"I'll Come Runnin'" Dilemma

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 26 Sep 2007 11:21 am

I don't think any tune is out of reach for Austin Stewart. This young man is a phenominal player. And one of the nicest, most polite young men I have ever seen. The entire family is dedicated to the steel guitar from Grandpa Jerry and Grandma Donna on down. It is always a pleasure to visit with this family and to hear Austin play. Jody.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 27 Sep 2007 2:38 am

Jody,

I appreciate the information concerning the interest that is shared by Austin's family. The impact of that type of allegiance to a promising young steel guitarist is very nice to learn or hear about. I will be watching for a chance to hear Austin play.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 27 Sep 2007 3:35 am

Tiny,

Thanks for filling in the blanks about past experiences, and working bandleaders throughout your career. I find it very interesting to read first accounts of steel guitar related activities here on the forum. Now that you've reached your "50's", it's a wonderful age to expand on a musical career. There is a marked increase of entertainers on the highways since your participation in Gene's country band. Your country "feel" on the steel is a signature worthy of note. Your playing is the "real McCoy, and would be difficult to imitate. BTW, I know that you enjoy fishing. My dream last night included a very large brook trout surfacing and snapping at a fly. Trout fishing at one time was a big favorite in my earlier travels. Lately, I've been taking up challenges that require patience and skill. The most recent is looking for old broken cassette tapes to repair. I've had good luck in doing this.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 27 Sep 2007 8:00 am

Tiny and Bill,You guys are right on about Smiles...I remember years ago about him telling me when he went into rehearsal to learn "The love is a bottle of wine solo"for the road show, he took the time to get together with Weldon and learned it note for note...And had fun screwing it up for many tries then Whammo he got it down and nailed it...And he still does...T.O.who later re-recorded it for a G.H."Live" Album used Smiley exclusivly on that re-make....About the early 80s I asked Jimmy Roule to learn it and one year at the Circle H Ranch I had Smiley(up visiting) and Jimmy on the stage and I sprung it on both of them...Wish I had a tape set up...TINY, your solo on "Stagger Lee" on the Farewell party band Album turns many heads...certainly one of my favorites...

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 27 Sep 2007 12:57 pm

Joe,

It's always a treat when your obvious authoritative knowledge of who's who in country is presented with a mountain of reserve always pending to satisfy whomever wishes to talk Country Music. I remember another individual who surprised me as you have many times with your broad range of knowledge in country music. I drove to Bristol, Ct. a few years back in time to catch Johnny White and Tina Welch on the same show at Lake Compounce (SP.) . At the time I had what I thought was a rare cassette tape of B.J.Wright. Wrong!! When I presented it to Johnny, he very calmly opened the storage compartment of his R.V. and pulled out an exact copy of my tape. I first heard your show at Mountain Park, near Northampton and Westfield, MA, about 25 years ago. Both you and Leigh Howell left behind many fans when you moved away. I hope to see you, and hear you sing again at the Steel Show in Waltham, MA on Oct. 28th.

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 27 Sep 2007 7:55 pm

I'm really a little surprised that no one has posted this mans wonderful version of "I'll Come Running". Excuse the quality, but i took it off one of my old vinyl records.....enjoy, he's gone but not forgotten, At least not by me that is.

http://www.supload.com/sound_confirm.ph ... 931958.wma

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 28 Sep 2007 2:58 am

George R.,

I tried a few times to "download" the mystery steel player. After becoming keenly determined and making several tries at downloading, I've decided to request the artist's identity from you. To use your words, I'm surprised that the recording artist's name was not included in your much appreciated notification. Thanks in advance, for information leading to an identification of the touted arrangement of "I'll Come Runnin'".

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 28 Sep 2007 3:48 am

Dale Wag(o)ner.

Great player, I have the album as well

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 28 Sep 2007 4:38 am

Thanks Marco! I'll try to locate a copy if possible. Your help is appreciated.

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 28 Sep 2007 7:10 am

Works just fine for me, yes it's Dale, and a great job indeed. If you can't find a copy, let me know Bill, and i will send you the file. I delibertly left his name off,to see who would come up with it.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 28 Sep 2007 11:39 am

In term of Hal and Weldon influencing each other, I played the Opry for a couple of years and it was amazing how similar they could sound. If Weldon was backing up somebody on whose record Hal had played he nailed the part and vice versa. To paraphrase Fats Waller, their dactyl extremities were stupendous.

