How Many Steelers Can You Recognize Just By Their Playing?

Dave A. Burley · Post by **Dave A. Burley** » 28 Sep 2008 10:46 pm

Just how many steel guitar players can you recognize by their playing on tape or cd? I don't believe that there are too many that are so blessed. Most of us Classic Country fans can recognize a singer almost immediately by his voice. Just who has that great of a voice in the steel guitar world? Think about it....It's not that many. Personally, Julian Tharpe, Buddy Emmons and Maurice Anderson are about the only ones I can recognize. Especially Julian.
Thanks,
Dave Burley

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 29 Sep 2008 2:13 am

Curly Chalker, Hal Rugg, John Hughey, Jimmy Crawford, Weldon Myrick, Russ Hicks, Bill Stafford, Herby Wallace, Jerry Byrd, Lloyd Green.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 29 Sep 2008 3:09 am

Susan Alcorn
Mike Perlowin

I'm sorry, but I don't know a way to survive.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 29 Sep 2008 3:40 am

Reece,
Chalker,
Jimmy Crawford,
Joe Goldmark
Susan Alcorn
Demola Adepoju
Robert Randolph
Marshall Hall (Is Marshall still alive?)

Bob Grado · Post by **Bob Grado** » 29 Sep 2008 3:54 am

Buddy Cage,Sneaky Pete, Jerry, DVA to name a few

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 29 Sep 2008 5:59 am

In the decades PRIOR to everyone wanting to sound exactly ALIKE......
it was fairly easy to recognize a significant musical talent, not only by his styling but his tuning as well:

Noel Boggs
Joaquin Murphy
Roy Wiggins
Herb Remington
Leon McAuliff
Don Helpms
Howard White
Bud Issacs
the early Buddy Emmons
and of course, JERRY BYRD!

In those days, "YOUR SOUND" was the IMPORTANT ISSUE that each of them really took pride in establishing.
But alas, those great and wonderful days have eluded us.

Alan Miller · Post by **Alan Miller** » 29 Sep 2008 7:24 am

Seems like this is a subject similar to the TONE debate , But when it comes to a distinct unmistakable "sound" , Lloyd green and Pete Drake way back when.

Now I bet some one again will say " Ah but is that sound or style ? , and you are mistaking tone with style".
Im only thinking "sound" like Mr Montee was talking about and those two in my humble opinion are top of the heap in the ministry of very recognizable noises.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 29 Sep 2008 7:39 am

Alan..........
You're very correct about the 'sound' that Lloyd Green has achieved on so many of his wonderful recordings. His 'sound' is most unique! No one has ever fully answered it for me either, as to whether it's his GUITAR, the year of that guitar or design of that model, or his amp or some affects box that he might be using.
And yes, I know it's NOT his right hand over the left hand; and it's NOT a black mica; and he doesn't use right angle cords for his 'signal' to the amp., nor does he use a YELLOW cord.

Sarah Jory will from time to time, pop out WITH THAT SAME or NEARLY SAME LLOYD GREEN uniqueness in sound but she is NOT consistant, so I can't help but wonder if it's a 'chance' thingy in their playing.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 29 Sep 2008 7:53 am

But to add: every solo I wanted to imitate, or fill on a Ventures' track, to Sandy Denny and Jackson Browne, beyond to his own CD's, it's been

Sneaky Pete Kleinow.

Tracy Sheehan · Post by **Tracy Sheehan** » 29 Sep 2008 8:18 am

I would have to say Curly Chalker and Don Helms.

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 29 Sep 2008 8:50 am

The one you know instantly and for sure who it is when you hear him is Jerry Garcia. Nobody played like him or wanted to.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 29 Sep 2008 10:14 am

I find John Hughey easy to recognize. Same with Sneaky Pete and Don Helms. Lloyd is pretty easy to spot as well, and of course the big E. These days, two of the more recognizable are Robert Randolph and Cindy Cashdollar.

Jim Peters · Post by **Jim Peters** » 29 Sep 2008 10:41 am

Buddy Cage, Garcia, Sneaky Pete, Lloyd Green. JP

john buffington · Post by **john buffington** » 29 Sep 2008 11:24 am

Buddy Charleton, Jr. Knight, Gary Hogue, Gary Carpenter, Buddie Emmons, Jimmy Day, Hal Rugg, Weldon Myrick, Lloyd Green, Chalker, Reese Anderson for my ears!

JB

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 29 Sep 2008 11:35 am

Obviously, the answer to the question is googobs.

I'd say that anybody who doesn't have an easily recognizable sound should find one or find another instrument that he can.
Sonic personality is a hallmark of any instument/music.

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 29 Sep 2008 11:38 am

Within just a few notes I can usually recognize:

Greg Leisz
Daniel Lanois
Susan Alcorn
Speedy West
Herb Remington
Leon McAuliff
Jerry Byrd
Cindy Cashdollar
Robert Randolph
Jerry Douglas

and finally, myself

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 29 Sep 2008 12:25 pm

Used to be you could almost name them all and now days they sound alot alike.

Julian Tharpe, Reece Anderson, Herb Remington, Zane Beck, Buddy Emmons, Lloyd Green, Curly Chalker, Jerry Byrd, Don Helms, Speedy West, Bob White, Ralph Mooney, Little Roy Wiggins, Leon McAuliffe, Pete Drake, John Hughey, Jimmie Crawford Hal Rugg, Tom Brumley, you could recognize them.

Terry

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 29 Sep 2008 1:50 pm

You're very correct about the 'sound' that Lloyd Green has achieved on so many of his wonderful recordings. His 'sound' is most unique!

IMHO, like a lot of players, Lloyd had lots of sounds! Most non-steelers would find it hard to believe that that guy playing on the Warner Mack records, the guy playing on the Byrds record (Sweetheart Of The Rodeo), the guy playing on the Charlie Pride records, and the guy playing on the Don Williams records were, in fact, all the same player.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 29 Sep 2008 2:10 pm

I can recognize guys like Paul Franklin, Bruce Bouton, John Hughey, Dan Dugmore, Sonny Garrish, Don Helms a lot of times. I hear Buddy Emmons on John Anderson's songs or George Strait's songs on "Pure Country.

Brett

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 29 Sep 2008 5:03 pm

Buddy Emmons
Dan Dugmore
Jay Dee Maness
Ralph Mooney

Eddie Cunningham · Post by **Eddie Cunningham** » 29 Sep 2008 5:30 pm

IMHO most pedal players all sound alike to my old ears !! But Alvino Rey , Jerry Byrd , Roy Wiggins , Speedy West , Don Helms , Johnny Sibert , Dickie Harris , Bud Isaacs , Noel Boggs , Leon McCauliffe , Herb Remmington , Frankie Marvin , Pete "Brother Oswald" Kirby , Dick McIntire and maybe a couple others I can't remember , all had a very distinctive sound and style that was easily recognized !! Eddie "C" ( the old non-pedal no reverb geezer )

Pat Comeau · Post by **Pat Comeau** » 29 Sep 2008 5:53 pm

Only one = Me

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 29 Sep 2008 6:24 pm

Most can reconize the ledgends like Mr. Helms,Wiggens,Byrd,etc,Some of the GREAT players today on some of the songs[if they are playing a hot E9th solo] on a song ,you don't know who's doing it,[how many times do you here the question here on the forum,who's playing on that song?]The one still with us that has the most original style of his own,and my favorite player is Mr.Seymore,He can take a song that has been done by EVERYBODY and put the Seymore touch and improve it.DYKBC.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 30 Sep 2008 2:14 am

I can recognize some of Charles Davidson.
He turned me on to C6.
It's different enough that I can recognize it.
Definitely have to check out Chalker.

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 30 Sep 2008 4:50 am

Lloyd, Buddy, John H., Johnny Sibert, Little Roy, Don Helms, and a few not mentioned......Bobbe Seymour, James Farmer, Pete Drake, and the very distinctive Dicky Overbey.

The Steel Guitar Forum

How Many Steelers Can You Recognize Just By Their Playing?

How Many Steelers Can You Recognize Just By Their Playing?

A Few More

steelers

Again, relating to those good ole days...............

You made a good point.............

Re.

I'm from the "Old School "