The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Billy Mize RIP
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Billy Mize RIP
Billy McCombs


From:
Bakersfield California, USA
Post  Posted 2 Nov 2017 9:01 am    
Reply with quote

Billy Mize passed away. Condolences to his family. RIP Billy. He was 88.
_________________
78 Emmons PP,Great tone.82 Emmons SKH #56


Last edited by Billy McCombs on 2 Nov 2017 1:00 pm; edited 1 time in total
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Skip Edwards

 

From:
LA,CA
Post  Posted 2 Nov 2017 11:03 am    
Reply with quote

Sorry to hear about this.
Another member of the original Bakersfield crew has left us...
RIP, Billy. You were the real deal.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

John McClung


From:
Olympia WA, USA
Post  Posted 2 Nov 2017 11:24 am    
Reply with quote

Another pioneer down. Sorry to hear this.
_________________
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Jerry Hayes


From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
Post  Posted 2 Nov 2017 12:00 pm    
Reply with quote

I'm really sorry to hear this! Billy was one of the nicest guys I've ever worked with and a great talent. I developed a good ear working with him as when we'd welcome him to the bandstand he'd just walk up to the mike and start singing and we'd have to know what key he was in or sound like a dunce. A really great guy, singer, steel guitarist, song writer and all. Here's an action shot taken in 1979 on the bandstand at Bonnie Price's Foothill Club in Signal Hill (Long Beach) California with me on my old ShoBud S-12..............JH in Va.

_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Mitch Drumm

 

From:
Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake
Post  Posted 2 Nov 2017 7:02 pm    
Reply with quote

Ouch. Ouch!!!

My favorite tune by Billy, circa 1953, with Bill Woods' band:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48bLzWymzOQ






View user's profile Send private message

Steven Finley


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 2 Nov 2017 7:24 pm     Condolences to the family
Reply with quote

By the way, whoever cleans out Billy's belongings, when you run across my CCM Band Member award for non-touring band from the early 80's,
please contact me so that the award will finally come to me--the rightful owner. My award was last seen on Billy Mize's mantle for his extended viewing pleasure--over 30 years!!!
It is a shame that Sandy Pigano has passed on and will never get to see his award, but since Billy wanted to keep it so badly you might as well put it in Billy's coffin.

Other previous band members who also await their awards are Procter Roger and Carl Macall; there may be more.
Anyone who can finally resolve this please email me. It is only right and fitting that we should receive our awards; it is time that our awards come home.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Skeeter Stultz

 

From:
LOMITA, California, USA
Post  Posted 2 Nov 2017 7:31 pm    
Reply with quote

RIP Billy. You made the job easy. Jerry was right , Walk up to the mic, hit a chord and start singing. The pickers were allowed a lot of freedoms. You and Cliff's voices blended very well. The band upstairs just got a new leader. Once again,RIP.
_________________
GFI ULTRA D-10, EVANS, FENDER 2000 (WORN OUT) TWIN REVERB W/JBL'S, OLD 4-10 BASSMAN
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Gary Hoetker

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 3 Nov 2017 9:58 am    
Reply with quote

A sad day for country music !! Billy was a favorite of mine from The Cousin Herb's Trading Post TV Show days in the 50's and 60's, then Melody Ranch. One of a kind. He could sing anything and was a talented musician as well. With his looks, he would have caused Cleopatra's heart to flutter. Roy Nichols said that when Billy was around nobody else stood a chance with the girls. LOL !! RIP !!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jerry Hayes


From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
Post  Posted 3 Nov 2017 12:21 pm    
Reply with quote

He played steel on the old Town Hall Party TV show on KTTV channel eleven in LA for a good while after Marian Hall left... I remember one night at the Foothill when Billy sang Joe Carson's "Helpless". I'd never played it before and more or less just faked through the changes on the ride. When we took a break Billy asked me if I'd ever heard the record and I wasn't really familiar with it. He told me that he was the steel guitarist on the session and sat down at my steel and showed me how the ride on the record went and I learned it just for him so anytime he'd do that song after that he'd turn around and give me a smile while I was playing the break (with his licks)......RIP Billy....JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Rich Upright


From:
Florida, USA
Post  Posted 3 Nov 2017 12:46 pm    
Reply with quote

The very first country song that I remember hearing was "The Lights of Albuquerque". Used to hear it on WJRZ outta Hackensack (I think) New Jersey. It was my first influence in the country genre. R.I.P. Billy.
_________________
A couple D-10s,some vintage guitars & amps, & lotsa junk in the gig bag.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Craig Stock


From:
Westfield, NJ USA
Post  Posted 3 Nov 2017 2:30 pm    
Reply with quote

Would love to see the doumentary about him, seemed like an interesting g person and life.

RIP Billy!
_________________
Regards, Craig

I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.

Today is tomorrow's Good ol' days
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Skip Edwards

 

From:
LA,CA
Post  Posted 4 Nov 2017 8:31 am    
Reply with quote

Craig...there is one.
Check these out, and there's plenty more...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbXHnqBIj18

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx-PsJDgpis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r71BClL1ZQ
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Walter Stettner


From:
Vienna, Austria
Post  Posted 5 Nov 2017 12:41 am    
Reply with quote

Sorry to hear that. My condolences to family and friends.

Kind Regards, Walter
_________________
www.lloydgreentribute.com
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Craig Stock


From:
Westfield, NJ USA
Post  Posted 5 Nov 2017 5:36 am    
Reply with quote

Thanks Skip, I will check those links out!
_________________
Regards, Craig

I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.

Today is tomorrow's Good ol' days
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Skeeter Stultz

 

From:
LOMITA, California, USA
Post  Posted 10 Nov 2017 9:15 pm    
Reply with quote

I am so glad the CMA acknowledged him in memoriam.
_________________
GFI ULTRA D-10, EVANS, FENDER 2000 (WORN OUT) TWIN REVERB W/JBL'S, OLD 4-10 BASSMAN
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

LJ Eiffert

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 11 Nov 2017 8:02 am    
Reply with quote

Billy Mize Gave me " HEAVEN FOR THE WEEKEND " and Cliff Crofford gave me " WHISKEY HEAVEN " and my mentor FATS DOMINO gave me life in music!... RIP my dear friends. The " BLUE CRAWFISH CUP " for JESUS song is for us all. AMEN in Heavens Music.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jerry Hayes


From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
Post  Posted 12 Nov 2017 5:30 am    
Reply with quote

Skeeter, I saw that picture of Billy in the In Memorium part of the show. His was the last picture they posted..... I'm glad they recognized him at long last, just sorry it had to be in this way.........JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP