Al Marcus

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 31 Jan 2005 6:19 pm

I'm posting this here because I'm unable to send him an email or add a comment to his website. I really enjoyed the pictures and the history. It's amazing that anyone can remember all those details from that far back, I can't remember what time I got up this morning. I have probably heard him at some time and didn't realize who the player was. At any rate, I would love to hear some now. Is there a cd or any clips available?

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3
http://www.Charmedmusic.com

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 31 Jan 2005 6:27 pm

Al Marcus is not only a steel guitarist, he is a Pioneer who did it the old fashioned way.......

HE EARNED IT.........Al plays modern before most ever dreamed it could be done on a steel guitar and to this Forum he is in my opinion "The Chairman Of The Board"

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 31 Jan 2005 8:13 pm

You guys are good judges of character.
Al is a real jewel. We first met several years ago, at one of L.T. Zinn's concerts I was playing in Grand Rapids. Each succeeding year I would always look for Al and he would amaze me with his depth of knowledge. This is a man who has tried EVERYTHING musically that pedal steel has to offer, from the MultiKord through the MSA Millennium. It is my priviledge to know him. We stand on the shoulders of giants. Al Marcus is one, for sure.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 31 Jan 2005 8:20 pm

Al Marcus is one of the guys that was there as it was evolving. I've got a guy like that here in my home town and I try to get as much info as I can to carry on because these older players are treasures. I hope I get to meet Al someday.

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 31 Jan 2005 8:45 pm

Rumaging through some old things the other day, I ran into a 1974 pamphlet by Bob Meadows with a slew of copedants of the day. He gives both a 12 and 14 string A6th set-up from Al that are both terrific. And, from all I've read, Al has continued to be an innovator ever since.

Bill Stafford · Post by **Bill Stafford** » 1 Feb 2005 4:37 am

Al Marcus and Alvino Rey were, and are, two of our greatest steel guitat innovators and musicians. Our world would not be the same withouth these two very talented musicians. Thanks Al Marcus-you are one of my treasures.

Bill Stafford

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 1 Feb 2005 4:39 am

Al is gentleman with class. I've never read a negative post from him, ever. It truly is a blessing to have Al here and for him to share with us his immense knowledge.

Bill Moore (RIP) · Post by **Bill Moore (RIP)** » 1 Feb 2005 6:20 am

Al Marcus is a heck of a nice guy and has more muscial knowledge in one finger than I could ever hope to have.

Howard, I helped Al make his web page, I'm not a pro at web pages, I just made as good as I could, with the limited knowledge that I have. If you, or anyone else would like to add a comment to the web page, send it to me: wmoore@provide.net I will add it. Al has mentioned to me that many have emailed him with comments, but I have only added the comments that were sent to me.

The newest thing on Al's page is a picture of him with his MSA Millennium guitar, take a look, if you haven't seen it yet.

I can't add much more to what you guys have already said about Al, A Treasure, Pioneer, Gentleman, that's Al.

Susan Alcorn (deceased) · Post by **Susan Alcorn (deceased)** » 1 Feb 2005 1:18 pm

Yes, Al Marcus is the real thing, and a living history of our instrument -- the steel guitar has a varied, musically and geographically diverse history. It's nice to be able to discover this in people such as Al.

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 3 Feb 2005 1:43 pm

Howard Tate-Thanks for the post. I am glad you enjoyed my Website.
I don't have a CD but maybe I can get some of my old taped solos out and put a few on a CD, if I ever get time to do it....

Jody-Thanks and Bless you! There should be no doubt in anyones's mind , that it is Jody Carver that IS "The Chairman Of The Board"...

Larry Bell-Thanks to my old friend from Michigan. I enjoyed talking to you and seeing you play at the Grand Rapds shows. I hope you can make it up here again.
I love your great Website which is helping so many players with your knowledge of the universal tuning. Your two CD"s that I have shows your excellent musicanship....

