RIP Ben Keith

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 26 Jul 2010 6:52 pm

I just read that Ben Keith has passed away. He had quite a career.

http://neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 26 Jul 2010 7:03 pm

I posted this on Steel Players at the same time. Fortunate to have seen him play back in 2008. RIP Ben...

Ryan Barwin · Post by **Ryan Barwin** » 26 Jul 2010 9:14 pm

This is very sad news. Ben was my first influence on steel guitar, and his playing on Neil Young albums was a big part of why I wanted to start playing. His really tasteful style, and beautiful tone. I never had the chance to meet him, but I saw him in 2008 at Farm Aid, which was great. Rest in peace, Ben.

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 26 Jul 2010 9:35 pm

I am super sad to see this. I love his playing.

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 26 Jul 2010 9:42 pm

Very sad news.

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 26 Jul 2010 11:17 pm

The one that got me addicted to the steel died....
I'm so sorry to hear that. Rest in Peace, Ben.....

Johan

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 27 Jul 2010 3:56 am

What a loss! In his unassuming way, he did so much to bring the Steel Guitar into the main stream.

Never overplayed, just played for the song.
Quite a legacy. RIP Brother Ben.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 27 Jul 2010 4:18 am

Sad news indeed. Condolences to Ben's family.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 27 Jul 2010 6:11 am

Oh my, this is sad. Neil Flanz was a liaison for Ben and I to meet. I had a great chat with Ben while he was in town with Neil last May, and he was kind enough to give my wife and I choice seats and passes for the show. I'll never forget the kindness he showed to me in that gesture, and in conversation. We talked about his Emmons (3+1 as I recall) and how it's basically been his only steel since the '60s, and how he knew nothing about any of the new gear out there. Ha. Used the same old SF Twin he's had forever. No pac seat, just a folding chair. Just a very humble guy. He had a lot of questions for me, such as what I was playing gear-wise and what I liked style-wise musically. He told me he was living on Neil's ranch and that he was happy there. Just a warm, friendly guy. The fact that he's now gone makes me sad. Rest in peace, my friend.

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 27 Jul 2010 6:56 am

Ben never got the accolades early in his career that a lot of players did who worked in the rock realm, but to me he was one of the most important. Even when I had no idea who he was I could identify his style immediately. He was a great player and consummate captain of the studio. Sorry to see him go.

Website · Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 27 Jul 2010 7:02 am

As someone else said, he was probably one of the most widely heard steel guitarist due to his work with Neil Young, Patsy Cline, and many others. Rest in Peace, indeed.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 27 Jul 2010 8:05 am

Everyone was playing Neil Young songs when I started playing steel. Ben Keith was a big influence on me back then. I never saw him play in person, but I have several concert DVDs where he is featured prominently. I got the impression that he never played a bad note!

Very sorry to hear that he's left us.

Joel Martin · Post by **Joel Martin** » 27 Jul 2010 8:12 am

Very, very sad about this. He was the one that made me want to play steel as well. I'm going to put on Tonight's The Night and thank the universe that we had him while we did.

Gary Richardi · Post by **Gary Richardi** » 27 Jul 2010 8:53 am

So sad. I absolutely loved what he did with Neil Young on Heart of Gold. I grew up with those songs. I tried hard to copy his licks and was lucky enough to see him perform with Neil in 2000. He'll be greatly missed.

I was playing in a Neil Young tribute band when I a situation arose where a steel became available and I figured I'd give it a try (still trying...). It it wasn't for Ben's work with Neil, I'd probably not have gotten into steel at all.

Jonathan Shacklock · Post by **Jonathan Shacklock** » 27 Jul 2010 1:15 pm

I'm very sad to hear this. I think he was the most tasteful pedal steel player ever - never a wasted note, always the perfect part for the song, emotional not sentimental. I learned so much just from working out the steel in "Old Man": it could hardly be simpler but it's unforgettable.

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 27 Jul 2010 2:51 pm

Oh my...so sorry to hear this - Godspeed to you Ben.

http://www.americansongwriter.com/2010/ ... eith-dies/

http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010 ... ies-at-73/

Chris Dorch · Post by **Chris Dorch** » 27 Jul 2010 4:35 pm

James Pennebaker · Post by **James Pennebaker** » 27 Jul 2010 5:17 pm

Neil Young's drummer Chad Cromwell has a beautiful farm with a studio about an hour outside of Nashville. A couple of months ago I did some recording at Chad's place and I asked about Ben Keith as he's always been one of my steel guitar hero's. Chad said he wasn't in the best of health. I didn't press for details. This is very sad news.

JP

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 27 Jul 2010 9:11 pm

Harvest album brings back so many memories.
R.I.P. Ben

Martin Abend · Post by **Martin Abend** » 28 Jul 2010 2:14 am

So sorry to hear this. He was always on of my favourite pickers and also one of the reasons I bought a pedal steel.

Cameron Tilbury · Post by **Cameron Tilbury** » 28 Jul 2010 2:49 am

Wow. Still hard to believe. RIP Ben.

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 28 Jul 2010 2:51 am

Great vid of Ben with Neil...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDHMaWIY ... r_embedded

R.I.P Ben

John Cox · Post by **John Cox** » 28 Jul 2010 7:10 am

The first time I heard him with Anne Murry influenced me in wanting to play steel. Danny's song was also a great one he did.

JC

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 28 Jul 2010 9:26 am

Ben Keith obit from 7/28/2010 Nashville Tennessean:

http://blogs.tennessean.com

bruce fischer · Post by **bruce fischer** » 28 Jul 2010 11:12 am

what a loss. condolences to the family. bruce & lynn