Al Petty Update!

Reece Anderson · From: Keller Texas USA, R.I.P.

I have recently been in phone contact with my dear friend Al Petty who was indited in a Federal Court in Tyler Texas about 18 months ago, and given a 24 year sentence.

I was there the day of sentencing along with others to testify in his behalf, but it was to no avail. Unfortunately that which I witnessed, will be forever etched in my mind.

Al asked me during our last conversation if I would convey his best wishes to all his many friends and inform them his situation, although extremely difficult, has not shaken his faith or his determination that he will be fully exonerated upon his upcoming appeal.

He is not allowed a pedal steel, but he is playing non pedal in the Church there and spreading GOD's word to fellow inmates. He said he has become very adept at acurately changing the pitch of the strings with his fingers behind the bar.

He further asked that I post the link to his website for those so inclined to see and better understand the circumstances surrounding his very unfortunate situation. alpettytrial.com

I hope some of you will take the time to write to Al at the address shown on the website. There's no doubt he would both enjoy and appreciate hearing from those who would care to write.

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

This really belongs in the "Steel Players" section, so I'm moving it.

Thanks for posting the update,Reece.

basilh · From: United Kingdom

The link is www.alpettytrial.com
Baz

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

Here's the local news story on it.

How many of the counts was he convicted on?

What is he basing his appeal on?

Were any of his friends in on this thing?

Hopefully something good will come out of all this. It's always distressing to hear of a brother that's in the slammer. Especially on a bad rap.

Best wishes and prayers.

EJL

[This message was edited by Eric West on 29 October 2004 at 06:52 PM.]

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

I hate that this has happened to Al. I have a young brother-in-law who is serving time in a state prison and from what he tells us it is very rough behind bars. They show no mercy even to those who are up in years or in bad health. This has to be the worst thing that could have happened to Al Petty who is a great steel player. If he is not guilty I pray his appeal comes through and this decision is overturned. We all know there are innocent people serving time for crimes they did not committ.

Rick Garrett · From: Tyler, Texas

I hope if nothing else they can reduce his sentence in court whether he's guilty or not. I hate to see a picker locked down and the sentence they gave him at his age is a life sentence. I bet his chops are way up to snuff by now. I pray the Lord will take care of him.

Rick

Reece Anderson · From: Keller Texas USA, R.I.P.

Eric....When and if you go to Al's website, possibly your questions will be answered.

As many of us know, it's certainly possible to be falsely accused and considered guilty.

When considering some of the things Al has shared with me, (which is sad and disturbing) it's very inspiring to observe someone who's being severly challenged, yet their faith is unshaken.

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

Reece. I did several searches, including the PDFs on the Texas Court site.

There's an awful lot of stuff to go through. I won't have the time to do it today.

I can't help thinking that representing himself at a couple crucial points was not a good move.

It goes to show me that often our dreams turn into nightmares.

With 98 guilty verdicts, it looks pretty bad for our guy.

I'm having a hard time believing that he was just a guy filled with the spirit spreading the word.

It has however, piqued my interest, and I'll give it a squizz ( austrailian slang for "a look") as I have time. There's probably not alot I can do except advice from a heavy equipment hauler.

I've got acccess to a 245 Cat Trachoe with a concrete hammer, and knowledge of the permits needed for a trip to Texas.

In the meantime, we'll at least know where Mr Petty is at night.

EJL

Reece Anderson · From: Keller Texas USA, R.I.P.

Eric....There is no such thing as 20/20 intuition, but at times 20/20 may be inferred relative to hindsight. He done what he felt was best at the time to defend himself.

Al is indeed a man filled with the spirit, and the charges against him had nothing to do with spreading the word of the Gospel.

You're absolutely right, we'll know where Al is tonight, but I would be much happier were he to be spending the night in a dignified and safe place.

Paul Graupp · From: Macon Ga USA

Next time I feel I am being tested too severely, I will remember this thread and say a few prayers for Al. And thank you, Reece, for keeping us up to date on this sad situation.

Regards, Paul

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

My goodness there's a lot of words in Al Petty's web site.

I couldn't read it all. What I saw convinced me that at least Al Petty believes he did no wrong. I suspect that's why he felt he could defend himself.

If he indeed had the vast sums of money they say he made, he could have hired a dream team of attorneys.

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

Mr A.

You are correct, and for hoping the best for your friend.

I don't think too much of The Law. I prefer doing my thinking in terms of Right and Wrong. The two are not often the same. Biblical admonishions about turning to The Law are pretty clear for that reason.

Might as well digress a bit..

The Jim and Tammy Bakker case for me helped my thinking in these matters.

Here was a couple that got caught up in their ministry. They took money from people in sums of millions, and didn't keep good track of it. They bought air conditioned doghouses, makeup for Tammy by the pound, gifts for Jim's girlfriend, fancy cars, ornate fountains, you name it.

