Interview with Gary Lee Gimble

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

We have all heard about Gary Lee Gimble here on SGF. Some know him very well, others just so-so and many of us don’t know the man at all.

I asked myself why this man is not widely known. I told myself he should be because he can sure play the steel. The answer lies in Gary himself. He is not the type to blow his own horn (although he does play his own steel!).

Most of the world, especially outside of the Steel Guitar Forum knows Gary as ZumEmm on YouTube. That’s how I got to hear him for the first time two years ago and I later got to know the man through emails where I discovered a superbly able pedal steel guitar player. Go here: http://www.youtube.com/user/ZumEmm to listen to 68 tunes in Gary’s style; most of them played on the C6th neck. It seems it is the jazz neck is where Gary feels at home the most. Having said that, he has absolutely no problem with the “grocery neck” either. Listen to his version of “Pride” on E9th and you will readily agree.

Gary and I had a chat on Skype recently. It started off as just a chat, but when we were halfway through, I knew that this would be of interest to the membership. Permission to publish was granted and here are excerpts from a totally interesting Skype chat…

Bent: Who did you learn from initially?
Gary: Buddy Charlton
B: You did have a good teacher!
G: I sure did. He’s one of the best.
B: What are you doing in music these days?
G: I am currently playing steel in this nice little swing band. I find myself wanting to play better, more with the style we are doing. Here is the real interesting thing: All of these band members have college degrees in music. Their female vocalist, age 23, is also a grad and sings opera too. You know what? They all love steel, too!
B: Man, you’re in heaven!
G: They have given me a chance to grow and solo as much as I want. I do indeed solo when it’s given to me… even if I don’t know the song that well.
B: You can't help but get better. You are also doing a great thing for steel...making it more widely accepted.
G: We've had gigs where I have to dress up in a suit.
B: You in a suit? Wow!
G: It’s a big change from country stuff.
B: A welcome change I would think.
G: This is so FUN; I love it!
G: The audience loves the steel too; all ages are amazed, as if they have had pre-conceived notions of pedal steel and cowboy boots.
B: You now have a chance to show them otherwise. Say, do you ever use the E9th neck in that band?
G: Yes, a couple of tunes. Really cool tunes too
B: Name a couple of tunes you do so I can get the feel for your repertoire
G: I will send you part of a recent set list:

Stardust(C),
I’m Getting Sentimental Over You (C),
After You’ve Gone (A); Sheik of Araby (G);
Nuages – I’ll See you in my Dreams (F);
September Song (G),
I’m an Errand Girl for Rhythm (C),
It’s Wonederful (E),
Like a Lover (B/C),
Walkin’ One and Only (G),
Sway (Dm),
Deep Purple (F),
Skylark (A),
Where we go from Here (B/G),
Up, Up, Up (F)

B: I haven’t heard too many of these songs!
G: It’s swing. Big band; Django,Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin
B: Your hard work and practice is paying off. You are a top pro…right up there with the best. I am proud of you, man.
G: Thank you, but I am still learning.
B: How old were you when you started playing steel?
G: My first exposure was with Bruce Bouton, age 19.
G: Here is a bit of trivia…I lived with Bruce Bouton for a while and known him since the early 1970s...
B: Ok!
G: His success is what he earned.
B: So true.
G: Unlike a few others who feel everyone owes them. I am just grateful for what I have...I won't make a living on steel, but it will be one heck of a "fix".
B: For sure.
B: Say, what do you do for a regular job?
G: I’m a comptroller for a company that has a wholesale plant, making and delivering bagels. We have a retail location. We were 8 stores strong, but were downsized a while back. I have been there for 16 years.
B: Here’s something everybody would like to know: How many hours a day do you practice?
G: Monday to Friday about 2 hours at least. Weekends… 4 to 6 hours a day. Saturday my wife works, so I get more in on that day. Sunday gets split up.
B: I wish I had the stamina...
G: Well, you have to want it and be organized during study. It’s very easy to get off track and not get anything done.
B :Family? kids etc?
G: Four grand kids, three kids. Two are married. Wifey was 19 when we got married. We started early and the nest has been empty for years
B: Good. That way you get thru’ the busy years while you’re still young
B: Did you manage to play in bands etc thru all the family years?
G: No, I did not play for about 6 years
B: OK... How old were you when you fired up again?
G: It’s hard to say, during those 6 years I had a gig once in a while, maybe 4 or 5 a year
B: I admire guys who can manage to stay with the same wife and bring up their kids and still play their steel.
G: Marriage is work, staying together...there are always differences, just gotta make it work...no one wants to really be alone.
B: True, but it takes an exceptional man (musician) to do exactly that, with all the temptations etc. So in that regard, my hat comes off to you.
G: Thank you.
B: Instruments before the steel?
G: I started on guitar at age 8. Learned how to read purdy good too. I joined the U S Navy Band in 1976 as a banjo player. That is when I officially had to learn steel; I was ordered to learn...
B: Why’s that?
G: Their steel player's tour of duty was done
B: U.S. Navy bands had steel??
G: They had about 5 country bands around the world.
G: Sorry, I gotta go.
B: Gary, Thanks so much for your time.

