Family members that play steel

[Johnie King]

My dad ,uncle, son an brother in law have played for years.
My dad an uncle took lessons in Hawaii after The Pear Habor bombing they were there for a year doing clean up. Can you imagine two Arkansas Farm boys getting a opportunity to live in Hawaii an take steel guitar lessons.
My son Zane started taking lessons from Zane Beck at the age of 9.
After a few months of lessons Zane Beck would only give Zane Mostly Jass lessons an cord structure. With Zane Becks 12 string tuning.

[Richard Sinkler]

I have a cousin (RIP) in Michigan that played pedal steel. I didn't know he played until it was too late. His name was Billy Vann. He played for Rem Wall as I recall. I wish I knew that he played decades ago. It would have been great to share the journey with him.

http://www.hartfordmichigan.com/wwwroot ... illiam.htm

[Jim Cooley]

My uncle has played since the 1950s. He's to blame for my obsession.

[Johnie King]

Yes I move to Flint Michigan from Arkansas in 1968 My Uncle Burl King played pedal steel I would play acoustic rhythm for him every Sunday for hours. We also built two pedal steels in his Basement. At that time there were several very good steel players playing at the palace garden an wagon wheel an several other places in Flint Chuck Adams,Ray Scarce, I think Terry Bethal took Steel lessons in Flint.
Don Green, an Bobby Houston. Good memories for sure

[Ron Hogan]

The Kings are Steel Guitar royalty! Kings of Steel.



I met my my Wife while I was on the road with Freddie Hart and found out she was a steel player. SO I HAD TO MARRY HER.

[Johnie King]

Ron you never told me that story that’s cool. I guess she’s much better player than you Ha ha

[Chris Sattler]

My brother is a member here. He has nice Carter but it needs to be played more.

Hear that Paul!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Paul King]

My brother Dennis King plays steel as well in our family. The difference in him and me is he is much better looking, at least that is what he tells everyone.

[Steven Hicken Jr.]

2 and a half generations...

My ol' man


My big brother


The one born hilariously late...
(The best mistake you could ever make).


On a more serious note I love Zane King's playing, very unique in his choice of phrasing and techniques.

Cheers,

Steven Hicken Jr.

[Cameron Fulp]

My Grandaddy , Jerry Phelps from Tyler TX. Grew up sitting on his lap watching the grand ole’ opry (back when it was real country) on Saturday nights. He’s a preacher , so Sunday mornings I would watch him play during sound check....until I got ahold of some drum sticks. Preachers have this great con “let’s get our kids into music ministry”= it’s heck to find a consistent drummer or pianist or guitar player....haha but on a serious note I wouldn’t trade growing up the way I did for anything. See my Grandaddy every day and he’s 77 and still rocking and rolling ! Groove has no age limit!!!!!

[Ron Scott]

Johnny I knew all of these players in Flint and started taking steel lessons from Chuck Adams in 1968 or !969. He was a lead guitar player but knew how to teach steel guitar. Quite a good time to grow up in Flint with all these guys playing their. I was very good friends with Ray Scarce for years until he passed away.

[Johnie King]

Ron that’s so cool yes at that time in Flint you could go here pedal steel just about any time of the week. Do you know Clyde Vaughn an Howard Klunz?

[Ron Scott]

Yes I do Johnny. I used to work with the Vaughn family some.I bought my first pedal steel from Howard in 1968 or 1969,a Double neck fender 1000. Traded it for a Sho-bud double Ten next from McCloud music in early 1970's on Corunna Rd in Flint.

[Richard Smelker]

Richard Sinkler - my brothers and I opened for Rem Wall a few times in the 60's. My parents owned a music store in Hastings Michigan - about 30 miles from Kalamazoo. If I remember right, Rem worked at the Gibson factory too. Now my older brother plays steel, I play steel, and my younger brother plays steel. They both started on steel in the 70's, I started in 2011 - just took me longer to get the bug!!

[Bob Bestor]

Everybody loved music though. Mom and Dad, aunts and uncles and grandparents all passionately listened to just about everything. But nobody played. Looking back, I'd have thought that there'd have at least been a dusty old, out of tune guitar stuffed away in a closet somewhere in the family. But no. So growing up, playing an instrument wasn't even on the radar. I don't recall giving it a thought until I got to high school and didn't get started until my early 20's. Fortunately both of my daughters play. Hopefully it's a new family trend!

[Ron Mishler]

Chucks bandmate Jimmy Murrah taught me how to play Pedal Steel and I was hooked. Started on a Sho~Bud Maverick that Howard Klontz put an extra knee lever on.
Mike Kyle and Billy Cole and Howard showed me alot also all from Flint.
Jimmy told me when Chucks brother passed he buried his guitar in the back yard and never played again.

[Larry Jamieson]

My dad was a school music teacher and band director. He played all the band instruments. On Saturdays he gave lessons in our home, teaching guitar, accordion, violin, and others, including Hawaiian guitar. He used the Oahu method and stayed a lesson or two ahead of his students. This was my first exposure to steel guitar.

[Rick Kornacker]

Hey all! First we will start with my late father-in-law, the great Jeff Newman...a mentor to many of us. Then comes yours truly(all Jeff's fault,haha) and then our most recent addition, Mr. Brian Spratt, whom many of you might know as a Forum member. Hopefully all of our friends here will have benefited in some way by our humble contributions over the years. I expect that Brian will amply contribute via his website "The Pedal Stop". I also hope to consult and contribute for as long as I'm able. Now y'all go and play something gooood! Regards,RK

[Samuel Phillippe]

I have a cousin (RIP) in Michigan that played pedal steel. I didn't know he played until it was too late. His name was Billy Vann. He played for Rem Wall as I recall. I wish I knew that he played decades ago. It would have been great to share the journey with him.

Richard, I moved to the Holland MI area in 1965..... I remember watching Rem Wall, it was a good show. Don't remember Billy Vahn but do remember a steel player being on the show.

Sam

[Richard Sinkler]

I have a cousin (RIP) in Michigan that played pedal steel. I didn't know he played until it was too late. His name was Billy Vann. He played for Rem Wall as I recall. I wish I knew that he played decades ago. It would have been great to share the journey with him.

Richard, I moved to the Holland MI area in 1965..... I remember watching Rem Wall, it was a good show. Don't remember Billy Vahn but do remember a steel player being on the show.

Sam

Billy played for Rem for 25 years. There was a stretch where he played guitar and Howard Quibell played steel in the late 50s & 60's. That's the only timline I could find. Unfortunately, all relatives that would know are long gone.

Here's his obituary:

https://obits.mlive.com/us/obituaries/k ... d=13141876

Hyla Sinkler was my Dad's sister.