Who was your Mentor?

Charles Beshears · Post by **Charles Beshears** » 9 Jan 2002 8:33 am

Rick,my dad was my mentor. I was 12 he
played a 6 string Ephiphone tried to copy
The great Jerry Byrd. He did a good job at
it. I played rhythem for him the best i
could every evening. I fell in love with the
steel,it spoke to my soul i had to play
it and believe it or not I began playing
it in mind and soul. finally put it on my
lap and plaayed what he was playing to his
amazment. He handed it over to me.
that was 1950. Drowsey waters was the first
tune I played. I still love that drowsey
waters,altho it puts every body else to
sleep! Charles Beshears

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 9 Jan 2002 9:05 am

My Dad.
He used to see to it that I practiced 30 minutes a day. Starting at the age of "6", 30 minutes seemed like forever. But after awhile the time slipped to an hour and then longer, and longer, until eventually "Mom" would ask me to stop so I could eat dinner.
After Dad, I discovered Buddy Emmons!

Dave

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 9 Jan 2002 9:51 am

The late Tom Keates was one of Canada's finest steel players, and he had me over to his place in Kingston, Ontario a number of times and taught me just a ton of stuff.

Once I moved to Toronto, Al Brisco was a big help to me - I took some lessons from him that taught me a whole lot, and he pitched me a bit of work too. [This message was edited by Bob Blair on 09 January 2002 at 12:55 PM.]

Philip Bender · Post by **Philip Bender** » 9 Jan 2002 10:37 am

I was lucky enough to have 2 mentors, one being my Dad who gave me direction, and encouragement. The other was my teacher of 4 1/2 years, Don Talbert, in Indianapolis IN. I recall him preaching on technique, technique, and more on technique. He started me out on the Oahu system, then on to notes, and then what he called the Ami7th tuning. for some reason he would not say C6th. He taught theory very well, but thanks to girls, and cars, I wandered away from music for a few years, and lost most of it. We collaberated on a design on an infinite adjustable pedal system, but died before it was completed.
Thanks for the memories Don,
Phil

Rick Tyson · Post by **Rick Tyson** » 9 Jan 2002 10:46 am

Guess Ill jump in here & tell ya all mine. It was Jeff Newman, in person, in seminars & through his teaching materials. Being an old Army guy, I always liked Jeffs stiff regimental style. He always gives 100% when teaching & demands the same from you. It has made me a better steel player 10 fold today

thanks Jeff....
I still like the story about a student Jeff was teaching. The student became so frustrated he threw his picks across the room. Jeff pulled out a pair of fingernail clippers & told the student to sharpen up his fingernails & keep picking

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 9 Jan 2002 10:47 am

For me, the closest thing to a mentor was Jeff Newman, and Maurice Anderson, though I've been helped immeasurably also by Buddy Emmons, Paul Franklin, Herby Wallace, Bobby Black, Winnie Winston, and Scotty. This is as good a time as any for another round of "thank you's" to all these fine friends.

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The "Master of Acceptable Tone"
www.jimcohen.com

Joerg Hennig · Post by **Joerg Hennig** » 9 Jan 2002 11:11 am

Well, it´s kind of hard over here to find a mentor if you´re in a position of not being able to travel to the U.S. for some reason or another, but I was lucky to find one just the same. I´ve mentioned his name before - Faron Kelf from England, one of the true unknown greats of pedal steel. He never really found the time to teach me, but gave me some invaluable advice in the beginning and without it I would just have remained stuck.

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 9 Jan 2002 12:56 pm

I wish I had a mentor like some of you guys did. My dad died when I was 4 years old. So that left him out. My Band director disciplined us a lot on school , I was playing Cornet.

I go so far back, that I would have to say that Alvino Rey, and Jerry Byrd inspired me.

Later on I would say Jeff Newman, I took the week long teachers course from him, He is tough.
Then Maurice Anderson helped me out a lot, whenever I got to Dallas. It's been a great life and I am lucky to have so many good friends.
I am still being inspired to keep on playing by the many good steel players right here in Michigan....al

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 9 Jan 2002 1:45 pm

You can be my mentor, Al.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro

Steven Knapper · Post by **Steven Knapper** » 9 Jan 2002 3:01 pm

Yeah Larry, I'd have to go along with Al Marcus being a mentor to a lot of us I'll bet. He has helped me a lot and one heck of a nice guy!!

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 9 Jan 2002 4:25 pm

Jimmie Crawford, Larry Dolan, David Bolin and Bob Knight. What a crew!

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 9 Jan 2002 4:39 pm

When I ordered my first steel (single/6) from the Montgomery-Ward catalog no one even knew what it was, much less help me learn to play it.

The only advice I ever got from the fiddle and guitar players in my neck of the woods was that I'd be better off to "chop it up and use it for firewood".

Come to think of it, I still get that advice now and then. www.genejones.com

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 9 Jan 2002 4:41 pm

.......duplicate

[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 23 January 2002 at 05:02 AM.]