And I've got to say that those two guys couldn't have been nicer to a rookie steel player. Especially considering that at that time the Nashville musician community had kind of a nasty streak when it came to 'newbies'.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 28 Sep 2007 11:45 am

George,

I hope to find a copy in the future. The MSN WEB TV that I use isn't equipped to receive all sound tracks. MSN just spins away with no explanation or directive.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 28 Sep 2007 1:39 pm

Dan,

Accounts given of activities in and around the Opry are always interesting. Of course, Connie and Weldon were kicking up a storm quite some time ago at the Opry. I couldn't help but wonder if you've ever backed Connie, Kitty, or Skeeter when you played there. So many new artists have been featured since those exciting performances, that included Loretta, Dolly, Jean Shepard, Jan Howard, Jeannie Seely, and many others. Connie was spoiled by Weldon's great style that typically made him a great favorite. I'm curious about your activities at the Opry, should you care to relate some of the exciting experiences. Thanks..

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 28 Sep 2007 6:59 pm

I played with Jean Sheppard, Dottie West, Charlie Louvin, and Jack Green on the Opry. At that time, most artists had their own band, so the house players (Hal, Weldon, and Sonny Burnette) mostly played with the artists without a band, or those without a steel player (for instance Skeeter Davis). The 'excitement' consisted of trying to tune up backstage, then taking your steel to the side of the stage, then rushing up in the break before your segment (the half hour portion that your artist was on) and plugging into the house Peavey 'rack'. Often Hal and Weldon were just sitting there to your right (because they were playing with other artists on the segment). Once they stayed to play with Jean Sheppard for a 'steel string section' part, which I attempted to cover my part with a MXR distortion pedal. The next week Weldon took me aside and walked me to his locker, and took
out a Bosstone which he gave to me, saying that this was the best way to get that sound. While I've never been that crazy about that sound (the swarm of bees bosstone string thing) I will always remember Weldon's graciousness and generosity in this act.

I never played well on the Opry, nor was I a part of any magic moment on stage there, but I am very grateful for being a part of that history, and especially appreciative for all those nights listening to Hal and Weldon creating magic out of what could have been extremely mundane.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 28 Sep 2007 7:09 pm

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the great pay for the gig: $25 per segment. That meant that I got $75 per week when I was off the road and only working the Opry. The good news was that you could live for $75 a week in Nashville at that time. As long as you could deal with living on peanut butter at least 6 days a week.

I wouldn't have traded that for anything.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 29 Sep 2007 2:25 am

Thanks Dan, for the informative accounts of life at the Opry. It would seem to me that a degree of tension would accompany any steel guitarist, who, during his/her segment, came under the scrutiny of Weldon, Hal, or Sonny. That powerful inner voice trying desperately to counsel restraint, and direct oneself to settle down to the best recall of hours of developmental stylings. Your report contains a smidgin of humor, which is most welcome to help relieve tensions, that develop from out of the blue, for whatever reasons. The peanut butter sandwich is a humorous detachment from ordinary circumstances, although I've heard quips about folks eating the pasty nourishment while making payments on new automobiles. It's unfortunate that you are more than a short drive away from Massachusetts. I'd enjoy a close look at your style of playing the pedal steel guitar.

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 29 Sep 2007 3:18 am

Bill,
You may try to contact Scotty, he produced the record of Dale Wagner. Maybe it is still availlable.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 29 Sep 2007 4:09 am

Thanks Marco for information leading to Dale's rendition of "I'll Come Runnin'".

