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Post new topic American Idol last night with Taylor Hicks-Lap steel player?
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Author Topic:  American Idol last night with Taylor Hicks-Lap steel player?
Billy Woo

 

From:
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2009 1:09 pm    
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Does anyone know who the lap steel player was last night at the Kodak in Hollywood, CA. He was bald but I could swear that I saw him at the recent annual Perl-jam session at the El Arco Iris recently? He was playing pedal steel at the jam and sounded really good but I was curious as to who he was, perhaps Mike Perlowin or John Mclung might chime in on this topic also no bad intentions about the bald statement, this guy played very well and looked very familiar?


Bronco Billy aka
Billy Woo
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Theresa Galbraith

 

From:
Goodlettsville,Tn. USA
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2009 1:41 pm    
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I don't know who it was. He did a good job and I was happy to see him on stage. I liked Taylor too! Smile
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Bill Hankey


From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2009 2:31 pm    
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He was buried somewhere in the din. I couldn't hear one note that he played.
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Dan Tyack

 

From:
Olympia, WA USA
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2009 2:57 pm    
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Looked like Jay Graydon to me, which would make sense, because I've heard he does the pedal steel for that show.

Great player! (he was up there on my sub list when I was in LA). Great guitar player, as well.

Little known fact: Jay played steel on the Bonnie Rait song 'Don't it make you wanna dance' in the Irving Cowboy movie.
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Mike Perlowin


From:
Los Angeles CA
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2009 3:37 pm    
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I didn't see the show, but if he was bald, it might have been Jay Leach. Jay plays a Blue Sierra, in case you had a chance to see the guitar.

Jay is a fine guitar and steel player, and a heck of a nice guy to boot. And he has been coming to the L.A, jam every year for the past few years.

And he has even less hair than me.
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Dan Tyack

 

From:
Olympia, WA USA
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2009 3:53 pm    
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I don't have a TV so I don't watch the show, but I think this is what folks are talking about:

Taylor Hicks with lap steel player
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Mike Perlowin


From:
Los Angeles CA
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2009 4:04 pm    
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That's Jay.
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Mark Eaton


From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2009 5:10 pm    
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Here's another thread about it, and it looked like a Supro to me:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=157681

Quote:
He was buried somewhere in the din. I couldn't hear one note that he played.


The lap steel on the show came through loud and clear on my television.

Bill, one time when Jerry Douglas was out here we were telling him that on a recent broadcast we couldn't hear his dobro, but he said that at home in Tennessee his wife had told him that she could hear it loud and clear, on the same broadcast.

I know zero about the technological aspects myself, but Jerry said that depending on transmission methods and so on, a feed can sound very different in various regions of the country.

I used to want to blame this sort of thing on the sound crew of different TV shows, but apparently there are things they cannot control.
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Billy Woo

 

From:
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Post  Posted 1 May 2009 6:53 am     Mark Eaton-Regarding sound of Jay Leach Lap Steel on Am Idol
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Hi Mark

You are correct that with live performances sometimes instruments get 'lost in the mix' other than the Country music awards show and the Grand Ole Opry I think it's a rarity to even see a Lap-steel played nowadays on Television but on this particular night Jay Leach was in my opinion fine in the mix here in Los Angeles, his licks were bluesy in nature and he may have used a distortion box to boost his gain but I heard him clearly and he sounded pretty darned good also to credit Taylor Hicks on his harmonica solo which sounded awesome as well. I'm glad that Mike Perlowin chimed in as to the mystery musician, I heard Mr. Leach when he played his Blue Sierra, heck I had an orange Sierra at one point and his steel playing was a joy to behold at our annual LA Steel guitar jam. Kudos to Jay Leach for an excellent performance.

Bronco Billy aka
Billy Woo
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Jason Stillwell


From:
Caddo, OK, USA
Post  Posted 1 May 2009 8:27 pm    
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I had an instance once where I couldn't hear steel at all in a TV mix, but everyone else here on the Forum said it was coming through loud and clear. Turns out I was only receiving one channel of a stereo broadcast. BTW, I heard Jay's lap steel loud and clear. Sounded great!
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Theresa Galbraith

 

From:
Goodlettsville,Tn. USA
Post  Posted 2 May 2009 4:02 am    
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Jay,
I heard you loud & clear! Smile
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T. C. Furlong


From:
Lake County, Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 3 May 2009 3:48 pm    
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Jay Graydon is a fabulous guitar player and has been a major force in recorded music for decades. Isn't it great that veteran session guitar players are playing steel. Forumite Dean Parks is another example of a major league veteran guitar player who is now playing pedal steel. I asked Dean when I saw him at the TSGA jamboree if he played the guitar intro on Steely Dan's Josie. He confirmed and explained how it came about. What a nice guy.

Here is an interesting YouTube that shows an example Jay Graydon's genius (among others).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x6uoNqH-_A

TC
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Mike Perlowin


From:
Los Angeles CA
Post  Posted 3 May 2009 6:10 pm    
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T. C. Furlong wrote:
Jay Graydon is a fabulous guitar player and has been a major force in recorded music for decades.


This is true, but the player in question here is Jay Leach.
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T. C. Furlong


From:
Lake County, Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 4 May 2009 6:43 am    
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Thanks for the clarification Mike. I thought from reading Dan Tyack's post that it may have been Jay Graydon. Whichever Jay it was, the lap playing sounded great which is more than I can say for the broadcast mix.
TC
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David L. Donald


From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
Post  Posted 21 May 2009 9:14 am    
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I heard that Supro just fine from here.
I suspect there may have been a stereo mix issue
on SOME tv's but not in others.
Maybe your local affiliate didn't have the right channel mixed in?
Or god forbid out of phase...

Nice to see that Supro just like mine
being played front and center too.

Even if not on this show,
Jay Graydon is a fabulous producer also.
Just listen to 'Twilight Tone' from Manhattan Transfer,
and of course is STUNNING guitar solo on that track.
Their one big hit and he did impeccable production.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.

Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many!


Last edited by David L. Donald on 21 May 2009 7:15 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Jim Palenscar

 

From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
Post  Posted 21 May 2009 12:46 pm    
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and I believe that it was Jay Leach on both of Bonnie's tracks on the Urban Cowboy album as well ("Don't It Make You Wanna Dance" as well as Darlin')~
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Dan Tyack

 

From:
Olympia, WA USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2009 12:37 pm    
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It was a senior moment, I meant Jay Leach. Never met Jay Graydon (although I've always loved that guitar solo on Twighlight Zone by Manhattan Transfer).
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David L. Donald


From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
Post  Posted 22 May 2009 5:44 pm    
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Dan, if you are a senior then most of us are in serious trouble! Wink
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.

Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many!


Last edited by David L. Donald on 22 May 2009 5:58 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Dan Tyack

 

From:
Olympia, WA USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2009 5:51 pm    
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AARP keeps sending me mail. Sad
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David L. Donald


From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
Post  Posted 22 May 2009 5:57 pm    
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Quote:
Ya gotta blame somebody

Ya gotta blame somebody

Ya gotta blame somebody

Cause you'll sure not blame yourself....

Hey that's not even my caddy!


Very Happy

Blame It On The Bossa Nova, maybe!

Well they haven't stated calling me 'Papa' yet...
Some respite! Whoa!
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.

Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many!
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Dan Tyack

 

From:
Olympia, WA USA
Post  Posted 22 May 2009 6:16 pm    
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Officer, these aren't my clothes!
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