Who is Your Favorite Steel Guitar Player?

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 18 Jun 2017 12:12 pm

Having a nostalgic day again. These days seem to come more frequently as I get older.

My Favorite Professional Steel Guitar Player: Don Helms 1927-2008.

My favorite professional steel guitar player, in the late 1940's and early 1950's, was Don Helms. Don
became a MEMBER OF THE STEEL GUITAR HALL OF FAME in 1984. Since we did not have TV, I could
only listen to him on the radio.

In later years I had the opportunity and pleasure to visit in Don's home several times, where we played
our Gibson Console Grandes (our Console Grandes were identical), and had discussions regarding steel
guitar, and Don's professional career. A great steel player and man.

C. E.

Bill Groner · Post by **Bill Groner** » 18 Jun 2017 12:31 pm

Jay Dee Maness

Joe Elk · Post by **Joe Elk** » 18 Jun 2017 2:32 pm

I am old. Steel Johnny Sibert On dobro Oswald.

And When I was little I did not have to to be on Saturday night until I had heard
Lulu Belle and Scotty Sing. That was WLS National Barn Dance..
Joe Elk Central Ohio

Larry Lenhart · Post by **Larry Lenhart** » 18 Jun 2017 2:42 pm

Jerry Byrd...from the first time I head him on recordings.

Steve Marinak · Post by **Steve Marinak** » 18 Jun 2017 4:49 pm

If only one, I'd say Dick McIntire.

Dana Duplan · Post by **Dana Duplan** » 18 Jun 2017 6:16 pm

There's no way I could name just one, or even a few, but these are up there:

Early: Joaquin Murphey
Mid: Tom Morrell
Current: Jeremy Wakefield

And many more!!

Douglas Bryant · Post by **Douglas Bryant** » 18 Jun 2017 6:55 pm

Joaquin, Speedy, John, Cindy, Eddie, Chris, Kayton, Bobby, Jeremy, Tom, Vance, Jim, or whomever else I have listened to recently. And that’s just the non-pedal players. Too many greats to pick just one!

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 18 Jun 2017 11:07 pm

Jules Ah See, the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Legend.

Einar Baldursson · Post by **Einar Baldursson** » 19 Jun 2017 12:33 am

Impossible to pick one of course but these days it's David Keli'i.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 19 Jun 2017 12:43 am

Doug Jernigan of course.

With Tom Morrell and Buddy Emmons second.

Just can't believe how awesome Jernigan is truly. On pedal and non-pedal.

Thiel Hatt · Post by **Thiel Hatt** » 19 Jun 2017 4:19 am

Non-pedal = Jerry Byrd
Pedal steel #1 = Lloyd Green, Ron Elliott, Buddy Emmons
Pedal Steel #2 = Audie Shields, Jeff Newman
Standard Guitar = Chet Atkins, Brent Mason
Keyboard = Floyd Carmmer
Honorable Mention = John Hughey, Paul Franklin, Kayton Roberts.

Miles Lang · Post by **Miles Lang** » 19 Jun 2017 4:10 pm

Santo Farina

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 19 Jun 2017 6:08 pm

Jerry, Buddy, Santo

Steve Pawlak · Post by **Steve Pawlak** » 19 Jun 2017 7:16 pm

Fred Justice

David M Brown · Post by **David M Brown** » 20 Jun 2017 3:20 am

Don Kona Woods wrote:Jules Ah See, the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Legend.

Steve Marinak wrote:If only one, I'd say Dick McIntire.

Some of my favorites....hard to choose....and I have a soft spot for Billy Hew Len's style.

Jim Cooley · Post by **Jim Cooley** » 20 Jun 2017 5:46 am

Dicky Overbey, Lloyd Green, John Hughey, Mike Johnson, Steve Palousek, and anybody I forgot to mention.

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 20 Jun 2017 6:46 am

Greg Leisz

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 20 Jun 2017 7:35 am

As far as a current non pedal player, and I'm not just saying it because he's a member here, but I really like Doug Beaumier's style. Mike Neer also does some very nice stuff.

Current pedal steel, I'd be hard pressed to pick an absolute favorite but Paul Franklin would certainly be in the running. I also like Sarah Jory, although I'm not sure how much she is playing currently.

Oldies? Of course Jerry and Don Helms.

Brad Davis · Post by **Brad Davis** » 20 Jun 2017 8:07 am

Don, Little Roy, Kayton. And Jerry. And Johnny Sibert. And a half a dozen others.

If I could just play a little bit like each of them I'd be doing fine. I like those Western swing guys too.

G Strout · Post by **G Strout** » 20 Jun 2017 8:17 am

Tom Morrell , Jerry Byrd (of course) and have recently been listening to a lot Chris Scruggs and Eddie Rivers

Tom Harris · Post by **Tom Harris** » 20 Jun 2017 9:18 am

Bobby White and PeeWee Whitewing, have loved these two guys sincve early fifties,I never get tired of that Brazos Valley western swing sound, of course Hank Thompson was my Idol since mid forties, that man had the smoothest voice,and loved their stage apearences with the Nudi suits.R I P Hank and BOBBY.

Dave O'Brien · Post by **Dave O'Brien** » 20 Jun 2017 2:50 pm

Weldon

Sebastian Müller · Post by **Sebastian Müller** » 21 Jun 2017 5:58 am

For me it's also impossible to pick only one. In the moment my three most influential are:

Sol Hoopii
Dick McIntire
Feet/Benny Rogers (count as one because their family-style is so similar)

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 21 Jun 2017 12:40 pm

I don't have favourites. I like all those mentioned so far and I would add to the list Jeff Au Hoy, Isaac Akuna and Chuck Lettes.

PS Did anyone mention Hal Aloma?

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 21 Jun 2017 6:17 pm

Very difficult to name just one, and of course my favorites are the people who play (played) Hawaiian music...
And some are still with us !

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