The point of their ministry in my estimation was to allow people otherwise not able to do so, an opportunity to Give. Their tithes, however misused, helped or healed the people that gave them, and obviously not Jim and Tammy. IN short, they made a lot of people happy by providing them a way to tithe.

The Government stepped in, pulled the TV plug. They tore down the air conditioned dog house, sold the ornate fountains at auction, locked down all the bank accounts, and took the money.

In short, in my opinion of the overview, Jom and Tammy Bakker spread a lot of happiness around during their reign. They used a lot of money to do it.

The Government, on the other hand, with all the confiscated money probably did nothing with it but make people miserable.

I find less fault with Jim and Tammy.

Now, for Mr Petty.

If what he did was right, he will triumph. If what he did was wrong, he will pay.

I don't counsel people to undertake grandiose schemes unless they carefully consider all the plusses and minuses.

My Uncle JP Morgan spent the last 50 years of his life in the Minnesota State Prison System. He founded Insight Inc. Every time he got out, he ended up getting drunk and comitting enough crimes to get himself put back in. He died there on 14 Sept 01. He drank himself to death in prison. It took him 50 years.

I can't say that a life of "keeping one's head down" is the best way, but I try to show that it is through example.

Grandiose Schemes make one a lightning rod for among other things, The US Government.

A man that I worked for as an air conditioning mechanic after my stint in the Air Force, Mr Ken Hardesty, a past master of the MD masonic lodge, and a 33rd degree mason, imparted the "Great Mystery" to me in 79. He said the whole "thing" was to put together as much time out in front of ones'self where you know what's going to happen to you. The reason? Because just down most every road, there is a concrete house of guys that don't have any.

Mr Hardesty, after he "let me go home", (unlike some) ended up getting sentenced to 10 years in Frederick Federal Prison for defrauding the Government on the contracts I worked on. He did 6 months and "retired". I was not implicated as a mechanic, as a couple others were. Ken Liked me.

I will read more, and hopefully Mr Petty will use his time to build time out in front of himself where he knows what is going to happen to him. When and if he finally gets some time for himself. Right now, he's in one of those concrete houses Mr Hardesty told me about. I know a few people there myself. Some of them belong there. Some don't.

Mr Hardesty used to tell me "In my Fathers's mansion, there are many rooms. Not all of them nice places."

We all do what we can in the short time we are alotted.

It's our fruits that identify us.

Selah.

EJL

[This message was edited by Eric West on 30 October 2004 at 03:49 PM.]

Reece Anderson · From: Keller Texas USA, R.I.P.

Paul....Thank you for your comments.

Joey....Yes it is lengthy, but like some books, it can get very interesting and be great reading.

You're also right in that Al is absolutely convinced he done nothing wrong.

It's my understanding his assets were not available during the trial, but I don't know that for a fact.

Eric....Thank you for your comments.

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

You're welcome.

My best to your friend.

EJL

Fred Jack · From: Bastrop, Texas 78602

Eric; It is for sure that we don't go to the court house to determine or to find the truth.Just to win or lose.And of course technicalities.
For sure Al thinks he is innocent. In fact I think a poll taken of prisoners would show most of them are innocent individuals.Seriously there are innocent people locked up."They" say our system is 2nd to none.I guess that depends on whether you are innocent locked up for something you did not do or if you have your freedom.
Al, I don't know about. I've known him for 45 years or so but never did know what made him tick.If he is innocent I certainly hope he is granted his freedom.Quickly! Regards, Fred

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

Fred.

Besides my Uncle John being in Stillwater, Lino Lakes, and on the MacNeil Lehrer news hour for his Insight Inc founding, My dad worked with the OR State Prison program in his later years as a volunteer for the outreach program. I've played several gigs there por gratis, and in addition to knowing several people in my life that ended up there, now their kids are doing their time too.

I'm not smarter, or meaner than my peers that made it "in", and I damn sure didn't rat any of them out, I just did everthing I knew to stay out of trouble, and passed up a lot of opportunities to "become important", that a lot of them sadly couldn't seem to.

(My life consists of working hard, paying my bills on time, not trying to scam anyone, steal anything except time for myself, and taking care of all the obligations that my peers put in front of me.)

Incidentally, I took a lot of flak from a couple people in particular, one of them a fellow forumite for my going there in the 80s and providing emtertainent for them. I'd have played for him had the government caught up with him too, whether he knows it or not.

I figure half the people incarcerated in the Prison System should be let completely go. The government has ruined their lives for no reason. I figure half the people there should be taken out and shot.( I ran that idea past several of the denizens of OSP the times I played there, and to an inmate, the ones I talked to agreed.)

Problem is, I don't know exactly which ones should be let go. and which ones could be shot.

I'd have to go through them on a case by case basis, and frankly, I don't have the time..

Work is slowing down however...

