Singing Steel Players?

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 7 Nov 2004 7:50 pm

1) How many of you sing lead vocals while playing the steel in your band?
2) How many songs do you sing on an average night?
3) What songs do you sing?

Jennings Ward · Post by **Jennings Ward** » 7 Nov 2004 7:59 pm

I dont, can't sing..But a good frind of mine does, Jonny Bonz of Wildwood, Fl. Does..He does a fantastic job, He reall plays the melody, harmony , and sing the lead or melody line all at the same time.. He is bussier than a peg legged one arm paper hanger in a huricane....Damit , he does it good too. His wife is a great Bass player also....Wish I could, all I can do is drool when I wach them.......Jennings

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Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 7 Nov 2004 8:01 pm

I sing: "Honky Tonk Downstairs"; "I'm Tired"; "An Eye for an Eye"; "Dreams of a Dreamer" in a couple of the outfits I play with. Sometimes 1 or 2 songs a night and also sing Harmony on most the songs and play steel at the same time.>> why you ask??
Ricky

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 7 Nov 2004 8:25 pm

I can't sing. Wish I could.It would allow me to be a part of a lot of these little 3 or 4 piece bands which is about all club owners will pay for at least during week nites.Also I enjoy working in small bands.I like to play a lot.

Well I do that even in a 5 piece band.I'd go insane in some of these country road bands where you only play a line here and there.

Not trying to start anything. But I don't feel RR would be where he is today I he didn't sing.Again I'm not trying to take anything away from Roberts playing which I enjoy.Just stating my opinion.......bb

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 7 Nov 2004 8:28 pm

WC Edgar is a good singer as well as a good steel player. Also, local picker Price Porter is an excellent singer. Wally Murphy has great singing chops as well.

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Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 7 Nov 2004 8:55 pm

Ricky,
I asked because I would like to try singing a couple of songs, but never have. I am curious to hear what others do. I play the same club every Fri/Sat. I'm not really interested in singing backups as our group already has plenty of good vocalist..I'd probably be lucky to get the opportunity to squeeze in 2 songs a night. Right now vocal phrasing and steel playing feel like ying & yang....also curious if anyone uses a headset mic...

Dale Thomas · Post by **Dale Thomas** » 7 Nov 2004 9:32 pm

I front my band, sing about 20 songs per night, play fills, harmony parts and riffs with other members and of course, plenty of lead steel. There is, on occasion, the conflict of concentration, but I enjoy the spontaneous action. bOb has my CDs. It's vocals, steel, fiddles and more.

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Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 7 Nov 2004 10:03 pm

It definately takes a little getting use to!

Ivan Posa · Post by **Ivan Posa** » 7 Nov 2004 11:33 pm

It definetely helps to use a good quality headset mic while singing and playing steel simultaneously. I like most steel players look at my hands most of the time while playing, and not having to worry where the mic is really helps. I use a wireless crown CM 311AE. Joe Wright is the only one I have seen who can play without looking or even hold a conversation with someone while playing and not miss a beat.

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Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 8 Nov 2004 3:11 am

Jim Vest is one the all time great vocalist/steel guitarist. I would always catch him at the Stockyard when in Nashville
years back.

Chick Donner · Post by **Chick Donner** » 8 Nov 2004 6:26 am

Mike Sigler, late of the Holly Dunn show, is awesome on steel, and can sing (very well) while playing. Of course, he also plays lead, bass, banjo, fiddle, etc. He grew up in a musical family.

Robert Thomas · Post by **Robert Thomas** » 8 Nov 2004 7:28 am

Steve go for it. With practice most everyone can do it. I have been singing for over 6 years now and playing for closing in on 60 years. I am a single so it requires that I play my own melody while singing. I do a large variety of songs from old standards, c/w, Hawaiian, and various other numbers which my audience enjoys and requests.
It is really fun to be able to express yourself in other ways while playing the most beautiful instrument in the world.
Again, I encourage you to not give up.

Dave Burr · Post by **Dave Burr** » 8 Nov 2004 7:30 am

Let's not forget the great Dickey Overby! I don't know how often he does it, but boy can he sing. Talk about a triple threat!!! Awesome singer, songwriter and player! He wrote a song called "Last Waltz" that he sings on his CD "HonkyTonkMemories.com" that is just killer!