John Knight · Post by **John Knight** » 9 Jan 2002 4:43 pm

My dad, could he play, then I was my own worse nightmare. Practice, practice, practice. Back in the 1st 10 years of playing I would get up and practice in the middle of the night if I happened along the right phrasing or progression in my mind while sleeping or almost sleeping. Now its guys like Tommy White, I wish he would put out more video's. I almost have wore out the E9th and Lloyd Green tapes.

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D 10 Thomas with 8&6
Nashville 400 and Profex II
Asleep at the Steel

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 9 Jan 2002 4:47 pm

I started out on the drums practicing 8 to 10 hours a day right from the start because Sandy Nelson and Joe Morello did. When I took up steel guitar I knew the regimen but didn't have as much time as I did as a kid. I got a lick or two from this guy and that guy if I could talk them into showing me but never had a real teacher one on one. I wish I did and still do. It would make practice a lot more fun.

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 9 Jan 2002 4:49 pm

Tommy Cass (Cassella) in the Boston area was mine. My family had moved up there from Texas just before my senior year of high school.

There were few players up there, let alone mentors. I bought my first steel, an Emmons D10 PP (that I still own

) from Al "Curley" Eyles, and Tommy set it up and added some knee levers. He also got me started, and probably kept me from giving up a couple of time (which I am not sure whether to thank him for or give him an ass whupping

).

Anyway, thanks Tommy--you're a gem.

Bill C. Buntin · Post by **Bill C. Buntin** » 9 Jan 2002 5:22 pm

I have so many. Reece at first got me going in the right direction and continues to always help everytime I ask a question. Gary Carpenter has always been a great influence and offered many solutions. Thanks to these men and others throughout my meager career.

Bill Myrick · Post by **Bill Myrick** » 9 Jan 2002 6:13 pm

Back in 1969 there weren't many around in the area of N.E. Mo but Mr DeWitt Scott of Saint Louie sold me a Fender 400 tuned in D9th and started me off on the journey. Later in southern Iowa a man with a music store in Indianola and a fine steel player, sold me my present ShoBud Pro II Custom and was very helpful and became a great friend. I'm speaking of DeVere Adamson. There was a time or two another man with the same last name as I and who can flat play steel, helped me also. Thanks to you all very much !!! -

[This message was edited by Bill Myrick on 09 January 2002 at 06:17 PM.][This message was edited by Bill Myrick on 09 January 2002 at 06:19 PM.]

Gary Carriger · Post by **Gary Carriger** » 9 Jan 2002 7:49 pm

I had the good fortune to watch some good players around Corpus Christi, Tx several years back - "Shady" Brown, Roger Blythe, Dean Thompson (sounded a lot like Emmons) and Tommy Roots. Dean is the only one still alive. Picked up a lot of good tips from these guys.

One of my first inspirations was from the steel solo in Ray Price's song "You took her off my hands, Now please take her off my mind". Didn't know it at the time but of course - it was Buddy.

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 9 Jan 2002 8:28 pm

I took lessons from Doug Campbell and Jerry Hall (Jack Smith's cousin). Although I never took lessons from him, a local steel player/singer/bandleader named Dee Page got me started by loaning me his "then retired" Fender 1000 to see if I wanted to start playing. I actually consider Dee as a "mentor", and Doug and Jerry teachers.

Dave Horch · Post by **Dave Horch** » 9 Jan 2002 9:35 pm

Billy Cooper.

He really got me going correctly from jump street. My right hand technique was "close", but I had no idea how to palm block cleanly (Hey!... I was a beginner who thought it was a 10 string banjo!). Bill got me right into scale practice and learning to play entire songs instead of just licks. Thanks Bill.

Best, -Dave

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Mullen (See! No "S") D-10 
<a href=http://home.earthlink.net/~davehorch/music>Photo page</a>

John Bresler R.I.P. · Post by **John Bresler R.I.P.** » 10 Jan 2002 7:32 pm

None other than my dad and a little later the late Danny Shields. My dad taught me non-pedal steel and Danny helped with the pedals later.

Bob Hayes · Post by **Bob Hayes** » 11 Jan 2002 2:53 am

When I got rid of my SB Maverick and got the D10 SHO Pro which HE was giving lessoms on it WAS Buddy Charlton. There's not a nicer, easy going, helpfull guy coming down the "pike" so to speak.Good advise from Mr C. Every body CAN'T be a BUDDY "C" or "E".
Practice the blocking and positions..and develope "YOUR" style. Practice makes perfect. Well Mr "C" after almost 30 years since that first lesson in Marlo Hights ,Maryland....I'm still practicing my BLOCKING and still can't get it right!!!!!
But Thanks for the insperation....And Lloyd Green.....I'm still working on Canadian Sunset!!!
Grouchyvet

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 11 Jan 2002 5:59 am

My mentor was Mike Rio-the first guy I ever saw locally play a pedal steel-later he would often let me sit in at his regular local bar gigs and play his D-12 Sho-Bud which was comfortable because I had a D-12 Sho-Bud too-He recently retired his position as a local police chief and would like to get back into playing more-but the old eyes and ears are not as keen as the were from past years fighting diabetes