Tony-I just have to reply to your good thinking post.
As I was there over 70 years playing and seeing Alvino Rey, and hearing all the styles of players emerge.
In my opinion I think you hit it right. There were so many styles of players, over the years, but at the same time they all must have a certain amount of talent, just to be able to play the Steel Guitar....al.:):)
Michigan (MSGC)Christmas Dinner and Jam on my 80th Birthday.
A different STYLE is what we are talking about. Harmonics (Chimes), boo-wah tone control, big fat chord slides, etc. are nearly a lost art today, unfortunately. Alvino was a product of the swing era, and that shows in his (wonderful) playing. Steel guitar styles of today are Different, and still hard to master. Personally, I love the older styles and the modern steel sounds. I still play chimes in almost every song I play, both in backup and in featured instrumentals.
Well as Al Marcus and I know, (along with several other folks) the style on the YOU TUBE example was not the only style Mr. Rey could, and did play. I've seen him in his studio playing a Sierra, built by Bill Stafford BTW, and knocking out some of the best Country styles imaginable. He also could blow your hat in the creek with some of the New Orleans type songs like "Bill Bailey", "Twelfth Street Rag", and many others. He, too, was a pioneer with the utilization of a "mouth mike" like affair that either his wife Louise or another of the King Sisters would operate.
Phred
There are only two defining forces that have offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American GI!!
Hey Ricky Littleton,that was cool on Alvino Ray! I knew a young steel player in the earlt 60's that played just like him in a friend of mine band from Kentucky name " Jim Wooley " & the steel players name was " Billy Winegarden ". I don't know where Billy Winegarden is Today.Leo J.Eiffert,Jr.
Also, check the Lawrence Welk #83 YouTube for a whole different style/approach done to a Fender by Buddy Merrill--only 19 years old at the time. He'd have a long way to go to catch up to the masterful Alvino.
I was with Pee Wee King at the time, and we were halfway through our 30 minute daytime radio show at WAVE in Louisville. I was playing my instrumental part in the middle of some song, leaning over my steel and intently watching what I was doing. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a pair of trousers walk up to my left side and just stand there. It always made me nervous for someone to stand over me and watch my every move. I couldn’t look up until my chorus was over. At the end of my chorus, I made an octave slide and looked up while making the slide. There stood Alvino Rey. I forgot to finish the slide, let go of the bar, and it rolled all the way up the strings with my volume still on. I was so embarrassed, I did the only thing that I could think to do: I dropped to my knees and bowed to the floor. He broke up. Pee Wee interviewed him, and he was plugging his gig at the Iriquois Gardens. After the show, he invited me to be his guest at the club, and when I got there he had a table reserved for me at his end of the bandstand. So, I got to sit for about four hours and watch one of my idols play pedal steel. He had his big band there and all of the arrangements were, of course, written around the steel. He played some chords I still have not found on my steel
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I'll post this picture of Mr. Rey in his latter days playing a Sierra guitar. I know for a fact he was probably in his 90's and was still working on a CD then. Here's the Pic and I don't know where I got it or whether I took it. It possibly came from Sierra, I just don't know.
Phred
There are only two defining forces that have offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American GI!!
Mr. Alvino Rey was more than just a steel player. He was an entertainer. I guess thats what I mean about talent. The powers that be today in the entertainment industry won't support this kind of talent or let it be seen.
That Gibson Electra-Harp is just like the one I had for so many years, from 1947 to 1968. Notice the volume and tone control, right where it was easy to boo wah with the little finger while strumming with the thumb pick, which Alvino did so many times and so well.
I liked the King Sisters, that little blonde Yvonne, (she married the piano player, Buddy cole), Louise , was Alvino's wife, (and they stayed married) Alice sang so many nice romantic songs. Sorry that I can't right now remember the other's name. Alvino was much more than an Entertainer, he played excellent classical guitar, which he loved, and was a top notch Musician, and a Electrical Engineer. Played all the old standards with full chords on that 6 pedal Electra-harp, with both feet on the pedals.....al.:)
Michigan (MSGC)Christmas Dinner and Jam on my 80th Birthday.
:):)
