Massachusetts Steel Bash, Sept. 29

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 5 Jul 2002 8:49 am

Doug B.,

I spoke with some friends in Florida yesterday. They were gathered at a friends home for a social visit. I've heard that there are a number of places down there supporting country music. Some are making plans to attend the Massachusetts Steel Guitar Bash, in Chicopee, Ma. on Sept. 19th.

Bill H.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 5 Jul 2002 9:02 am

Bill, it's the 29th, not the 19th.

Kim Altman · Post by **Kim Altman** » 6 Jul 2002 11:47 am

Hi Leigh Howell!

As you can see, my name's Kim Altman and I live in Wilmington, NC. Do you play steel? I don't know any female steel players around this area -- I'd love to meet you!

Kim

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 6 Jul 2002 7:01 pm

Kim, Leigh is a guy, but I'm sure he'd like to meet you anyway

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My Site/Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 7 Jul 2002 2:33 am

Jim S.,

Thank you for the clarification. My visual acuity in the left eye is a problem, and I regret the typo. I will be looking forward to seeing you on SEPTEMBER TWENTY NINTH.

Bill H.

Kim Altman · Post by **Kim Altman** » 7 Jul 2002 4:19 am

Leigh!!

I am SO sorry! I assumed from the spelling that you were female. Please forgive me and don't hold it against me, okay?!

(Thanks Doug for straightening me out on that!)

So, Leigh, do you play steel?

There aren't many steel players around here, period! Ha! Do you play with a band? Where can I go hear you?

Kim

Leigh Howell · Post by **Leigh Howell** » 7 Jul 2002 11:04 am

Hi Kim.
No problem concerning the name. It happens occasionaly, but more lately. I guess moms are using the name for girls more now.
I dont play steel. I'm a country singer, and I play guitar. I love steel though, and have always had one in my band when it was possible. In fact, Doug Beaumier, and I worked together fo 6 years, 5 nights a week!
Do you play steel? If so, I'd like to hear you play.
Leigh

Kim Altman · Post by **Kim Altman** » 7 Jul 2002 1:20 pm

Hi Leigh:

Thanks for forgiving me about the goof! So . . . you're a country singer and play guitar. I sing and play guitar too. Just about every band I've ever been in has had a steel guitar in it -- Wayne Midgett from here in Wilmington. I can't play with him anymore since I started playing steel a couple of years ago.

That said, you might want to wait about a hundred years to hear me play the steel! (It takes forever to get good, doesn't it? Ha!) What's the name of your band and where do you all play? I'd love to come check ya'll out sometime!

Kim

Leigh Howell · Post by **Leigh Howell** » 7 Jul 2002 3:14 pm

Kim.
I'm going to go to the music section.

Leigh

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 8 Jul 2002 4:38 am

Lets it's now just 73 days until the Bash and counting. OH me what I gonna do for 73 more days.

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CJC

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 9 Jul 2002 8:02 pm

SMILEY ROBERTS

JIM COHEN</CENTER>

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My Site/Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories

[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 09 July 2002 at 09:05 PM.]

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 10 Jul 2002 6:43 am

Doug B.,

Perhaps the readers of the forum would be interested in viewing the late Paul Manning's steel guitar, from photographs taken at the Home Club in Hinsdale, Ma.,as he was performing during a Ma. Steel Bash.
Remember his "secret box", and the movable fretboard, that would eliminate the need to tune to the band, should they be something other than the standard 440 vibrations. He had pedal combinations that were unlike any in use today. Luckily, I have a tape that Paul sent to me, after we became very good friends. I know that he would have enjoyed attending the 20th Steel Guitar Bash at AmVets, on Sept. 29th.

Bill H.

Leigh Howell · Post by **Leigh Howell** » 10 Jul 2002 2:37 pm

Bill.
I worked with Paul often when I was with Peewee Gokey at the Ranch House. He had an unusual steel guitar, to say the least! He woul'nt let anyone look in the box! He used to say, I'll play anything you want for 2 bucks! And he could too!! From traditional country, to Pop standards. I miss him a lot.

Leigh

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 10 Jul 2002 6:07 pm

I worked with paul in vermont with Art gokey.One night he and I decided to go to hinsdale to the Track and we both got fired when we showed up late. So I loaded his steel in the back seat of my mustang and he had an apentdix attack,He wound up in the hospital and I had his steel for three weeks.I never peeked at that concoction he called a steel but he almost had a heart attack when he couldn't reach me for a couple of weeks.The man knew chords infact he may have invented a few.He showed up at the 15th Show I believe and I got him Smiley and Sammy Gibson to play a set. I too miss Paul (Dimauro)alias Manning.

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CJC

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 11 Jul 2002 3:21 am

Joe and Leigh,

Thanks for reliving some of the early experiences that included the late Paul Manning, who was known for his originality as a steel guitarist, and his great effort to respond in kind, whenever approached in a friendly manner. His memory is one of permanence, and is imbued in the minds of those who befriended him.

