The guys who taught me to play...

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

Thanks you guys.. Most of you never met me,and don't know me,but I know you.. kind of.. Thanks Rusty Young for the incredible sound of your Sho Bud/Leslie set up .Buddy Cage for that happy bounce coming from your Emmons/Fender rig. Pete Kleinow for that UNEARTHLY old Fender steel you played forever. It sounded like a voice from heaven. Jerry Garcia.. even though steel was a "second" instrument, you played like a world class steeler on "teach Your children".Your ZB cut through to my heart and soul. To John Call,Bobby Black,Tom Brumley,Norm Hamlet,Hank De Vito,Ralph Mooney,Bruce Bouton,Buddy Emmons,Paul Franklin and a bunch of guys that are not very well known.. I learned from all of you.I play your licks,but I can never play like ANY of you.. You gave me the sounds in my head, and got me started on that long "steelers road" LONG ago. I try to pass on what I have learned,but not many takers these days. Lots of quitters too over the years. I suppose they didn't have those steel sounds ringing through thier heads night and day like I did.. you guys PUT those sounds there... thanks bob

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

Yikes.. no replies...I would have thought more steel players would have had some of these guys as major influences in thier early years...... bob

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

Yikes.. no replies...I would have thought more steel players would have had some of these guys as major influences in thier early years...... bob

Larry Robbins · From: Fort Edward, New York

Well put Bob

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Bob
Since I come from New York originally, and traveled New York State extensively..where are you located? Upstate? near Watertown?

You had some great influences. That along with determination makes the recipe.

Happy New Year.

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Bob,

I am pleased you have mentors in your trying to learn to play the world's most incredible instrument.

Mine were Little Roy Wiggins, Jerry Byrd and Buddy Emmons. Each of these players played differently than the other, but they cover the gamut as far as I am concerned.

Jerry was Buddy's hero all his "learning" years so I was not alone. Course Buddy is the greatest there is. If one could only pick one mentor, Buddy would be that one IMO. Because he "says" it all.

carl

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

Bob,
In high-school (approx '77/'78, age 15), Pure Prarie League, The NRPS, and The Marshall Tucker Band, were my absolute first bands where I heard the Steel Pedal being used.
It wasn't long before I had a Sho-Bug in my room (thanks Dad!) and a warble-ee plastic record spinnin'!
I still have that Sho-Bub!

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

JODY... Twenty miles south of Ithaca... 30 miles west of Binghamton.... bob

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Bob
I know excatly where you are..I used to call on Ithaca Music and Larkin Music in Binghamton. I'm not that far from you.I'm in
Northeast Pa about 90 miles from Binghampton.

Good luck here on this Forum..

Jody

Jeff Lampert · From: queens, new york city

The last big pedal steel boom happened in the 70's. All of those kids are now in their late 40's - 50's, give or take, and I believe the majority of them (I certainly do) would site players like Buddy Cage, Rusty Young, Bobby Black from his Commander Cody days, and Sneaky Pete as their earliest influences. The steel was a significant part of the popular music scene back then since these performers and their groups (and others like Linda Ronstadt and the Byrds who would use steel on some tunes) had songs on the top 40 charts and were very popular with high school and college-age kids. So you are not alone in feeling as you do. Off the top of my head, just a few of the popular pop-radio-friendly songs back then that prominently featured steel includes

Silver Threads And Golden Needles - Linda Ronstadt
I Don't Need No Doctor (fuzz steel solo) - NRPS
Panama Red - NRPS
Teach Your Children - CSNY
Pickin' Up The Pieces - Poco
Henry - NRPS
Consequently So Long - Poco
You Better Think Twice - Poco
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere - Byrds

These were POP groups at the time (not country acts), so this was truly a definitive time for the advancement in the popularity of steel guitar that hasn't come close to being equaled since then. Interestingly, this was the country-rock era and at the time, not considered "true" country music. In retrospect, it is much closer to being considered country music than a lot of what has been recorded in the last 10 years or so in the country music genre.

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[url=http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/jeff's_jazz.htm]Jeff's Jazz[/url]

[This message was edited by Jeff Lampert on 31 December 2003 at 11:25 PM.]

