek as the music scene crumbled.

It's just now about 28 years, and it's just like it was the first time I walked in and heard BC in a lot of ways. Wxcept for aches and pain, I don't feel any older.

A lot of blur inbetween to be sure.

EJL

Jim Eaton · From: Santa Susana, Ca

I sat down behind the very 1st steel I'd even seen in person in 1972 and that was all it took for me. Making that first sound was
just about as cool as the first time you hit a great golf shot.
Been hooked on both ever since!
JE:-)>

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Emmons D10PP 8/4 -75'
Emmons SD-12PP 3/4
Zum SD-12 5/5 - 91'
74'Session 400
06'Nashville 112 x 2
w/Knob-Guard

Russ Tkac · Posted 6 Aug 2006 6:41 pm

Rusty Young and POCO did it for me. I set my Sho~Bud to his "Day" setup and never looked back. Sneaky Pete too, but I didn't know what he played or I would have looked for an old Fender years ago.

My first good steel was a 1970 Sho~Bud D-10 Professional and a 1971 Fender Twin Reverb. Come to think of it ... I should have stopped there.

Russ

Mike Shefrin · Posted 6 Aug 2006 8:32 pm

Come on...there are at least 5000 of you guys out there...lets hear some more stories please.

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

For me, it was seeing and hearing the steel. Every time I heard or saw a steel, I was amazed by the sound and the way a steel looks. I started loving the steel guitar when I was nine years old and when I saw a steel guitar onstage for the first time, I sat in front of it. Country music is one thing that got me into the steel. Brett, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel, GFI Ultra D-10-aka "Redgold Beauty"

[This message was edited by Brett Day on 06 August 2006 at 09:48 PM.]

[This message was edited by Brett Day on 06 August 2006 at 09:56 PM.]

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

Hearing Little Roy Wiggins on Eddy Arnold records. Jody.

[This message was edited by Jody Sanders on 06 August 2006 at 10:15 PM.]

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