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Topic: Russ Hicks R.I.P. |
Nick Reed
From:
Russellville, KY USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 6:01 pm |
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Russ Hicks passed away on Monday December 11, 2023. He had been suffering and declining in health for the past year. Russ was 82 years of age, born during 1942 in Crab Orchard, West Virginia. He was inducted into the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2011. Russ played staff band Steel Guitar for the Hee Haw TV show 14 years in Nashville. Made numerous appearances on the Grand Ole Opry stage, Also early in his career he worked and toured with the southern rock band "Bare Foot Jerry", then before that Russ was a regular on the Slim Mimms morning television show which aired on WBTW-TV and WNCT-TV in the Carolina's. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Russ's wife Laney Hicks.
Here's a clip with Russ playing on the Slim Mimms Show!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuHikVBZNsI
Last edited by Nick Reed on 12 Dec 2023 5:01 am; edited 19 times in total |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Michael McGee
From:
Everton, Missouri, USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 6:08 pm
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| Oh no... such sad news. Prayers for his family. RIP, my friend. |
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Quentin Hickey
From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 6:35 pm
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| Geez another one gone! |
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Reggie Duncan
From:
Mississippi
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Kenny Foy
From:
Lynnville, KY, USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 6:55 pm
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| A great friend and will be missed. |
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Bill Dobkins
From:
Rolla Missouri, USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 6:56 pm Russ Hicks
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RIP Russ, You've been a great Friend. Condolences to Laney and the family.
_________________
Custom Rittenberry SD10
Boss Katana 100 Amp
Positive Grid Spark amp
BJS Bars
Z~Legend Pro,Custom Tele
Honor our Vet's.
Now pass the gravy. |
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Tony Dingus
From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 6:56 pm
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Laney called me a few minutes ago and told me. I sure hate it. I'm so glad he was able to come to our steel jam in October and play. I enjoyed our conversations through out the day and hearing him play. Praying for Laney and their family.
Tony |
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Larry Dering
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 7:27 pm
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| Sad news for sure. Russ was certainly an exciting and excellent guitarist. I have been lucky enough to catch him many times over the years. I enjoyed every time I seen him perform. My prayers for his family and friends. |
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Brett Day
From:
Pickens, SC
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 7:31 pm
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| This is sad news. Russ and I played a few steel guitar shows and conventions at the same time. I remember in 2004, Russ was part of my set and we played "Look At Us" and "Cold, Cold Heart". In 2006, I played "Once A Day" with Laney and Russ told me he liked hearing me play the song. Russ always played a white JCH or an MSA when we played shows. When I played my first steel guitar show in Hollonville, Georgia 19 years ago in 2004, Russ and Laney were the headliners and I was so happy they were there to hear me play onstage for the first time. RIP Russ, we'll miss you buddy |
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Austin Tripp
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 7:49 pm
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I really hate hearing this. I always enjoyed time spent with Russ and he will definitely be missed.
_________________
"Hotrod"
Steel guitarist for Cody Jinks
Member CMA |
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Kenny Davis
From:
Great State of Oklahoma
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 8:28 pm
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My condolences to Laney and his family.
_________________
Best lyric in a country song: "...One more, Moon..." |
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Gary Sill
From:
Mt. Zion, IL, USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 8:41 pm My thoughts and prayers to Laney and Russ's family
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Russ was very instrumental in me developing my course on "How to easily learn to play the E9 neck". What a steel player he was and practiced and practiced. The staff steel player on "Hey Haw" for 14 years,
_________________
A beautiful Laquer Mullen G2, 2 Nashville 112's, Evans 10" R150 Amp,1982 Emmons Push Pull D-10, Hilton Pedals, 12/8 MSA Superslide, Green LDG Sho-Bud-Owned by Lloyd, S-6 Fender 1956 Lap. , Gretsch Country Gentleman, red Gibson 2019, ES 335, Quilter, Gretsch Resonator, Eastman Mandolin |
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Wayne Franco
From:
silverdale, WA. USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 8:45 pm Such sad news
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| I can't remember when I didn't get to see Russ at a Steel Convention since I started in 1990. Won't be as fun without him. We had lunch together once at the Phoenix show. Very enjoyable. I know many many people are going to miss Russ dearly. My condolences to Laney and the family. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 9:10 pm
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| I'm really saddened to hear this... God bless and keep Russ 🙏🏻🎶🙏🏻 |
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scott murray
From:
Asheville, NC
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 9:26 pm
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very sad news, and quite unexpected. 
I was just watching the video for his induction into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame last week. what a huge talent
Russ was a big part of the first steel shows I attended in Knoxville, along with Jimmie Crawford... their twin steel sets were just jaw-dropping. Russ was the perfect partner for Jimmie's "experiments in terror" as he sometimes called it.
so glad I got to meet Russ and hear him with Jimmie and Laney when I was just starting out. I also had Ween's wacky but wonderful '12 Golden Country Greats' album on heavy rotation in those days, which featured Russ as well.
deepest condolences to Laney and their daughters and grandkids.
_________________
1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster |
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Jim R. Harrison
From:
North Vancouver, B. C., Canada
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 10:18 pm
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Wow, this is very sad for all of us to hear. Condolences to Laney & their family. A slight correction to Brett Day's comment about Russ "always played a white JCH or an MSA." Here are three exceptions to that statement. The 3rd image doesn't clearly show this to be Russ but I know it was - see my 2nd photo.
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David Decker
From:
Canton, Ohio, USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2023 10:45 pm
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| RIP my friend, you'll be missed!! |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 12 Dec 2023 2:40 am
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RIP Mr.Hicks.
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Adair Torres
From:
Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Posted 12 Dec 2023 3:15 am
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R.I.P Russ Hicks.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Russ's wife Laney Hicks.
_________________
Adair Torres - Boss at TowerS Steel Guitars
__________________
Zum D10 8X7 Wineberry 2010.
Emmons SD10 3X8 Black 1994.
Derby D10 8X8 Rosewood 2008.
TowerS SD10 3X5 Imbuia Mica Finish 2018 |
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Michael Scott
From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2023 3:28 am
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I am so sorry to hear this. Russ was one of the best players and was loved by so many people around the world. He will be remembered for years to come and his legacy will live on. He has definitely left his mark on our industry.
My condolences to Laney and their family.
Michael Scott
President
The Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame, Inc.
St. Louis, MO.
a 501(c)(3) “Not For Profit” Organization
Tax ID #43-1344660 |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 12 Dec 2023 3:55 am
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Oh, no!
Russ was a good pal to me, approachable, funny and a great player.
This is a shock: I have been playing Russ' and Jimmie's CD for the last week or more.
I recall his set at the UK festival many years ago. He was announcing his next piece, 'Stumbling' and saw me in the front row.
"You know all about that, Roger.  !" ("I wrote it!!!", I answered. )
He was generous and, just like Jimmie and Buck, was happy to share knowledge and show you how something was played.
My sympathies go to Laney and their family. I extend my condolences to anyone lucky enough to have known Rusa.
_________________
Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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David Wright
From:
Pilot Point ,Tx USA.
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Posted 12 Dec 2023 4:11 am
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| So sorry to hear this, Prayers for the Family, Russ was one of the Greats....in the steel world.. |
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Karen Sarkisian
From:
Boston, MA, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2023 4:38 am
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I’m Sorry to hear this RIP Russ
_________________
Emmons PP, Mullen G2 and Discovery |
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