Who played for Kitty Wells

Jim Manley · Post by **Jim Manley** » 29 Nov 2007 8:54 pm

I have been listening to and loving Kitty Wells since 1959,the only reason i haven't listened to her earlier than that is because I was born in 1959.My question to the old timers is who played steel for her during her main recording years and what kind of equiptment and copedent did he use?When I hear her voice then her steel player cuts in along with her back up singers,what else can you do but just melt and absorb all this great music you dont seem to get these days.

Les Green · Post by **Les Green** » 29 Nov 2007 9:04 pm

I think Jimmy Crawford was with her for awhile. May be wrong........

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 Nov 2007 9:22 pm

and later on, I think Georgie Edwards... ?

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 29 Nov 2007 9:50 pm

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 29 Nov 2007 11:09 pm

George Edwards played steel for Kitty Wells for 32 years.

Brett

Perry Hansen · Post by **Perry Hansen** » 30 Nov 2007 4:37 am

I don't remember the exact year but Jimmy Crawford was on tour with Kitty Wells when they came to Fargo N.D. (73 or 74?). I was working at the M&J Steak House in West Fargo at the time. He came out and sat in in with us. Great guy. My steel never sounded the same after that. I think Shot Jackson worked with Kitty in her earlier days.

Ernest Cawby · Post by **Ernest Cawby** » 30 Nov 2007 5:40 am

SHOT JACKSON PLAYED WITH THEM ON THE HAYRIDE IN 1949. HE WAS ALSO STAFF BAND.

ERNIE

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 30 Nov 2007 6:18 am

I met george Edwards in Laughlin Nv. when Kitty was on her Fare Well tour. what a nice gentleman.

Larry

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 30 Nov 2007 6:32 am

I saw their show, I believe in 1953, in S.C. and Shot Jackson was playing a steel on long legs, with Kitty and Johnny & Jack. The good 'ol days.

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 30 Nov 2007 6:38 am

Hi Jim,

Yes, Shot Jackson was with her and also the Johnny and Jack Show years ago, circa 1950s. He recorded and worked with Johnny and Jack a bunch. You don't hear their music much anymore either, but they were really great traditional country singers. Jack Anglin was killed in a car accident 60s. Anyhow, Kitty Wells was married to Johnny Wright. They had at least one son, I believe named David and who sang too.

Next, during the 1980s I saw George Edwards with Kitty and Johnny Wright at a country music package show Springfield, MO. That package show had several of the traditional Grand Ole Opry groups and singers. Most memorable was our Steel Forum artist Mr. Johnny Cox that day, because he played with Ernest Tubb and also backed up the great singer Slim Whitman on that show. He played a standup vintage 1950s Fender steel and ripped it up! I have never forgot his super playing that day.

The Great Steel Player the late Jimmy Crawford also toured with Kitty Wells and played in her band too. I am not certain the years but he was a big part of her show. He was previously with Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper another great traditional Country group of the Grand Ole Opry.

I am sure there were several others who also played with Kitty Wells but these three as others mentioned did play and record with her.

Not for certain how often or if she still performs but as far as know she is still alive, living in or around Nashville and in her 80s now. I know she must be a very gracious and sweet lady. You can see film clips of her on the old classic Country Music videos.

Hope this helps!

GOD bless!

Terry Wood

Bill Cunningham · Post by **Bill Cunningham** » 30 Nov 2007 7:26 am

Terry Wood wrote:

They had at least one son, I believe named David and who sang too.

His name is Bobby Wright. He was an actor on the old McHale's Navy show and was still touring with the Johnny and Kitty last time I saw them a few years ago. That was before George's stroke.

Also, George was one of the nicest persons I have ever visited with. He introduced himself and we sat down and talked for about 2 hours it seems.

ray qualls · Post by **ray qualls** » 30 Nov 2007 7:34 am

Russ Hicks toured with them in 70 or 71. I seen him in Salina, Kansas with all the band sitting in at a night club. I was really impressed with the whole band. Kitty & Johnny weren't at the club as it was after hours. Also if you remember Bill Phillips, I think he was their son-in-law, also a great singer!

Dean Neeley · Post by **Dean Neeley** » 30 Nov 2007 8:40 am

Iv'e got a VCR tape of Kitty & Johnny Wright
Family Show with Russ Hicks Playing Steel. I think
it was made in 1984.Very good show.

Dean Neeley

joe long · Post by **joe long** » 30 Nov 2007 9:33 am

I can't recall the exact year but it was late 70's or early 80's in Dallas. The band that I was playing with opened for the Kitty Wells show at the Bronco Bowl in Oak Cliff. I know the steel player was not Johnny Crawford because I had already met him several years before. At the time Kitty's son fronted the band. The son also was regular on the old Mc Hale's Navy TV show. Anyway, the steel player that night also play a Emmons pp and used my p/p instead of setting up his. I do remember that he was a very gracious person. Wish I could recall his name and locate some photo's that were taken that night.

The lead singer of our band was Paula Kay Evans who later died in the plane crash involving Reba MacIntires band.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 30 Nov 2007 9:38 am

Nobody yet has mentioned Johnny Seibert. He toured
with Johnny & Kitty after his Carl Smith days. He
played a Fender 1000 then. I believe he may have done a session or two with Kitty. By the way, do y'all know that Johnny & Kitty recently renewed their
vows on their 70th wedding anniversary in the same
courthouse they were married in?

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 30 Nov 2007 9:43 am

My band opened a show for Kitty and Johnny about 25 years ago, and George Edwards was her steel player at that time. He sounded great and we had a nice chat after the show. As I remember, he was playing a Sho-Bud and the only effect he was using was a Chorus (stomp box).

Larry King · Post by **Larry King** » 30 Nov 2007 10:17 am

For some reason I thought Stu Basore did some time with Kitty. Am I way wrong ?

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 30 Nov 2007 3:55 pm

Larry....Yep, playing a Fender 1000 with Sho-Bud pickups.

Jim Manley · Post by **Jim Manley** » 30 Nov 2007 8:27 pm

I want to express many thanks for all the replies,Kitty definatley had the best of the best musicians backing her up through the years,but then I believe that she is the queen of country music.

Don Brown, Sr. · Post by **Don Brown, Sr.** » 1 Dec 2007 12:22 am

George Edwards is coming along real good. And yes! He's most definitely one of the best. He also toured with Hank Jr.

Tommy Minniear · Post by **Tommy Minniear** » 1 Dec 2007 7:18 am

This promo picture shows Jimmie Crawford - second from right side:

Stan Paxton · Post by **Stan Paxton** » 1 Dec 2007 7:51 am

At one time when Kitty & Johnny Wright traveled in same tours, a little known Harold Morrison played lap steel with them for about 2 years. He mainly was known as a comedian and b-jo picker on the Wilburn Brothers shows for a number of years. Played a pretty mean dobro, too. He came out of the Springfield Mo Ozark Jubilee era when him & his friend Jimmy Gately went to Nashville, and Jimmy went to work with Whisperin' Bill Anderson as fiddle player for a lot of years. Don't know what ever became of them.

winston · Post by **winston** » 1 Dec 2007 8:52 am

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 1 Dec 2007 10:39 am

Stan, Jimmy Gately has been deceased for quite a few years and Harold Morrison passed away a couple of years ago.

Stan Paxton · Post by **Stan Paxton** » 1 Dec 2007 6:02 pm

Clyde, thanks. ....I sent you a PM......Stan

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