EJL

Drew Howard · From: 48854

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

..quote
___________________________________
"At 2,000,000, our prison population is bloated from people reduced to selling drugs (minorities) while white-collar criminals can buy their justice and thus walk the streets with impunity."
___________________________________

That generalization obviously didn't work for Al or Martha, or for a number of corporate executives in recent times who are serving time!

However, there are some rich and famous athletes walking the streets with impunity after committing major crimes.

Gene

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

I didn't say which half I'd set free...

EJL

Bobbe Seymour · From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.

Fred, after some serious thought, I have decided to delite my original statement out of fear that my humor may be taken out of context and not necessarily appreciated by the masses. Glad you appreciated it though.
bobbe

[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 31 October 2004 at 05:26 PM.]

Fred Jack · From: Bastrop, Texas 78602

Bobbe, Steel wise Al would certainly qualify for induction.I wonder,however,if convicted felons are allowed in or if there is provisions to keep them out.I really don't know the rules and never gave a particular damn about reading or asking. Fred

Bobbe Seymour · From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.

I understand Fred, I don't qualify and don't understand much about it myself. I'd love to be in it though, sure could use all that extra money! Wait a minuite, I'm thinking about AARP! I always get all those organizations with the capitol letters mixed up. Well, I'm 0ff the the AAA.

Sorry Reece, you were trying to be serious and here I come on your thread being ------------, well, you must know me by now,
Back to Al Petty------->

[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 31 October 2004 at 05:33 PM.]

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

Al's bizarre exaggerations in his bio won't help his case in regards to the HOF.

Farris Currie · From: Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Don't know beans about this,but i know some about our prison system!it stinks,we have thousands on the street that molest kids,ect.that are still walking the streets.robbers serve so little time,then back at it.I respect martha stewart so much,she didn't do one thing more than average person would have done.and i read about one on here about uncle drinking himself to death in prison,can't figure that one out!!didn't know person could get drinks in prison!being serious,i didn't think they even allowed smoking in there.yes there are so many kindda set up.i have played for correctionl inst.with a gospel group.lots of good people in there who got a bad rap.i believe the young bucks could be taken out for boot camp and sent to Irac to be useful,might come home a different person,if they made it!!beats sitting around in jail!!i was noticeing one statment about working hard and paying bills on time,wondering how,i work hard all my life, still got behind!!my heart goes out to people,it's so easy to get in trouble.i haven't said much,but we need to hold everyone up in prayer.notice on news today, 20,000 people are hurt ea.yr.with BB guns, there goes or bb guns i guess!!the system is really screwed up. farris

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

Al Petty.........Wow, a true musical genius in spite of what he did away from music. I just hate to see someone so late in life have to spend his remaining years in jail. Al was a true icon of the steel guitar. Having been lucky enough to be a musician in Southern California at the same time Al was working out there was very nice. If you had a night off you could always rest assured that Al would be working somewhere and you could go see him. One of my friends (Al Brown) was playing drums for Al Petty at the Breakers Hotel in Long Beach so some of us went to see them one night. That was in the 60's and it was the first time I'd ever heard a band that was truly "Mixed" through the PA. There were PA speakers throughout the club and any where you were there was a mixed sound coming out of the speakers. I'd never heard such a complete sound from a band before. At that time Al only had a trio including himself. He had Al Brown on drums and a blind piano player named Joe Pope who used one of those Fender keyboard bass rigs sitting on top of his piano. Al was playing multiple instruments but mostly steel and singing the lead vocals. I remember him doing a version of "Caravan" which is the best I've ever heard in any field of music. At an earlier time a friend of mine (Bobby Ray) and I went to a club out on Lincoln Ave to see Al Petty and the Countrymen. I remember we walked in and the bandstand was on the left and about 3 feet off the dancefloor. Al was in the middle of a very pretty steel instrumental and deep into his playing. Bobby was kind of a joker so he walked over in front of Al's steel and started pulling on the pedal rods like you'd milk a cow. Some horrible sounds came out of Al's amp due to this and he became all red faced and stood up and yelled out "You fool, you fool"...Al was a pretty big boy and Bobby was about 5'6" so he said "Jerry, let's get the hell outa here" and we did.... I hope Al can get back into circulation before he dies as he's got a lot of talent that needs to be enjoyed by the folks out there. I wish a lot more steel players could hear him as he was always an inspiration to me. I remember at a Steel Show for Sierra Guitars at Blackie Taylor's store in the early 80's. Al was the featured artist. He did a version of "12th Street Rag" which was awesome to say the least. If you've heard this song you know it's not easy to play. Well, Al did it in Harmony which is a superhuman feat. He was playing a double 12 Sierra then with 16 pedals on the floor, both heel and toe and 5 or 6 knee levers. He had a high stool so his legs were sort of dangling so he could depress pedals with both his heels and toes. Have a good 'un..JH

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

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