Thanks Mississippi Steel Players

Bill Stafford · From: Gulfport,Ms. USA

Thanks to Billy Carr and his staff and family for producing one of the finest steel events. It was a special priviledge for me to have this invitation to be in Laurel with all the fine players and friends.
The MSP "Player of the Year Award" to me will be cherished and it is equivalent to my "Jerry Byrd Lifetime Achievement Award"- as this one was from my special friends here in my home state. This clubs acheivement in furthering and keeping our beloved instrument in the forefront is noted throughout the country and especially in the Deep South.
Thanks so very much for this award Billy Carr and congratulations to you and all involved in producing this program here in Mississippi.
Bill Stafford

John Floyd · From: R.I.P.

AS Soon As I get The Pics They Will go up on the WebSite

At:
http://mrsmoothu14.com/

Ray Harrison · From: Tucson, Arizona, USA (deceased)

Congratulations Bill!!!!
You've been my choice for player of the year for 40+ years. Well deserved.
I've been enjoying your site and really appreciate the job the John is doing on it.
_________________
Ray Harrison
Bass/sing/Love PSG
77 Stingray/Kiesel 5 string bass
Telonics , Fender Rumble500, Polytone Amps
D-16 Martin, 1970 Ovation guitars

John Floyd · From: R.I.P.

You're Giving away all of our Ages Embarassed

Tommy Young · From: Ethelsville Alabama

You so very deserve it Mr. Bill the smoothest this state has ever had, its just been a long time coming enjoy it my friend, and keep up the great work along with all those great cd's you have WOW CONGRATULATIONS
_________________
TOMMY YOUNG
MAX-TONE MODIFICATIONS
BMI dealer,Classic VIBE 100 amp... SIT strings..

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

Bill, I am proud to know that the state in which I was born has recognized your great talent and has given you this prestigious award. Congratulations my friend.
_________________
Pioneers of Western Swing HOF, Seattle 2005
Western Swing Music HOF, Sacramento 2006
International Steel Guitar HOF, St.Louis 2007
Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
Browse my Photo Album and be sure to sign my Guest Book.

Hal Higgins · From: Denham Springs, LA

Bill....this is a much deserved award for a great innovator and player. BTW, if you don't have a copy of Bill's latest CD, all I can say is....you are missing some of the smoothest playing you'll ever hear. Thanks Bill.....I'll probably wear mine out listening to it. Great seeing you at the show....I only wish I could have been there to hear your set. I probably missed the best part of the show......I won't next time, however.
_________________
HAL...Excel D-10 w/ 8 & 5. SteelSeat.com w/back,SteelSeat.com Pedal Board on Legs with Quilter Tone Block 200 amp, Boss GE 7, Boss DD 3, Boss RV 6, Boss RT-20 Hilton Expression Pedal, Evans Cabinet with 4 ohm Eminence 15" speaker. BJS birthstone bar, Powder coated Tone bar by Michael Hillman. Dunlop Coated finger picks and Zookies L30 thumb picks.

Cayla Ann Kelton · From: Texas, USA

Congrads to my BFF.. Mr. Smooth. I can't believe that the whole Kelton family missed this important achievement award given to you by Couzin Carr. I would have loved to see your expression. Please forgive us.
We love you dearly.

Cayla
aka Miss Mini Minnie Pearl

Doc Rickles · From: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

Hall of Famer, in every way, Bill Stafford, Mr Smooth
Very Much Deserved for a great person and a Legend in innovation and playing style. Bill's new CD is the best he has ever done. My wife has about worn it out and only had it two days. She said "Thanks Bill"
She said "Unforgettable" was the best rendition she has ever heard. You appreciate him at his best when you can lean back, close your eyes and get lost in the beauty and flow of what he is playing.Would love to hear him with just his track and recreate all the magnifence of what he can do with 14 strings. Thank you Bill Stafford for such a masterpiece. Truly a Hall of Famer and a southern gentleman in every way. Thanks for all you do for The Gulf Coast Show.
and most of all for being my friend.
Doc and Ginny Rickles
_________________
GFI Red and Black SD 10 3/4 Keyless, Fender Jazzmaster Head, Special Jensen 12" Speaker Cab, New Hilton Pedal, Epiphone ES 295,60th Aniv 52 Custom Shop Tele,Tacoma Chief CKK9C Koa Wood
Wonderful Wife who loves all this stuff.
"Steel Away and Pray Everyday."

Howard Tate · From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.

I agree Doc, and if you get the cd I highly recommend you get the tracks CD too. Even if I can't play like Bill the terrific back up band makes me feel like I'm doing something good.

