Road steeler vs. Session steeler Pt. 2

Tommy Detamore · Post by **Tommy Detamore** » 9 Jul 2001 5:13 am

You know, this is OT but we seem to be meandering a bit so I guess it's ok. In reading Bruce's post something came to mind that I realized a few years ago. It is perhaps a given that it is all too easy for us to get down on ourselves. Heck, anybody who really knows me knows I wrote the book on that subject. Even though Bobbe says this is the easiest instrument in the world to play

, I think we would all agree that it can be a bear. The magic of it all can be so elusive and fleeting from day to day and night to night. This can wear on the psyche, for sure. But what I want to say here is that, even while we are wallowing in our funk, we possibly many times fail to realize the positive influences we have on others, both known and unknown. Every time you play a gig and every time you play on a recording, you never know who might be listening. Since I became involved in this forum, I have had emails from quite a few people telling me about a show that I was on, or this or that record, and how much it meant to them. Or how after hearing me they got inspired to take up the steel, or practice harder, or whatever. Every time something like this happens it reminds me, even at my level, that I have something to contribute after all. It makes all my self-doubt seem so petty and ridiculous. Not to mention a total waste of energy.
As a case in point, let me tell you a story about Bruce Bouton. The year was 1977. I was a floundering guitar player who was dabbling with the steel, but I really had no focus or discipline with regard to it. At the same time I was half-heartedly going thru college, wondering what in the heck I was gonna do with it even if I ever got out. I went to Richmond to visit a friend and when I got there he said "Hey, the Good Humor Band is playing over at the Pass tonite!" I had never heard of them, but I said ok. As we were going up the stairs to get in, I heard it. That steel, that tone, just THAT SOUND! We got in and I was just mesmerized the whole night. I hardly ever took my eyes off Bruce. Even my friend noticed I was really wacked out over it. That was the moment it all came together for me.That's when I knew what I wanted to do. Bruce was doing all this cool C6 stuff, so I knew I had to get me a double-ten. Then I heard about one Pete Finney had for sale, and when I went up to Maryland to buy that guitar, Pete urged me to take some lessons from Buddy Charleton. So I did, and ended up in a band as a guitar player, but with the understanding that I could play some steel as I got good enough. That band ended up sharing the stage with Bruce's band from time to time, and we became friends. And the rest, as they say, is history........
So Bruce, in a way I owe it all to you! As Buddy Charleton was my teacher, you were in my mind my mentor. The only bad thing is you got such a headstart on me I'll never catch up!

"Ain't it funny how the circle turns"-Jackson Browne

I dig songwriters too.....

PS-I would be remiss if discussed those days and did not mention another good steel guitar pal and supporter, Bucky Baxter......

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 9 Jul 2001 5:51 am

Bobbe, Jody, Herb and a lot of others have called me a writer. For once I'm going to change and become a reader. I think I'll print this thread and keep it. There is so much here about Steel Guitar, I can hardly keep it all togeather so like Herb suggested,
I'm going to read it many times. And just when I thought things were getting a little lackluster too......Man !! This is a Great Forum ! Wish I could spell flagerizm !!

Regards, Paul[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 09 July 2001 at 06:52 AM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 9 Jul 2001 7:12 am

* [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 02 May 2002 at 02:42 PM.]

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 9 Jul 2001 7:12 am

Les,your post exemplifies the type of mentality I referred to in another post as the one needed to marry New Country Music with Professional Wrestling. I bet your God is proud of you for your post, ... just the kind of PR He loves to get.Keep spreadin' the word, brother

. Reading your post made me feel like a $2.00 whore shacked up in a cheap motel room with Jimmy Swaggart....but now IM plagarizing

...darn, its catching !!!
Loved your display of people skills, btw...you eat with that mouth?....getting censured from the Forum, now theres something to be proud of....unbelievable .....
[This message was edited by Mike Cass on 09 July 2001 at 11:59 AM.]

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 9 Jul 2001 7:25 am

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 9 Jul 2001 7:34 am

and Les, to add to your earlier post, nothing should be offered to anyone over there with the "left" hand because...........

... it will be another 3000 years before bathroom tissue will be invented?

... it's an easy way to lose a $50 BJS bar?

