Remembering our fellow friend and picker, Mr. Tommy Dodd. The man touched many people’s lives, pictured here with a beautiful ZUM STEEL at the first DeBary Steel Show Larry put together, and Tommy was well accepted and returned for several more. This was 1989.
Thanks Tommy, you’re thought of often……
If it's a penny for your thoughts!!!
Why must everyone put in their two cents worth???
Yeah, I miss Tommy. I don't think anyone else ever showed as much pure joy at playing steel as he did.
He was always a highlight of the Phoenix shows for me.
Skip Edwards wrote:Yeah, I miss Tommy. I don't think anyone else ever showed as much pure joy at playing steel as he did.
He was always a highlight of the Phoenix shows for me.
Tommy commanded the steel guitar; he was a physical man and played physically. He picked the strings with determination and power, but also with great finesse. His last song of the set, often "Billie Jean" or "Dance With Me," ended with a crescendo and a powerful look of successful completion on his face, his head up with a smile on his face and his eyes closed.
Like in Skip's photo. He was a virtuoso, a stylist, an artist really; and for decades one of my closest friends in the steel world. One of those whose absence at steel conventions make the event just a little lonelier.
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?
Can't ever forget Tommy. The last time I saw him, I think was Mt. Vernon, Ill. show in 2019. Had a great time that weekend with tommy and Donna. Tommy was great and fun to spend time with. Miss you my friend.
Jeff, thank you for your kind post!
To each of you, your acknowledgment of Tommy’s friendship and passion for the steel guitar fills my heart with love and appreciation for YOU!
Listening to Tommy’s CDs and videos is still so difficult for me. However, several of you at the TSGA and GaSGA shows have played and dedicated some of Tommy’s steel guitar favorites to me! I absolutely love that!
And, I hope you will continue to sing his praises! Tommy’s enthusiasm and love for his steel guitar brethren exceeded anything he ever did on stage!
YOU were a shining star in his life!
He will always be a shining star in mine!!
Donna Dodd
Georgia Steel Guitar Association (GaSGA) Board Member & Website Administrator
"Every person is a new door to a different world."
- from movie Six Degrees of Separation
I miss Tommy too, his sets were something I looked forward to every year. His cool songs that nobody else played, and he played them with such excitement and enthusiasm, a joy to listen to.He heard me play in Phoenix and was one of the first people to tell me how much he enjoyed my set. It really made me happy, coming from a player of his calibre. We started talking more and more the last few years and were becoming buddies.After his surgery it seemed like his recovery was going really well, then he was gone. Sad day for a lot of people, me included.So now I'm talking to Donna more, what a sweetheart, and a strong lady. Tommy was lucky to spend years with her .RIP TOMMY,I think of you often. CATT
I'm sorry I did'nt know Tommy,, But i'm sorry for your loss. I just buried my daughter Saturday... So we both share the same feelings of loss. Thank you Donna for all your support on SGF, Lee
To each of you who commented - thank you, again!
You’re all so kind! Skip, I will never forget the smile on Tommy’s face when you called to give him brotherly support for his upcoming valve replacement!
Bovine or porcine? It’s truly the little things in life that matter!
Donna Dodd
Georgia Steel Guitar Association (GaSGA) Board Member & Website Administrator
"Every person is a new door to a different world."
- from movie Six Degrees of Separation
Lee, I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your daughter. I cannot imagine that kind off pain. My heart goes out to you!
Sincerely - Donna
Donna Dodd
Georgia Steel Guitar Association (GaSGA) Board Member & Website Administrator
"Every person is a new door to a different world."
- from movie Six Degrees of Separation
Tommy was a superior pedal steel guitarist, loved to play 1960's rock and roll and a blessed man to have Donna in his life. I'm very fortunate to own one of his Infinity guitars to keep his legacy alive.
I enjoyed sharing the stage with Tommy on several occasions. Sitting at a steel next to Tommy was as intimidating as anything I've ever done. It was also like watching a well oiled machine running but way more fun! Tommy was a friend from the first time we met. Donna is one of the sweetest ladies in the world! Rest well Tom.