Bill Stafford · From: Gulfport,Ms. USA

You guys overwhelm me! And should I be fortunate enough to enjoy my most prestigious BFF award from Cayla Ann Kelton for as long as this one stands for, all of you will be appreciated "...forever"-BFF=BEST FRIEND FOREVER - having this from such a talented young girl is the very best. Hope a lot of you get to meet, see and hear her in Dallas. She has been a main-stay of our Deep South Show and has many fans from this venture of hers.
Thanks Roy Ayers, John Floyd, Tommy Young, Hal Higgins, Doc Rickels, Howard Tate and especially Doc's wife. It is great when players appreciate what you try to do, and REALLY great when the wives enjoy it.
Reading another thread on the forum about "keeping our instrument alive", I would like to relate this event about my efforts: this past month I have had eye surgery. The doc and his staff were interested in what I try to do musically so I gave the doc my new CD. A week after my surgery, I was back in his office for a check up. The head surgical nurse informed me that they now play this cd during surgeries. The nurse told me she has a nine year old son who heard it when she took it home for the night and that her boy wanted to just keep on listening to it, over and over again. This boy was certainely not aware of -if my instrument was a "push-pull", black formica, how many strings were on it, how many pedals, knee leverls, who made it, what it looked like, kind of amps used or anything else. I was so proud that he liked what he was listening too. And that is exactly how I felt when I heard those first notes from an Oahu Hawaiina steel guitar when the man walked through our neighbor hood in 1938 looking for students and played "Santa Lucia" in my parent's front room. I was on the back porch and immediately ran into the room to listen in awe. Never having heard one before and knew nothing of the Pacific Ocean and/or Hawaii. Been fascinated ever since with the sound of this beloved instrument. My folks signed up my older brother for a three month course. Half way through the course, the teacher informed my Dad that this boy has no musical talent and told them they could stop the lessons to save the rest of the money. Dad told him about how I would run home from school during lunch to try and play that steel. I was allowed to finish those lessons and earned my first Oahu steel guitar. Thanks for all, and you all are special in my heart.
Bill Stafford
PS: My older brother never did amount to much as he was only a Chemical Engineer & VP in one of the largest Chemical Companies in the world and went all over the world supervising construction of chemical plants, initiating start up and was a consultant for many electrical power plants plus other side jobs un-related to music, thank goodness!

John Floyd · From: R.I.P.

I have picked with and Listened to this Man's Music Probably as long as anybody alive, Probably because I've out lived most of them. His personal Bearing and Manners are impeccable. I know Where That Comes From, because I have met his Father and Mother. I sat on the Front Porch in Handsboro MS, Where he took his first Steel Guitar Lessons. Sat There and discussed my interest in Freemasonry with now, Illustrious, Brother Stafford a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, Shortly before he passed. The Handsboro Masonic Lodge, Where Bill's Father was a lifelong member was right across Pass Road. The Same Front Porch, Where you could see the old neighborhood grocery store Where Elvis Frequented in 1953 when dating a neighborhood girl and Played with and Jammed with Local Musicians.
I sat at The Table at Bill's Christmas Dinner with his Mother that year, What I remember about her even now was her manners and her beauty, 30 years later. This Family was Southern Royalty, Probably didn't have all that much wealth in worldly goods, but they were rich in Family Strength and Character.

Am I Surprised that he has received this many awards? The only Surprise is that its took the rest of you this long to start enjoying, what I have had the pleasure of for over 41 years, Mr Smooth's Friendship.

John Floyd

BTW
My Condolences To Your Older Brother, He Lost
Very Happy

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

John,

You are right: Bill's talent could never be duplicated.

Occasionally when I play a show with Bill, as a practical joke I play "Home On The Range" and announce that it is me imitating Bill Stafford imitating me. (I have never figured out why I don't get standing ovations like him.)

I think many of you would agree with me that Mr. Smooth deserves the awards he has received, but he really should be in the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.
_________________
Pioneers of Western Swing HOF, Seattle 2005
Western Swing Music HOF, Sacramento 2006
International Steel Guitar HOF, St.Louis 2007
Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
Browse my Photo Album and be sure to sign my Guest Book.

J PARKER · From: Meridian Miss

Bill i was glad i could be there to see you get the award. Its sure desirving to a great guy who has helped so much. Jim

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

Special thanks to Bill Stafford for opening so many doors for so many players. He continues to promote steel guitar not only on the Mississippi Gulf Coast but everywhere he goes. He's truly Mississippi's top steelman. Bill didn't know it but another steelman, Winston Street from Laurel, MS. was controlling the PA board during his set Saturday night. He turned the steel up in the mains and you could hear every little note BS played, loud and clear. Still smooth as ever. It's truly an honor to have players of this caliber come to our MSP events. More later. You guys keep the post coming. Thanks!

John Floyd · From: R.I.P.

Roy, You've been Playing to Some Tough Crowds! Winking

Thats Tough Love When You have Three Hall Of Fame Awards
Pioneers of Western Swing HOF, Seattle 2005
Western Swing Music HOF, Sacramento 2006
International Steel Guitar HOF, St.Louis 2007

and Can't get any more response than that. Whoa!

Talk To Bill, He Learned How to get those Standing O's From the Master, Julian Tharpe. Very Happy

I agree That Bill Should be in the ISGHOF. In Addition to being as Talented as he is. He has been one of the greatest Ambassadors of the instrument ever.

His Vision in Taking the Steel Guitar to the Classrooms and generating the interest he has among the young people is his greatest Legacy.

Tommy Young · From: Ethelsville Alabama

AMEN TO BOTH OF YOU GUY'S JOHN & ROY on the standing O's as we all know BILL & ROY both are from the great state of Mississippi and do represent it well anywhere they go and play, I have been in AWW of their playing abilities for many years, Am proud to say they are from our great state an represent it well wherever they go and play. I hope and pray that the ISGHOF does see fit to honor BILL ""MR.SMOOTH"" with his addition to it Very Happy

soon, hopefully this year.
_________________
TOMMY YOUNG
MAX-TONE MODIFICATIONS
BMI dealer,Classic VIBE 100 amp... SIT strings..

Buck Grantham R.I.P. · From: Denham Springs, LA. USA

Bill is not only a great steel player ,he is also a great person. I listened to his CD and I loved every song on it . His tone and playing matched the songs he picked perfectly. I really admire his playing a lot. We all had a great time at the Laurel, Miss show . I want to thank Mr Billy carr for putting on such a wonderful show... Love Buck & Mitzi Grantham

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