Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter talks about pedal steel

[Dave Magram]

Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter (Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers, Linda Ronstadt) talks about pedal steel with Rick Beato: "Pedal steel is my favorite instrument in the whole world!"

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter: Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, and the Sound of an Era
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLT9LUVcISg

Pedal steel discussion starts at about 52:30, and continues for about 9 minutes.

- Dave

[Gil James]

Hands down one of the best interviews I've ever seen. The whole thing. Never even thought about steel and midi in the same sentence.
Thanks for posting this Dave!

[Craig Stock]

I just started watching it , it’s great, Jeff is a fascinating man thanks for posting!

[Jack Stanton]

Was just watching yesterday- "Beethoven would have been the greatest pedal steel player " Gotta love Skunk.

[Craig Stock]

I finished watching the rest of the interview, as all of Rick's interview it was excellent, Skunk is amazing to listen to, what a storied career,and they didnt even touch his other career.

I loved to hear his praise of the steel guitar, am going to look for the song he did with the 160 voice choir.

If you take the time to watch this, you will not be disappointed!

[J Fletcher]

Quite the musical journey Skunk has had ! Enjoyed that interview very much !

[Dennis Lee]

He begins to discuss the psg just prior to the 53:00 mark.

[Glenn Suchan]

Many of you may already know this (what Craig Stock may have alluded to), but for those who don't, "Skunk" Baxter, beside being a great and legendary guitarist, is a consultant for the the Pentagon with the highest security clearance afforded to civilians. He and the late Tom Dowd are in a class of their own.

On March 31, 2008, the Petawatt Laser at The University of Texas at Austin, Center for High Energy Density Science came 'on line'. The laser delivers 1.1 petawatts (1.1 quadrillion) watts of power. At that time it was the most powerful laser in the world. Here's a link to info on the laser:
https://texaspetawatt.ph.utexas.edu/overview.php

On that date, March 31, 2008 two dignitaries were invited to tour the lab. They were then Texas State Senator, Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.
The laser lab was in a sub ground facility in the Department of Physics, where I was then employed.

I found out that "Skunk" Baxter was going to attend and wanted to go down and meet him. However, I was involved with other departmental business and couldn't make it.

Anyway, regarding Jeff Baxter's DEA credentials, here's a link:
https://speakerexchangeagency.com/portf ... ey-baxter/

Keep on pickin'
Glenn

[Brett Day]

When I was a kid, I was riding in a Ford Aerostar minivan, and "At This Moment" by Billy Vera & The Beaters was popular on the radio, and I heard great steel guitar playing on the song. I found out after I started playing steel that Jeff "Skunk" Baxter was the steel player on the song. On YouTube, I watched a video where he was playing "SleepWalk" with The Ventures band, and in the video, he plays a Sho-Bud Super Pro(the Super Pro is my favorite Sho-Bud steel). Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is a great steel guitarist, in addition to being a great guitarist.

[Don R Brown]

Here's the "Sleepwalk" YT that Brett mentions. Sure appears Jeff was enjoying the heck out of playing it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jkhs_1FBcE

[Craig Stock]

Yes Glenn, That's what I was referring to thanks for the links!

[Dave Ristrim]

Dave, thanks for the post and the link. Watching it has inspired me to get back to playing pedal steel. I kind of went on hiatus for a while. MSA is supposed to be finishing a 12/6 (12 string E9 neck and 6 string slide neck) steel for me soon. It'll be the last steel I purchase.
Take care,
Dave Ristrim

[Mike Holder]

Ristrim;..’ I’m happy to hear this for you, always liked what you did! This is a great insight to what Skunk’s about.

[Dave Hopping]

Here he is playing steel with the Dan...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWOg0gHknKs