Who was your Mentor?

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 11 Jan 2002 8:13 am

I never really had such a one- on -one relationship with another steeler in my developing years, and I do regret it.

What I was fortunate to have was the opportunity to observe many fine steelers in the DC area, including Maestro Buddy Charleton;in a "trading sets / two bands house gig" at Hunter's Lodge in Centerville VA for a period in the 70's.

Dave the stoner hippie steel player, I'd play my little half hour set and then go sit just off the other side of the stage and watch Buddy lay it down for the next half hour, then I had to go play- repeat, rinse, 4-5 sets each per night, 2 nights every weekend.. Not formal lessons, but a valuable education nonetheless !!

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"I AM ZUMBODY!"

Zumsteel U12 "Loafer" 8&6 :: Fender T-8 Stringmaster :: Fender Tube Amplification
www.voicenet.com/~vanallen/ :: vanallen@voicenet.com :: www.lasttrainhome.com

Tony Orth · Post by **Tony Orth** » 11 Jan 2002 10:22 am

My mentor is Paul Carie of Vincennes, Indiana. A great player and one heck of a nice guy.

I've also picked up a lick or two, and a couple of guitars, from Bud Hall here in Evansville. Bud's a great guy, too.

I'm truly thankful to have these two seasoned pros within my reach.

Tony Orth
Steel Rockin' in Indiana

Tony Orth · Post by **Tony Orth** » 11 Jan 2002 10:23 am

[This message was edited by Tony Orth on 11 January 2002 at 10:25 AM.]

JERRY THURMOND · Post by **JERRY THURMOND** » 11 Jan 2002 4:25 pm

Bud Carter had to be the first seel guitar player,I ever seen in person play, his uncle lived next door to me, an Bud with two of his brothers spent lots time playing there.Also I should have known something wasn't was right with steel players cause Bud was always working on his steel, had holes an wires all over his guitar.Funny he was always happy, mabe that is what got me hooked. Jerry

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 11 Jan 2002 6:32 pm

Larry Bell-I have heard you play and you don't need a Mentor!! Thanks anyway.. See you in Grand Rapids in April, I hope...

Steve Knapper- Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it.......al

Fred Murphy · Post by **Fred Murphy** » 11 Jan 2002 7:48 pm

Mine was a man from Daleville Indiana, by the name of Bob McCoy. He was one of my best friends and taught me a lot. He passed away in 1993 and I miss him everyday. My legendary heroes were Lloyd Greene and Buddy Emmons.

Jack Shults · Post by **Jack Shults** » 11 Jan 2002 9:14 pm

Jim Harper sold me my first pedal steel and gave me a few lessons to go with it.

Later, I moved to Texas and got a guitar with the bells and whistles and and received a lot of help from Reece Anderson.

I am thankful to both of these guys for their continued help. I'm just sorry that their teaching falls on stoney ground a lot of the time.

Thanks guys!

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Jack Shults
MSA U-12

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 17 Jan 2002 12:29 am

I would have to blame a Mr.Dave Night for a portion of my obsession with the steel guitar.I had "owned" a steel for a number of years, but until I met Dave I was in la la land with respect to proper tuning,technique,attitude etc

.He was a great player & if he's still with us Im sure he could hold his own in any situation. Dave???.. hello??

He used to like playing the horn lines from "Chicago" records on the C6 tuning. No slouch on the E9 tho...I'll never forget when he borrowed a friends Emmons p/p for a few nights.... youd of thought E was in the house

. He could sure break your lil heart with his tone & taste on a ballad.I believe Dave spent some time working with Rose Maddox on the west coast in the 60's.I remember a 45 rpm he did under his own name....the A side was his version of Rocky Caple's "Sawed Off Shotgun"..the B side was his own composition,"Night Ride". I CRS on how to play either one, now

Dave really took the time to show me where things were on the tunings & explain why they worked.He lived & breathed Jerry Byrd,Buddy Emmons & Curly Chalker.
Later on I moved to Nashville & in the course of events I had some opprotunities to work for & with a friend who we all still miss...the late great guitarist, Phil Baugh. We had gigged some & he once mentioned that he thought I could benefit from some instruction from his friend Buddy Gene.......
"You THINK ????" was my reply

He offered to help me & made a phone call.... ...May I never recover from THAT fateful series of events....
My apologies for the long history lesson....

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 17 Jan 2002 8:08 am

I'd like to mention Larry Bell, who was very generous with his time when I was a rank newbie. His enthusiasm for steel guitar remains undimmed. Wish I could get down to Kazoo to watch him play and pick his brain more often.

Jerry Fessenden stayed on the phone with me and answered every one of my questions.

Other Michigan steelers like Joe Wright and Frank Rogers deserve a mention.

cheers,
Drew Howard

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www.newslinkassociates.com
www.drewhoward.com

Michael Garnett · Post by **Michael Garnett** » 17 Jan 2002 8:33 am

The two guys I have met that got me really into it are Steve Stallings of Bremond and Don Sowersby from just the other side of Belton there. I told them that sooner or later they're gonna get tired of all my goofy questions and tell me to shut up and sit down and just play. But so far, they've been very patient.