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

Jeff.. You NAILED it!... That stuff got a little airplay in its day but usually late at night or on sunday morning country/bluegrass programs on the rock stations. "Real" country stations wouldn't TOUCH it.Much of[not all] todays "country" is really nothing more than commercial pop music sung by female fashion models and handsome guys in muscle shirts peeking out from under corny cowboy hats bob

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

We call todays psuedo country "filler". You can't wait to listen to the next commercial.

Roger Edgington · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

I'm with you James. I rarely listen to "country" stations any more since they took out creativty and style with steel as well as singers. It's sad that today we have the finest steels ever made and extremely talented people to play them yet rarely hear one on radio other than a little fill. I remember listing to the radio to hear the latest new sounds that Buddy,Jimmy,Weldon,LLoyd,Mooney and a host of others created. What happened to the days when an artist could pick his own songs and use his own band if he chose to do so. I'm really tired of the same two perfectly recorded songs over and over. IMHO there isn't much on radio to inspire a new player. Once in a while you hear something really good but it only scratches the surface of what they can do if turned loose. Name the last three steel instraumentals you heard on clear channel FM country,jazz or rock. Right. We all have stacks of great steel CDs but you won't likely hear them on radio. I'm amazed how many people know the song "Steel Guitar Rag" but wouldn't recognize a steel if the tripped over it. It seems a person would have to experience steel live somewhere nowdays to be inspired enough to learn to play one. Sorry guys. You touched a nerve. I'll get off my soap box.

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

AMEN!! Just once I'd like to hear a damn wrong note.. or a steel just ever so slightly out of tune on a chord... I dunno.. maybe a fat homely girl belt out a great song on TV. Just give me something REAL!!.. Todays "country" is like plastic apples/oranges in a nicely arranged table setting. Shiny and pretty but no life to speak of..just a caricature.... give me Buck Owens anyday bob

Jeff Agnew · From: Dallas, TX

It truly is a small world. I fit the profile Jeff Lampert mentioned (though I'll deny the age-range thing) because the first pedal steel sounds I really noticed were from those "rock" players. It was 1973-74. The sound captured my ear and I decided I had to learn how to play the steel guitar.

So I packed myself off to the closest music store in Columbus, Ohio and luckily stumbled on the one dealer who knew what a steel guitar was. He not only knew, he had two MSA Sidekicks in the back of the store on which to provide lessons. The owner had contracted with a local steeler to teach, using the Sidekick, in an effort to avoid the intimidation factor of a pro with a D-10. Students were encouraged to come in during store hours, practice, and absorb musical influences.

I signed up without hesitation, not having the cash to afford even the Sidekick. It was a marvelous, low-cost way to learn the instrument and I've often wished more music stores had taken the same approach. How many more steelers might there be today. I showed up for the first lesson and the teacher was...

Roger Edgington. The first of several outstanding teachers with whom I've been fortunate to spend time. He was an outstanding player and teacher and, at least in my case, possessed of infinite patience. I would continually bring him the latest rock record and beg him to teach me the steel solos. Which he would do, all the while gently steering me to listen to some of his heroes: Emmons, Day, Green, etc. Gradually, I began to place some of the contemporary steel sounds I was hearing in their proper context - evolving from the masters who preceded them.

Then one day, Roger said if I really wanted to hear what a steel guitar could do, I should go to a clinic being given in Circleville, Ohio, about 30 miles away. I'd heard of one of the performers before, his name having floated around the music store, but I'd never heard him play. And the other guy was a compete mystery. Never heard the name, had no idea who he was. I mean, if it didn't come from Poco, NRPS, Burritos, or Neil Young I didn't listen to it.

So I dragged a fellow hippie along and together we listened to Maurice Anderson and Curly Chalker play for over two hours. My ears haven't been the same since.

All of which I mention simply to say that I'm grateful to Roger for opening my mind to other styles and helping me understand the instrument's heritage. Many thanks.

Thirty years later, at least we both ended up in the LandofWesternSwing

Roger Edgington · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

Hey Jeff, It truly is a small world. Wow! Has it been 30 years? I'd love to hear you play now.

Roger

Jeff Agnew · From: Dallas, TX

Roger,

If you're going to TSGA in March maybe we can get together there. Send me an e-mail and we'll work out the particulars.

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