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 29 Sep 2007 6:48 am

Bill I'm real happy that you will be at the Waltham show..I can honestly thank you for a lot of great recognition I recieved in New England..I know your 22 straight years of "Friends of Steel shows" are sadly missed..I'm also glad you brought up a couple of friends of mines names..Johnny White and I made an effort to get together and form a show one time...Bobby Suzor and I were invited to his home and we did some planning...Scheduling was the problem I was working 6 nights a week and Johnny equally was traveling all over NE..But he did me a great favor and came to Billy T's and put on a whopping display of why he is a Yodeling legend..I'm trying to remember the Guitar Player I believe his first name was Russ a good friend of yours..He made the guitar sound like a steel one of the best I've heard...The other is leigh Howell...Leigh and I have exchange some music and I'm glad to say leigh sounds as good as he ever did..Plus he is playing some lead guitar on his CD's he makes for a hobby now...Looking real forward to Waltham....Plus I am hoping to bring a surprise guest up with me..I hope to confirm that this weekend...Heres a picture of some friends of yours that came out that day to honor you

Left to Right..Terry Sutton CT.Jim Smith Dallas TX Jim Cohen Philly PA.Frank Caruso and Mike Ihde Boston MA.Pete Adams Becket Ma.Yourself.Doug Beaumier,Northampton MA.Jim Roule Chicopee MA.Jerry Fessenden Vermont.Smiley Roberts Nashville TN. and Dana Flood Tallahassee FL...These guys put on a great show...Plus there were many great musicians to back up these players...

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 30 Sep 2007 4:32 am

Joe,

Thanks for the memories of past shows that you always supported to the fullest. I always admired your ability to show the meaning of patience at its very best. One of the exciting shows came about when you manned the mike in the presence of Smiles, Sammy, and Paul Manning. I miss Paul as we were in close touch at the end of his life. It wouldn't be fair to attempt to list names of participants, if a single supporter was omitted from the list. At the present time my feelings about steel guitar shows in a collective sense, tends to favor expanding on the tradition. The shows provide great entertainment for the entire day, while many guests are invited to the mike to trigger great performances. If all goes well, I'm hoping to head for Waltham, MA at The French Club on the 28th of Oct. "The County Line Band" here in Berkshire County have included "I'll Come Runnin'" in their repertoire. Doug Beaumier and Pete Adams have tackled the "tough" tune in the band. They perform once a month at The ITAM LODGE on Sundays throughout the year. Thanks...

Jerry Lee Newberry · Post by **Jerry Lee Newberry** » 8 Oct 2007 5:47 am

Well I told you that Austin and I were going to try and get a good cut of I'll Come Running for You Tube. I think we may have done that this weekend at Baxter Springs Steel Convention in Kansas. Hope Randy can get it put on there in a few days. He has a friend that knows how to do it. We will post it when he does get it on. Hopefully I'm not bragging too much, but I am SO PROUD of Austin for learning this song!!!!!!!!

Donna

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 8 Oct 2007 8:33 am

Donna,

Thanks for keeping the forum members informed. It's great to hear that Austin is in hot pursuit of one of the most difficult arrangements of steel guitar artistry. This is truly uplifting to learn of the latest developments. I'm anxious to hear Austin's arrangement.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 9 Oct 2007 4:51 am

Dana, email me and I'll be able to email you Austin's video of "I'll Come Runnin'" from Kansas Steel show this past weekend. I caught the intro, too.

I want to say, that Austin is my youngest steel guitar HERO!!
After all, he's only been playing half his life, right??

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 9 Oct 2007 6:32 pm

I just returned from a rehearsal with my friend in Lenox, MA. She writes, plays guitar and piano. I thought that "I'll Come Runnin'" was the ultimate stickler, until she gave me an attitude adjustment playing a Bach Jig for the first time. We had to wrap up practice early, but rest assured, I'll be checking out that composition at the next practice session.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 10 Oct 2007 3:13 am

Shifting methodologies to attain forward movement can prove to be a crisis, when it involves clearing out over 500 country music albums. Through the advantages of inquiry and hearsay, I've made arrangements to clear out the albums this week. Information is at times guarded, if perchance, the seller seeks to realize a token exchange of monetary considerations. I should add that the majority of hobbyists for profit, will invariably emphasize the sour aspects of dealings, rather than cultivate the possibilities of values, all in the name of honest dealings. Whatever the case may be, or whatever an individual may read into this relatively new upsurge of collecting "rare" and desirable albums, the need to tidy up, and consolidate by removal is necessary. Perhaps the passe' albums follow a pattern of lost piqued interest by individuals, (myself included) who once gave them hours of play. Trending into a polishing of learned instrumentals, through hours of determined practice, is deemed the latest of worthwhile efforts, by my standards.