Bill H.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 11 Jul 2002 4:29 am

Whatever you said Bill, I agree with. Us Country Boys never did get much book larnin. I hope you are recovering well from your surgery,looking forward to seeing you again this time taking it easy.Your efforts for the friends of the steel Guitar deserve more than just help to have it continue. 20 years and still ticking.Some of the names that appear are new but for the most part the Bash has grown with many of the mainstays of the Northeast area (whos who) players.Last year it was great seeing Tom Garrity who preceded me as MC countless times, get up and sing with his still smooth country voice.The Bash has been great for me also Years past I needed a steeler to fit in with a couple of Missisippi boys and you brought in Peggy Green who traveled 90 miles nightly to play in my band at Billy T's. Peggy worked a little less than a year before the traveling and getting up for her day job got to her.Peggy and I have remained good friends in fact she surprised me by showing up in St. Louis from california knowing I would be there. Thanks to the great players like Jimmy Roule,Jim SMith and some guy named Smirob two,whos great friendship and talents gave me that extra boost I always needed. Now the biggest boost I need and will get comes this Sept 29th At the Mass Bash listening and performing with so many friends.And this year You will see the Smiley Roberts who like yourself has done more for Northeast Steel by showing all the greats of the instrument are not born in Nashville.However I will sacrifice some sanity with those 2400 miles in the same car with him. Actually it affords Smiley and I to roam the planet er Springfield once again.

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CJC

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 11 Jul 2002 7:02 am

About Paul Manning's "Secret Box"... rumor has it that there was nothing in it!

For the Forum members: There was a steel player many years ago in this area named Paul Manning who built his own pedal steel. On the side (changer end) he had a little box with a lock on it. Evidently he wanted to keep his homemade tuning mechanisms secret. So he'd unlock the box, make adjustments, and then lock up the box. I don't know whether it was all for show or what... but it sure got the attention of the steel players! According to bass player Pee Wee Gokey the box was empty. I guess we'll never know. It sure makes for a good story.

I heard Paul play in the 70's and he was using an echoplex that sounded great. He once told me that a pedal steel could be built entirely from parts available in a Hardware store. I almost fell over when I saw the little "chains" that he used instead of pedal rods. He said they were toilet chains from a Hardware store! He demonstrated how easily they would collapse at the end of the night when it's time to pack up! Paul played at the Mass Bash back in the 80's.

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My Site/Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 11 Jul 2002 1:54 pm

Joe C.,

When you made reference to Peggy Green, it brought back memories of the April 10, 1983 Steel Guitar Bash, held at J.W.'s nightclub on Pontoosuc Lake. I remember that you were in good form,as we chatted with Peggy G. near the bar. The special guest was J.D. Walters of Freddie Hart fame. The "Heartbeats" backed J.D.,of which he was an original member. After their departure from Freddie, they renamed their group, "The Wyoming Machinery Co." Another noteworthy attendee, was none other than Jay Andrews, who has become well known in and around the Nashville scene. His steel guitar prowess has been recognized by many, including Johnny Paycheck.
The high spirited musicians made light of the downpour, and provided exceptional entertainment throughout the afternoon. Last year, Bobbe Seymour, and Smiley Roberts, performed, and cheerfully supported the superb players from our region; here in the Northeast.

Buzz Evans brought an entirely new
musical experience, when the "MA Bash" was held at the former Natioal Music Center in Lenox, Ma.
His renditiions on the steel guitar are original, and he is without reservation, an artist with unlimited capabilities.

The upcoming Steel Guitar Bash, to be held on Sept. 29th, at AmVets in Chicopee, Ma. will bring back memories, and I hope to bring home a fresh supply of memorable moments.

Bill H. [This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 12 July 2002 at 12:14 AM.]

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 18 Jul 2002 5:17 am

BUEMPE

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CJC

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 19 Jul 2002 8:34 pm

Bill, those names bring back a lot of memories. I remember Harry Guffee coming to (and playing on) one of the early Mass Bashes back around 1983 or so. He had a store called "Steel Guitar Country" in CT. Harry had over 70 pedal steel guitars in stock!

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My Site/Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 20 Jul 2002 3:51 am

Doug,

How the time has slipped away. That steel guitar "Bash" was held at the Bonny Rigg Inn, in Becket, Ma. I was more than delighted when Harry G. played "Apple Jack", and brought the "C" pedal into action. I felt comfortable in his presence, as he went about, setting up displays, and true to his propensity, he was always on the move, trying to promote the steel guitar.

Bill H.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 24 Jul 2002 7:35 am

Pfffrrrttt..Er scuse me I meant BUMP>

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 28 Jul 2002 7:28 pm

hey, just 9 weeks to go... time to start practicing

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 29 Jul 2002 4:39 pm

Practice Practice.Nah if you ain't got it right by now forget it..just a bump

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CJC

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 8 Aug 2002 8:52 am

another shameless bump