Thanks, guys.

Garnett

Jay Jessup · Post by **Jay Jessup** » 17 Jan 2002 9:26 am

Hey Dan. Teddy was my first teacher also, how's he doing these days? Tell him I said hello!
I was fortunate to be learning steel in the mid-70's when Buddy Charlton came off the road and moved back to VA. While I enjoyed listening to Chalker and Emmons (as well as the Troubedours of course) on record having someone of Buddy's abiltiy showing me the how's and why's of this mysterious instrument gave me a wonderful foundation as it has done for many others in the region around DC.

Jay Jessup · Post by **Jay Jessup** » 19 Jan 2002 9:19 am

WHOOPS (insert sheepish grin here)I didn't see page two of this thread and thought that somehow my post hadn't made it form my wife's computer at home!![This message was edited by Jay Jessup on 21 January 2002 at 07:29 AM.]

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 19 Jan 2002 3:07 pm

Geeeez Jay, whats with the double post. Drinking too much soda are ya?
Gary Lee

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 20 Jan 2002 12:51 pm

DAVE KNIGHT. As good a 9th player and C-6 as you will run across. I first met Dave in Hawaii in 1962. He was playing a single neck 8 string, no pedal Fender (3 legs) set up taller, on the outside, of a Fender 400 (4 pedals). We were both in the service at the time. He and I still get together for guitar "pulls" occasionally. He doesn't play out anymore. Bends his finger picks completely closed over the ends of his fingers. I tried that and my picks went flying off on the floor. For Mike Cass: Dave said to tell you hi! E-mail me and I'll get you his phone number. He'd like to say: ah,ah,ah,ah, hello

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 22 Jan 2002 4:26 pm

Maurice Anderson, Jimmy Crawford, and most of all , my favorite of all Mentor steel players of all time, He taught me how to remember ANYTHING!! And play anything, I'll never forget him, his name is , a , well, I had it right on the tip of my head, oh, sorta tall, a, gee, I'll think of it-----he played one of those "table top" guitar things, you know, like you see on that country T.V. video chanel , CMT,( Cash Means Tons). WSM Radio gottum' too! WSM,(We Sack Musicians.)

Hal Higgins · Post by **Hal Higgins** » 23 Jan 2002 7:39 am

When I was about 10 years old I watched 2 local country tv programs that had a steel players. One was Milo T. and another one who just happened to be my second cousin, Big Joe Macomber. Milo had a home built steel for quite a while and then got a ZB (I was at his home the day it came in). Joe played a Sho-Bud (fingertip). During the summer months, I would listen to WABI radio to a program called the RFD Dinnerbell with DJ "Yodeling" Slim Clark (in the early 60's). Slim played country music and I kept hearing the steel guitar and wanted to play one of them so bad, because the sound just thrilled me so. In early 1970, while playing in Bolton, CT with Lucky Look I met Mr. Terry Sutton, who in my estimation is one of the finest steelers that there is, he was playing with Lucky and I was playing accoustic rhythm, and doing some singing. His playing really inspired me even more. Terry left the group to start his own group called The Perry Sisters and Sutton's Choice. So that left Lucky without a steel player. Curly Lincoln was the lead guitar player, and I had told him that I wanted to learn the steel, and he just happened to have an old Fender 400 at his house that hadn't been played in years, so he brought it to the job one night and asked if I wanted it.....I was in hog-heaven....I idn't know the first thing about it (tuning ,etc.) but another steeler whom I had met, Paul Lambert, got me started by putting new strings and tuning it up for me and showed me what and how of the guitar. I used a D9th tuning because there wasn't a roller bridge and I kept popping the 3rd string. I used the top 8 strings of an E9 tuning....I practiced with every album that I could get my hands on...(Buck Owens, Merle, Charlie Pride, etc.). Did notheing but eat, sleep, walk and talk steel guitar. After 4 months I set it on the stage at the club. Was so nervous when Lucky told me to kick off "Crazy Arms" that i had to take my foot off the volume pedal it was shaking so bad. The rest of that first night was indeed a learning experience. Then several others have helped me through the years, just by watching and listening to them......To me, the steel guitar is the greatest instrument. After 32 years of playing (or should I say trying to) I'm still in love with it. I guess the answer to the question or topic for me would be, all of those great players, who've ever taken the time to answer a ? or show someone how to play a certain lick or phrase, would be a mentor of sorts. Sorry if I rambled on too much, just wanted to share my heart, and give honor where honor is due.......Hal Higgins

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 23 Jan 2002 7:47 am

Hal, you brought back a lot of memories as we both followed the same track for quite a while. Of course having Milo T. for my father-in-law didn't hurt either!

Hope to see you at the Dallas show in March. It's been way too long!