Respectfully,
Dave Burr

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 8 Nov 2004 8:22 am

Steve; that's cool man and I hear what your saying. It can be tuff to sing and play at the same time. I know it's hard for me because I'm always singing in my head what I'm going to play on the steel; and trying to sing vocal phrasing at the same time is real hard. So I pretty much just play the chords on my steel as I'm singing and let the others do the fills; then I'll start the solo section. As you get used to it; you will be able to do a move/fill here and there between phrases; but sing as well as you can and the steel parts will come later.
Go for it.
Ricky

Rich Mounce · Post by **Rich Mounce** » 8 Nov 2004 9:40 am

Dale Thomas does a GREAT job of singing and playing steel at the same time. I had the pleasure of hearing him live at last year's "Steel Jam 04" and his CD's are worth getting. Bob has them and you should all check them out. Band kicks butt!

I played steel last Sat night for the first time in years. Being a lead guitar player/vocalist I find it very hard to play steel and sing at the same time. As I sing the bar starts sliding...LOL...They wanted me to sing last Sat and I declined. I find it very difficult to do.

Rich Mounce http://takeoff.to/steeljam

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 8 Nov 2004 10:10 am

The voice is also a fretless instrument. I recall doing a duo a few years ago with a fretless bassplayer. in the middle of a song I was singing, it ocurred to me, who was following who? It's an interesting head trip.
when I first started playing steel, ( I was 37) I realized I wasn't going to play better than Al Brisco, Steve Smith or Ollie Strong, but if I also sang and harmonized, there was a good chance I might get hired, so I went for it.
Go for it and good luck!

Pete Grant · Post by **Pete Grant** » 8 Nov 2004 12:20 pm

I sometimes do a solo gig where I sing and back myself up (and take solos) on PSG. It's fun. Heck, PSG has a lot more going for it than standard guitar and people back themselves up on that all the time.

Billy McCoy · Post by **Billy McCoy** » 8 Nov 2004 1:06 pm

I sing Harmony Vocals and Play PSG.
Also, Electric Gtr. and Harmony vocals.
If you can do two or three things...you
end up with job security and MORE gigs.

b

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CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 8 Nov 2004 3:48 pm

i sing & play my psg or lap steel too
i don't get to fancy on steel when singin' that's for sure
just play the chords
gotta try one of them headset microphones
less restrictive without a doubt

Gene H. Brown · Post by **Gene H. Brown** » 8 Nov 2004 3:59 pm

I've been singing lead, harmony and pickin steel for over forty years and in January I will release my first country album of my own originals nationwide in Canada, I'm getting real excited, it has come off real nice. Lots of steel , fiddles, lead guitar and even marimba on a couple of cuts, whne it's released , I might stick part of an mp3 on the forum here so everyone can get a little taste of it.
Thanks
Gene

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If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!

Larry Allen · Post by **Larry Allen** » 9 Nov 2004 12:26 am

Steve I have to get my instruments(piano,guitar, bass fiddle or steel) totally on autopilot, (or on some songs, the vocals) to do both well. This takes lots of concentrated practice but will double your income or better. Been doing it now for over 40 years and I guarantee it will make you a much better musician all around and you can do some very cool arrangements as you get into taking control of the songs you want to do.Good luck and remember, You play what you practice!!!LA

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Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 9 Nov 2004 4:41 am

Larry Suthphin in my area sings very well and does some single shows with tracks by himself and makes a pretty good living at it. I remember in my Southern California days a couple of players out there who sang very well, namely James (J.G.) O'Rafferty and the Forum's own Jim Bob Sedgwick...JH

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 9 Nov 2004 6:52 am

I think playing steel and singing at the same time is a lot like driving and talking on a cell phone at the same time. One takes away from the other.
Erv

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 9 Nov 2004 8:22 am

Erv...you're probably right about that, although you gotta remember that in most cases 100% absolute perfection with either skill is not usually required just to get through another gig.(which you might have more of if you sing BTW.) Most of the time youre not playing or singing your most demanding stuff at the same time. Once you get use to doing it, it's really no different than those people who've learned to comp for themselves on piano or guitar.

Chick Donner · Post by **Chick Donner** » 9 Nov 2004 12:22 pm

I forgot (how could I) to mention the great Len Ryder of British Comumbia (Yuma A in the winters) from whom I purchased my first steel guitar, in Honolulu. He is a great singer and player. Does both extremely well.