So there we have it, folks. A few words of wisdom from a steel player who has been around the track a couple of times.

The impression one comes away with after talking to Gary is that here is a man who has both feet planted solidly on the ground. He takes his music and steel playing very seriously. I feel enriched knowing a steel man like Gary Lee Gimble.
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/

Joe Rogers · From: Lake Charles, LA USA

Gary has an absolute killer version of Autumn Leaves. I think it is on Jim Cohen's website if I am not mistaken.

Joe Rogers

Adair Torres · From: Sao Paulo, Brazil

He is one of my favorite players...
_________________
Adair Torres - Boss at TowerS Steel Guitars
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Zum D10 8X7 Wineberry 2010.
Emmons SD10 3X8 Black 1994.
Derby D10 8X8 Rosewood 2008.
TowerS SD10 3X5 Imbuia Mica Finish 2018

Bill Bassett · From: Papamoa New Zealand

he was a banjo player. Country Currents was it? Something like that, stationed at Sand Point? He came to our little studio in Bellingham as I recall.
(Hell of a banjo player too.)

Bill Bassett
Rimrock AZ

Peter Nylund · From: Finland

Gary has great taste for sure, both musically and beverage wise.
Peter
_________________
I know my playing is a bit pitchy, but at least my tone sucks

Zachary Walters · From: Maryland

I took a couple lessons from Gary, probably the best thing I could've done for my playing, having only been about 6 months in when I met him.

The Navy thing got me searching the web, and sure enough, there's a section on the Navy website for "Country Current." Check out the pic, with the steel man Patrick Gulley front and center...

http://www.navyband.navy.mil/
_________________
1981 Push-Pull
2009 Super Glide Custom

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

Thanks for your responses so far!

Zachary, thanks for bringing Patrick to my attention.
It says: "A student of Steel Guitar Hall of Fame member Doug Jernigan"...that was nice to read.
Before talking with Gary, I had no clue that there were steel players in Navy Bands, let alone country bands in the Navy.
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/

Don Drummer · From: West Virginia, USA

Thanks for the interview Bent. Thanks to the forum I've been exposed to Gary Lee and have been inspired by his playing. Like to see some more interviews. Don D

Charles Curtis · Posted 2 Dec 2010 3:44 pm

Gary, we're celebrating Hanukkah Sunday. My job is to buy white fish and bagels, one of my favorite dishes. I'd appreciate a private e-mail from you and let me know the name of your bagels and where they are sold in the Gaithersburg area. Thanks.

Ben Lawson · From: Brooksville Florida

Gary is a great player and a good friend. He deserves to be in the spotlight as a steel player and a gentleman.

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

^Up
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BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

gary lee is a real neat guy who makes me feel really inferior...i think i'll have a drink.

Jay Jessup · From: Charlottesville, VA, USA

I actually shared a house with Gary and a bunch of other unique individuals back in 1974 in a remote house fronting on the James River just North West of Richmond affectionately known as "Wasted Acres" that name didn't come from Gary I can promise you that! That was in my early days of learning how to play pedal steel with a homemade Emmons copy taking lesson's from Richmond's Teddy Lloyd which is where I first ran into Bruce Bouton. I learned most of the banjo licks I know from Gary (not a lot but enough to fool some people) and I can promise you nobody spent more time practicing than Gary did back then and by listening to him in person and on his YouTube tunes you can see that he has been able to carry that dedication forward to his steel playing. I can't wait to hear him in his current band which sounds like the perfect outlet to take advantage of his dedication.
Thanks for posting your interview Bent.

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

Jay, yes, Gary is highly disciplined and motivated when it comes to practicing. I like to think that Buddy Charlton instilled that in him.

Thanks for your nice words about the interview!
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/

Gary Lee Gimble · From: Fredericksburg, VA.

Thanks for all the comments and kind words and yes Bent, Buddy Charleton instilled many guidelines in helping me to reach some goals. I'm afraid many of those goals will take much longer to achieve as time goes on. But it's sure fun trying!
gL
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Assorted gear and a set of hands...
https://www.facebook.com/garythelee
https://www.youtube.com/user/ZumEmm

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