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Jim Smith jimsmith94@charter.net
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden Ext. E9/U-13 8&8=-

Sage · Post by **Sage** » 23 Jan 2002 7:13 pm

The late Joe Byers, Who was originally from Oklahoma and lived his later years in Colorado. He taught me a lot, and had a welcoming attitude for anyone willing to give it a try. He also pushed once I got started. He had no tolerance for people playing superiority games when doing music. He knew what good music was -and played it- but didn't believe in ever cutting anyone down. He got me into my first pedal steel and encouraged my creative thinking about how one could be made better. He loved Chalker and Murphy especially. He played an MSA thru a Music Man- and loved to play fuzzed out blues any chance he got. Thanks Joe- I miss you man.

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 23 Jan 2002 8:13 pm

My first teacher was Dan Boyd, in Richmond, California. I was in college and had just bought a Fender 400. Dan set up a 6th tuning and had me reading Hank Williams sheet music. I took lessons from him for a year, and learned a lot about the music and the instrument. Soon after I bought a ZB and started hanging with Lucky Oceans, Steve Davis (West Virginia Creeper) and Greg Lasser. We pooled our ignorance and learned a few licks. We all started about the same time in 1969-70. When Dan died a few years ago, I bought his Bigsby from his family, and treasure it because he played it. He was a multi-instrumentalist and a great guy.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 23 Jan 2002 8:31 pm

Joe, whatever became of Davis the Creeper?

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

Pete Grant · Post by **Pete Grant** » 24 Jan 2002 12:36 am

Both Bobby Black and Glynn Andrews spent countless hours showing me things and encouraging me.

Bobby was always happy to help me and explain things to me. He was cheerful and patient. I felt like he expected great things of me.

Glynn was also relentless in his support. I recall one time when he was helping me learn enough to audition for his gig at Cowtown in San Jose. It was a kick-ass band, and I'd still put them up against any country band I've ever heard to this day.

I would go see Glynn play, sometimes tape him, and then encourage him to come over and show me stuff. One night, we had a great time from two in the morning 'til about 5. He'd show me various things, we'd have a couple of adult beverages, listen to Emmons and Rugg and Myrick and others. He'd comment on what each was doing, sometimes demonstrating on my steel what they were doing to my utter awe and amazement.

About a quarter to 6 in the morning, after I'd practiced for the remaining minutes my consiousness would allow, and as I was just climbing into bed, there was a knock at the door. It was Freida, Glynn's wife, with their sleeping baby in her arms, and a very sheepish Glynn at her side. An indignant Freida spoke, "Has Glynn been here?"

"Yeah, he just left a little while ago," I replied. She just said, "OK. Thank you." and walked off into the early morning mist. I always get a chuckle when I think of that.

I've also been fortunate to have Paul Franklin, Doug Jernigan, and John Hughey as my personal teachers.

I've also been incredibly fortunate to have Jerry Garcia as my banjo teacher and guitar teacher. I was happy to reciprocate in some small degree when he got his first pedal steel to show him some basics.

I also have been delightfully fortunate over the years to have learned all kinds of stuff from teaching my students.

pdl20 · Post by **pdl20** » 24 Jan 2002 12:05 pm

Russ Pollock,Tom Kiley, Weldon Myrick.Richard Mcneish.to name a few.there were many more i stole ideas and licks from

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Rudy

Jeff Coffell · Post by **Jeff Coffell** » 29 Jan 2002 3:51 pm

I have 3. JEFF NEWMAN, JEFF NEWMAN AND JEFF NEWMAN. I guess you get the point.

Jeff Coffell

Killeen Tx
keep it PLUMB COUNTRY.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 29 Jan 2002 5:40 pm

My mentors would be Lefty Schrage of West Union,Iowa and Milton Campbell of Norwood Mo. formerly from Oelwein Iowa. They were the two that I thought were THE players long before I even knew who the Big E was.

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1985 Emmons push-pull, Session 500, Nashville400, 65 re-issue Fender Twin, Fender Tele

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 30 Jan 2002 2:33 am

The only true mentor I have had is an amazing jazz piano player and teacher here in Seattle named Gerome Gray. He's not a steel player, although he has spent enough time analyzing my instrument and technique that he could probably be one of the greats in a year or so if he decided to take up the instrument (which he won't). He has helped me find my own voice, which is what it is all about, anyway.

In terms of steel players, I took a lesson or two from Pete Grant, who demonstrated conclusively the value of the forward roll in pedal steel playing (man that Cowtown was the S(*&^, wasn't it). Also a dozen or so lessons from Greg Lasser, who was invaluable in explaining the history and showing some of the mysteries of the E9th neck. Paul Franklin was a steel mentor, although he never knew it. Not for what he explicitly showed me but from listnening to a tape he made for Bobby Black, where he was so matter of fact about virtuosity on the pedal steel it rapped my knuckles for many years afterwards.

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www.tyacktunes.com