Interview #1...Bobby Bowman

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 4 Aug 2014 6:55 pm

I began interviewing top steel players several years ago...the files have been sitting dormant in my computer for a long time..I began editing out my questions, and spent several hours when I finally gave up...I want to post it all.
Its becoming increasingly more difficult for me to see the musicians that chose the pedal steel as their primary instrument, struggle to make a living...These are the people that inspire us to work so hard at our craft...These are the people that have our undying respect...
With that being said....Its more important than ever that we, as brothers, and sisters, share our knowledge, and ourselves freely in order to keep the Steel Guitar alive...
This was recorded in 2011 in Tulsa OK....I hope you enjoy it....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm7-7LxflwI

Douglas Schuch · Post by **Douglas Schuch** » 4 Aug 2014 10:38 pm

Mickey, you never cease to amaze me with your contributions to our community! Brilliant idea! I hope you continue these. We need to be recording our history - no one else will do it for us. I've just started watching, but am certainly enjoying it!

Dick Sexton · Post by **Dick Sexton** » 5 Aug 2014 12:31 am

Thank you, Mickey... Priceless!

Larry Jamieson · Post by **Larry Jamieson** » 5 Aug 2014 6:08 am

Very well done, Mickey. A priceless contribution to the history and understanding of steel guitar and the musicians who play it. I hope you have more of these and will post them for us. Thank you!

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 5 Aug 2014 6:20 am

As a matter of fact... I'm working on editing Bruce Boutons today..

Craig Schwartz · Post by **Craig Schwartz** » 5 Aug 2014 9:02 am

Wow Mickey that made my day listening to you steelers, It sure was nice of you to share Bobby and yourself with us.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 5 Aug 2014 10:16 am

Mickey, I will cherish that interview always. Beautifully done.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 5 Aug 2014 11:16 am

Thank you, Mickey!

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 5 Aug 2014 12:33 pm

Thank you, this is a great opportunity to keep Bobby around. I sure miss him..

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 5 Aug 2014 4:16 pm

That was great Mickey, I was at the Oklahoma show when you did the interview. We all appreciate what you do for the Steel Guitar, Larry

Jack Stanton · Post by **Jack Stanton** » 5 Aug 2014 4:50 pm

Thanks, Mickey.
Bobby was the only guy I know that could call me baby and make me smile.

pdl20 · Post by **pdl20** » 5 Aug 2014 5:34 pm

Thanks Mickey, Still can' get used to him being gone .God Bless Him.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 5 Aug 2014 6:15 pm

Y'see, the thing about Bobby was that, no matter where you were or how close an actual relationship you had with him, he made you feel a complete friend within the first few minutes of chatting with him. People who never met him personally but only talked on the phone or Internet chat room understand the sense of loss. What a great friend and brother he was to me!

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 5 Aug 2014 6:20 pm

That is some great stuff, Mickey. What a player, and that is some great content, but really, the man himself seemed special. I am humbled by the man's genuine humility.
Thanks.

Susan Alcorn (deceased) · Post by **Susan Alcorn (deceased)** » 5 Aug 2014 6:42 pm

Thank you so much, Mickey, for sharing this.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 5 Aug 2014 6:55 pm

Describing the old Oahu doubleneck steel as "Mother of unborn linoleum"! Classic.

Greg Milton · Post by **Greg Milton** » 6 Aug 2014 3:46 am

Just fantastic, Mickey! Thanks so much! What a lovely, humble man.

Would LOVE to see more of these, especially unedited! It really captures the rapport and the wonderfully natural interaction.

billy tam R.I.P. · Post by **billy tam R.I.P.** » 6 Aug 2014 6:25 am

Thanks Mickey for doing that interview and sharing it with us. Bobby was truly one of a kind and I will always treasure the times I spent with him as well as the many phone calls. I feel he was a great gift to the steel guitar world and will be sorely missed in our community.
Billy Tam

Larry Rafferty · Post by **Larry Rafferty** » 6 Aug 2014 6:58 am

Mickey, that was one of the greatest interviews I have ever seen. Thank you once again for sharing this...
you are a most valuable asset to all the steel guitar players.

Clete Ritta · Post by **Clete Ritta** » 6 Aug 2014 8:22 am

Great interview Mickey, thanks for posting.

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 6 Aug 2014 11:26 am

Amen Herb!..Thanks for all of your comments.....Bruce Bouton is next up on the editing block!

Tiny Olson · Post by **Tiny Olson** » 6 Aug 2014 11:43 am

Very... Very Cool !!! Thank you Mickey. And Herb, you're spot on with your comments on Bobby.

Sincerely,
Chris "Tiny" Olson

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 6 Aug 2014 12:05 pm

Herb Steiner wrote:Y'see, the thing about Bobby was that, no matter where you were or how close an actual relationship you had with him, he made you feel a complete friend within the first few minutes of chatting with him. People who never met him personally but only talked on the phone or Internet chat room understand the sense of loss. What a great friend and brother he was to me!

Intensely dittoing what Herb said! Thanks for sharing this Mickey!

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 6 Aug 2014 2:25 pm

Watched this morning while packing for "Gig", (inside joke)...what a nice man he seemed to be...very humble and gracious...impressive!!!

J R Rose · Post by **J R Rose** » 6 Aug 2014 4:38 pm

Wonderful job Mickey, So very glad that you did this and others to come. It takes effort to do these things and I thank you. I knew Bobby well but mostly thru my long time friend Jim Florence. They went back to the beginning of pedals together. About the same age. What stories I have heard. A note about the C pedal being done away with and adding a knee lever to raise the fourth string from E to F# was a Ralph Mooney movement that never had a C pedal. The knee lever was on the right knee to right. Mooney had later on a C pedal what is the Franklin pedal today. Mooney, Bowman, Florence and Tom Brumley confirmed this to me in St. Louis one year. The steel pickers of that beginning times would hear a lick and knew what was going on but did not know or where it was taking place and they would just add a pedal or lever to make that sound. I suppose credit is given to Day and Emmons for making a standard pedal set up. Again Mickey, I thank you very much for your efforts and this interview. Thanks, J.R.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Interview #1...Bobby Bowman

Interview #1...Bobby Bowman

Wow!

Bobby Bowman

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