Funky steel players

Adam Tracksler · Post by **Adam Tracksler** » 1 Feb 2017 5:00 am

Reading through Andy Volk's "Lap Steel Guitar" book, I discovered Freddie Roulette. I went to YouTube to hear some of his playing, and found smoked fish https://youtu.be/1CGYDU_W5bo

I really liked it, any other steelers you mighty recommend playing funkified lap or pedal steel? (Yes I know about Robert Randolph)

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Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 1 Feb 2017 8:41 am

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Ethan Shaw · Post by **Ethan Shaw** » 3 Feb 2017 10:28 am

You might enjoy this... https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/brothershaw

Mike Daly · Post by **Mike Daly** » 7 Feb 2017 10:12 am

Back in the day, there was a steeler named Hop Wilson.. Funky name.. You might enjoy his music as well..

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 13 Feb 2017 6:28 am

Adam, check out the Vulfpeck thread in the Pedal Steel section.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 13 Feb 2017 6:43 am

I've been known to get a little funky, but it's nothing a good shower won't take care of.

Seriously, though, I was raised on R&B, Funk and Jazz, so if I can't bring da funk, it was all for naught.

Adam Tracksler · Post by **Adam Tracksler** » 13 Feb 2017 9:43 am

Donny Hinson wrote:Adam, check out the Vulfpeck thread in the Pedal Steel section.

Just what the doctor ordered!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 13 Feb 2017 10:39 am

Nobody has mentioned Gib Wharton, who AFAIK is the only pedal steel player to actually play in real New York funk bands, having gone through GIT (Guitar Institute of Technology) on steel guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5f4KPs5lMs

His left hand got severely messed up in a fire about fifteen years ago, but obviously overcame his disability.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 28 Apr 2017 7:12 pm

Michael Lee Allen wrote:Glenn Ross Campbell (Juicy Lucy)

Most definitely. Few have ever ventured into Glenn Ross territory with their Stringmasters, I would reckon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXkmuUoUyT0

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 4 May 2017 7:19 pm

For my money, the funkiest pedal steeler was the unheralded Lew Houston. This guy plays on a whole 'nother level than most of us. Not only are his licks unique, but the chicken pickin' muting is amazing. He was Conway's steel man before John Hughey. Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOZ4AWWLtXw

Joe

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 4 May 2017 9:10 pm

don't forget Gene O'Neal: FUNKY MONKEY

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 5 May 2017 8:19 am

If you like your funk on the country-fied side, I think Rusty Young's playing certainly qualifies. That Leslie organ sound was all his. It may not have been Rick James, but Nobody's Fool from Poco's 2nd album is a few blocks outside of the blue jean district.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dbHDvTgkxpo

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 5 May 2017 8:59 am

Saw Lew Houston with Conway at Ponderosa Park. In person his guitar riffs are just indistinguishable from a Fender tele. You hear it and just can't believe there's not a guitar on stage somewhere.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 5 May 2017 9:26 am

Although I may appear to sound boring because I always come up with John McFee, this sounds pretty funky:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNc8CZ0LJ8E

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 5 May 2017 11:06 am

Joachim Kettner wrote:Although I may appear to sound boring because I always come up with John McFee, this sounds pretty funky:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNc8CZ0LJ8E

John McFee is such a great musician, you can post about him any time. There was another thread recently about how few steelers double on fiddle. You can put him in that group too, because he kills on both. And then there's his guitar playing...

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 6 May 2017 5:39 am

Fred, there is a new Clover (John's old band from the sixties) completed. I'm looking forward to it's release.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 6 May 2017 10:42 pm

Joachim Kettner wrote:Fred, there is a new Clover (John's old band from the sixties) completed. I'm looking forward to it's release.

John McFee, Jeff Porcaro, Alex Call, and Huey Lewis? Talk about a supergroup that never was! I did not know about this band, and they were probably playing in clubs close to where I lived at the time. Thanks for the tip, Joachim. I will be looking for that record too.

Chris Templeton · Post by **Chris Templeton** » 7 May 2017 2:15 am

In the late '80's, I was playing and teaching steel in Hiroshima, Japan, at a place called Clemintine's.
One time, the road crew for a big Japanese artist, named Yazawa, came to the club and they told me that he was playing the next night at some hall and that he had hired some American musicians for a backup band. and would I like to go (backstage pass)?

Yazawa

I went and one of the musicians was John McFee. He was hired to play guitar and not steel.
He was super nice.
The crowd went totally bonkers for Yazawa and, never having heard of him, that was a little odd to see.
Good memories.

Dennis Lee · Post by **Dennis Lee** » 8 May 2017 7:33 am

My vote goes to Mr. Joe Goldmark. He has taken the steel to another dimension with the neatest assortment of songs, arrangements and interpretations.

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 16 May 2017 7:20 pm

Thank you, Dennis. I just try to play what I think fits. Glad you think it's funky.

Fred, I never heard that Jeff Porcaro was in Clover??? John McFee was a Northern Cal. treasure. I say was because he relocated to the Southern California area a few years back.

Joachim, i love that cut "Love, Love". The funny thing about that video is that the album cover that they show is from an earlier Clover album. That tune was from one of their two albums cut in England in the late '70s, when they also backed up Elvis Costello on his first album "My Aim is True".

Joe

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 16 May 2017 11:20 pm

Joe,
All I know about the band's history is what I read on Wikipedia. I somehow missed seeing them live in the Bay Area when they were getting started. Too busy trying to catch Texas Chainsaw at the Emeryville Townehouse, I guess

Anyway, Clover either had trouble keeping a drummer or lots of drummers wanted to play with them. Mr. Porcaro is listed as an alumnus, nonetheless.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 17 May 2017 2:52 am

Sadly their bass player, John Ciambotti passed away in 2010.
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... +ciambotti

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 17 May 2017 7:08 am

Definitely hunt down any of the "Sacred Steelers". I'm a big fan of Roosevelt Collier.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 17 May 2017 7:45 am

That tune was from one of their two albums cut in England in the late '70s, when they also backed up Elvis Costello on his first album "My Aim is True".

Hello Joe, Costello can be very funny. I've read his autobiography where he says that John played that "punk" instrument, the pedal steel guitar. I wish I remembered on which page.

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 17 May 2017 10:22 am

Adam Tracksler wrote:Reading through Andy Volk's "Lap Steel Guitar" book, I discovered Freddie Roulette. I went to YouTube to hear some of his playing, and found smoked fish https://youtu.be/1CGYDU_W5bo

I really liked it, any other steelers you mighty recommend playing funkified lap or pedal steel? (Yes I know about Robert Randolph)

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Adam, this is my favorite YouTube of Mr. Roulette - hope you enjoy it as much as do I (check out his bar slants):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX06XkUhkbs

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

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