... she might notice your wedding band when you hand her the tequila shooter with your phone number on the napkin?

... throughout history, the "left" has been considered the weaker side of... oops, better shut up now!

My Concordance is in the other room right now. Help me, Gene!!

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 9 Jul 2001 8:04 am

I,heartily,concur with ALL the above.

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©¿© ars longa,
mm vita brevis
-=sr€=-</pre>

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 9 Jul 2001 8:41 am

Herb....I think you have it "pegged" without further explanation......www.genejones.com

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 9 Jul 2001 8:46 am

* [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 02 May 2002 at 02:43 PM.]

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 9 Jul 2001 10:30 am

Less,....

.. I was refering to your first post...time 5:44 am, I believe... maybe you werent awake totally for that one .. & dont let yer mouth write checks yer rear end cant cash, smart a$$ ,...maybe you can intimidate others with your rage fueled by your obvious insecurities, but I laugh at your pathetic attempts to drag me to your level. Attempts which, btw,have accomplished little else other than your prolonged a$$ kissing of the fellow who started this topic.Youve been warned, now BACK OFF!! or i'll humiliate you worse than you've already humiliated yourself......if such a thing is even possible

.

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 9 Jul 2001 11:04 am

Thanx for saving me the trouble...& I thought perhaps it couldnt be done...
I stand corrected.

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 9 Jul 2001 11:12 am

please, stop this , guys!
It's not making sence.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>For many years, most of the world's steel guitarists were isolated from each other. Information about the instrument was hard to find. The Internet has changed all that. Today steel guitarists of all skill levels share their knowledge with many other players every day.
Since January of 1997, The Steel Guitar Forum has been bringing steel players together in a spirit of friendship and a common love of the instrument.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>(forum-introduction)[This message was edited by Johan Jansen on 09 July 2001 at 12:26 PM.]

ESnow · Post by **ESnow** » 9 Jul 2001 11:21 am

I read Les Cambell's post about Charlie Robison then this mornig I heard the Nashville report form Al Wynter. He has a radio report on whats happening in Nashville. In one of Brad Paisley's interviews Brad spoke of how he loved triditional country music, then an interview with Charlie R. Charlie refered to Brad, more than once, as a MORON!! Brad's responce was he sure hated that Charlie felt that way about him but he also said that wouldn't stop him from listening and likeing Charlies cd's. I feel that Brad P. is one of the best things that has happened to country music in along time. IMHO, Charlie better hope his famous wife doesn't boot him out in the future, and as for Brad, He will still be around giving us good country music long after Charlie R. is gone and nobody remembers his name. To me that shows a huge difference between Brad and Charlies people skills. I know this post is alittle off topic, maybe, but it shows what kind of guy Brad is. ESnow

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 9 Jul 2001 11:23 am

And why are you dragging me into another of your idiot fights Les,Youv've done it again, showing all what a foul disposition you continually have. I don't want to take the time and effort to honor your blatent stupidity on this forum. This is not here for that perpose. Les,why don't you talk about steel guitar or something you know something about.
Bobbe-------

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 9 Jul 2001 11:41 am

A lot of guys have made great statments on this post, However , If you really like honesty with "no holds barred", you have to give Mike Cass and Dave Robbins a lot of credit! Plus , what they are saying is correct , as I also see it from MANY years of being here, working studios, road,air, clubs,TV,ETC! These guys, along with Bruce,and Paul are REALLY saying it the way it is. This is not much more than a good educational debate,except for Les,naturally,as ever. Sorry Les,Just lighten up and try to learn something and watch your mouth on the forum,your going to scare more new steel players off than the rest of us can get to join our ranks!
Bobbe-------! [This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 09 July 2001 at 12:42 PM.]

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 9 Jul 2001 11:59 am

I want to point out to everyone that the purpose of the Edit function is to correct spelling misteakes and such. When you change the content of a post that has followups, things get really hard to follow.

