What's The Deal, no Steel???

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 26 Apr 2012 6:05 am

Just got a call from Bill Anderson's agent about booking for our theater and guess what, he uses his band but no steel guitar. Very disappointing that Whispering Bill travels with no steel. To me, that's like buying a car with no tires. Steel guitar was always a big part of his sound and success as far as I'm concerned so why cut the steel? I won't be booking him because he is just a little out of reach compared to the crowd we could draw but cheez, no steel?

Curt Langston · Post by **Curt Langston** » 26 Apr 2012 6:43 am

Sad but true. It seems that a lot of bands are using the latest synth keyboards and "mock" the steel sound. Of course to a steel player the synth does not even come close, but to the average listener it is passable..............

I don't know how you pros even make a living playing.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 26 Apr 2012 7:43 am

I could be wrong, but I can think of very few of Bill's hits that had what I'd call a "significant" amount of steel? With that in mind, it's easy to think that, despite those famous players he's had (like Sonny Garrish), steel is not really an integral part of his "sound".

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 26 Apr 2012 9:42 am

Sad indeed!
Back when Gregg & Sonny where in the band they did alot of twin parts. Enough steel to keep one! JMHO

Pete Walthall · Post by **Pete Walthall** » 26 Apr 2012 10:10 am

no steel no BILL henrey please don;t book him he may not get out of town alive//'

Tommy White · Post by **Tommy White** » 26 Apr 2012 10:14 am

Simply not true. Maybe there was a miscommunication or misunderstanding but, Bill Anderson does have steel everywhere he plays. Pat Severs is currently in Bill's band and they still play those great parts Greg and Sonny made famous and more.
Knowing Bill, I can't imagine he would do without, as steel guitar is a very important part of his sound and show. Bill will tell you that himself.

Jerome Hawkes · Post by **Jerome Hawkes** » 26 Apr 2012 10:47 am

i wouldnt be surprised if the booking agent didnt know what a "steel guitar" was. "oh, you mean that thing that looks like an old sewing machine...yeah, he has one."

i went to go see Vince Gill 2 summers ago and was SHOCKED he had no steel, and this was a big event - i was not happy to hear the steel parts being played on a keyboard. the weird thing is, he had an organ AND a keyboard player....

the next year he had the wonderful Paul Franklin with him!!!

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 26 Apr 2012 11:55 am

Alright,all you guys with the pitchforks and torches can get off those wagon's,put the horse's up and go home cuz Bill's got steel.

Fred Glave · Post by **Fred Glave** » 26 Apr 2012 12:28 pm

Jerome, you probably get the prize for the right answer. That's the first thing I thought. This agent probably doesn't know the differnce between a kazoo and a lunch whistle. So why on earth would we expect him to know what a steel guitar is?

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 26 Apr 2012 2:52 pm

He played the Wheeling jamboree , Wheeling WV around Christmas. He didn't use steel guitar for that gig, I think he only had 2 pieces with him..
Hook

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 26 Apr 2012 7:34 pm

Jerome, you may be right but the agent told me he had a three piece band that was in Texas with him in July. I hope one is a steel. Thanks Tommy for input, just going by what I was told.

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 26 Apr 2012 8:44 pm

Huh, I had something to say about this very subject a little while ago at Steel Guitar Insanity.

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 26 Apr 2012 9:26 pm

Nice article Cal, my feelings also.

Jerome Hawkes · Post by **Jerome Hawkes** » 27 Apr 2012 6:19 am

are those BONGOs??? whats up with the Bongos? steel guitar replaced by bongos - thats why you guys cant get any work - gotta change with the times - plus, they are lighter and cheaper and you dont have to tune them....sounds like a good deal to me

Tommy White · Post by **Tommy White** » 27 Apr 2012 6:39 am

Bill's steel player, Pat Severs is always telling me where thier going and where they've been. It's not unusual for artist to do one offs without the band and occassionally they will hire a musician or 2 who is not in thier band for those kind of dates. I've seen times when it would have been impossible for the entire band and crew to make the date simply because of logistics.

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 27 Apr 2012 9:21 am

Tommy White wrote:... I've seen times when it would have been impossible for the entire band and crew to make the date simply because of logistics.

Faron had a problem in Austin involving a bottle of Crown, a car and some cops and he agreed to do a freebie on Austin City Limits to settle the whole thing and he went back to do the show and used Kitty Wells' band - with the great George Edwards on steel guitar - instead of us Deputies, since it was a freebie.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 27 Apr 2012 10:37 am

I will chime in on this. I agree with Tommy White on this one. I would bet there are times when everyone just cannot make the date happen. That being said, I will not go pay to see anyone in concert if there is no steel. That is just me but I know others who feel the same way.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 27 Apr 2012 12:00 pm

Tommy White wrote:Bill's steel player, Pat Severs is always telling me where thier going and where they've been. It's not unusual for artist to do one offs without the band and occassionally they will hire a musician or 2 who is not in thier band for those kind of dates. I've seen times when it would have been impossible for the entire band and crew to make the date simply because of logistics.

I've even seen some music videos where artists and bands who feature steel decide to not have the steel in the video or if the steel player is there, he'll be playin' guitar or somethin', unless the artist decides he or she wants to do the video with the whole band or just a few band members in the video. Tommy's right-sometimes artists will occasionally hire musicians not in the band to do shows with< and sometimes the artist feels more comfortable doin' a show with just a few band members.