It's best to read your post before you submit it and think about how it will sit with your audience. I discard about a third of what I write, and often I hit the back button instead of submitting a post. How does the saying go? Something like "Sometimes it's better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/Averybob.gif" width=64 height=81>
 -b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
-System Administrator

Kevin Lamb · Post by **Kevin Lamb** » 9 Jul 2001 12:02 pm

After playing guitar for 35 years, on the road, and in the studio I decided to begin learning steel last month. At age 51.
Frankly, I am optomistic about doing studio work in a few years...because studio work is available almost anywhere in the US....even if it is just playing on local radio jingles. In other words, there is dual possibility fufillment and opportunity all across this land.
I will never work a session with Stroud or Gallimore - that does not mean I can't can't have a very full and happy experience with my steel. On the road, and in the studio.
In the meantime I sit with my Bruce Bouton, Llyod Maines, and Jeffran tapes - being happy, happy, happy.

Bill Sampler · Post by **Bill Sampler** » 9 Jul 2001 12:26 pm

Boy, this really gives a newbie steel player such as myself a whole new outlook to the steel world. Being a huge fan of Paul F. as well as the other greats, I think it really boils down to, it is a job. Just like myself as a software engineer, or a teacher, or a janitor; it's still is a job. If they don't try and do their best everytime, there is someone waiting in line to take their spot, just as in any other job. True, they have accomplished something that most of us will never achieve and I'm not trying to diminish the fact that Paul and Buddy and the others are truely gifted musicians, but it is a job and there is politics everywhere. Even at the smallest of companies. This is a very enlightening thread. I have learned quite a bit from reading this one as well as the previous one. Just my .02

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Bill Sampler
Mullen SD12 Universal 7/5

[This message was edited by Bill Sampler on 09 July 2001 at 01:28 PM.]

slick · Post by **slick** » 9 Jul 2001 12:28 pm

Why cant we love one another and get along?

Slick Wayne

Frank Estes · Post by **Frank Estes** » 9 Jul 2001 12:28 pm

Since Christianity and God have been mentioned a few times here...

If it is true that producing songs which celebrate adultery, drinking, etc. are contributing to the moral decay of our society, then are we wrong to accompany artists who sing such songs? Is it possible that God will consider us to be as much of an accomplice as the driver of the get-away car is during a robbery?

In other words, are we compromising our principles/values to play on songs that promote things that we feel are bad for society?

Many years ago, a man named Harold Jenkins said that he would not be surprised if country music is contributing to the moral decay of our society...[This message was edited by Frank Estes on 09 July 2001 at 01:39 PM.]

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 9 Jul 2001 12:53 pm

Frank,

I started a discussion about that topic back in 9/2000.... might be worth a look:

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum1/HTML/011444.html

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Bill (steel player impersonator) | MSA Classic U12 | Email | My music | Steeler birthdays | Over 50?

Miguel e Smith · Post by **Miguel e Smith** » 9 Jul 2001 12:59 pm

These threads sure have seemed to be the most spirited I've seen yet! ha But...hey, it's good to see what other people are thinking (or not) and with what Paul and Bruce and others have said, maybe it's obvious that a lot of humility has gone into this heartbreaking business that many have as a career.
Concerning the comments above about whether or not some of us are diluting Christianity through our work.....ummmmmm...this may be the next hot topic (not a fair or just one in my opinion however). And just a wee bit of a barb to throw out here...(and this has been widely speculated), but if Jesus walked the Earth now, he would not be hanging out at the local Baptist (or any other) church. He'd be down at Tootsie's or the local strip club...you know, places he was needed the most. I have a pretty wide opinion about lyrics and how they affect those that listen, and yes, there are some out there that I just don't support. However, it's up to each individual to determine what is acceptable and right for his or her own life and career. You might remember a Rod Stewart album a few years back that had a disclaimer written on the back by the producer, Michael Omartian, a professed born again Christian. Something along the lines of "The lyrics contained herein are not necessary the views of the producer". A bold move by a major producer, but still...he produced the album. I'm sure it wasn't simply a financial choice either.
I too thank God for not only my life, but for whatever success and good fortune I've been given. If one of the records I've played on has, in your opinion, questionable lyrics, does that disqualify me from either accepting or thanking God for his provision? Ultimately, we all have to be responsible for our own actions and relationship with God (and whatever name you place upon Him). God has a sneaky way of being the Gospel Police when it comes to things like that. I also thank God that he does not commission you or I (or anyone else) to be deputies to that end.
I don't have to like someone, it's true. But, I don't have the authority to judge another for what I think is his morality or lack of it.

: )