Chris Bauer- Bob Meadows was a great western swing player. He and I got together many times at his home in Scottsdale when I lived in Arizona. I remember showing my tunings to him that I had worked out, and when I moved back to Michigan , he sent me his booklet with them in it. Sure surprised me.......

Bill Stafford- Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate that coming from one of the Best, "Mr. Smooth" himself.
I hope you can come to Grand Rapids this spring to renew old acquaintances. I also want your newest 2 CD's that I heard so much about......

Bill Moore- My Michigan friend. If it wasnt for you, I know that I never would have had a website showing a little bit of history.
So I owe you a lot. When this Michigan weather gets toward spring. I wish you will be able to visit with me again and talk steel guitar.....

Susan Alcorn- Thanks for your good words.
If you haven't heard Susan play the steel guitar, get her CD that I have .
She takes the steel guitar in a new exciting and never travelled direction. Her tone and tasteful playing is something to hear.....

Thanks for this fine post, I appreciate it.............al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 3 Feb 2005 2:13 pm

i've never met Al, but i'm always glad to read what he's got to post here.
we're lucky to have this old school gentleman around to teach us a few thangs so it can be carried on
i often think just how lucky guys like Al are to have been around during the heyday of Steel guitar

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 4 Feb 2005 8:48 pm

Crowbear-Thanks for the nice comments on my Web site.I wish I could meet you.

You are right. I have been just plain lucky and blessed all my life. And for that, I am very thankful.......al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 5 Feb 2005 5:40 am

Al,
WE are the ones who are blessed.

Have a happy Saturday my friend

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 5 Feb 2005 6:31 am

Although I have never met Al face to face, he and I have corresponded a number of times via email. I have been totally impressed by Al in three ways: (1) his vast knowledge of music and steel guitar history; (2) the fact that he was playing "up town" music on steel when I was just learning to play Roy Acuff's "Fireball Mail"; and (3) that great and congenial personality that comes through even in his posts and email.

Al, I just referred the man from the University of Maryland who is compiling a history of the steel guitar to you for the answers to some questions about the "old days" that I couldn't answer.

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Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
Browse my Photo Album and be sure to sign my Guest Book.

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 6 Feb 2005 9:33 am

I only know Al through the Forum and consider him a dear musical friend. He has
been more than helpful to me over the years.
Many thanks Al for your advice and encouragement.
Roy

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 6 Feb 2005 9:38 am

I only know Al through the Forum and consider him a dear musical friend.
The Patriarch has given valuable advice and encouragement over the years and I am glad to have this opportunity to offer my sincere thanks.

Roy
PS Sorry for the double but I thought I lost the first one. [This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 06 February 2005 at 09:39 AM.]

Steve Knight · Post by **Steve Knight** » 6 Feb 2005 1:00 pm

Hello Al,

I have really enjoyed your website, too. It looks great. I hope you are able to tranfer some of your recorded performances on tape to CD. After looking at your old set lists on your website, I'd love to hear them.

SK

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 8 Feb 2005 6:33 pm

Hello old friend.
I will offer to put all your tapes on cd's for you .. you pick the songs and we will get it done..

Bud.

PS: as you can see I am not at my home right now, I will be there on thursday evening.

Jerry Tillman · Post by **Jerry Tillman** » 8 Feb 2005 6:51 pm

I agree with all the praise of AL and would like to add that reading his post is really nice but getting to talk to him on the phone lets you get the whole picture of how much Al knows and has been through.He is very encourging or inspirational when talking about playing the steel.Thanks Al. ps would like to add- we miss you Carl

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 13 Feb 2005 6:12 pm

I want to again thank all you guys, Larry, Roy Ayres,Roy Thomson,Steve, Willis(bud), Jerry for helping make my day with your kind words.

I'd like to say that I have Cd's of Roy Ayres, Roy Thomson and Larry Bell, and they are playing some fine Steel Guitar in them. Well worth buying and listening.

Steve I don't think any old tapes of mine would be worth listening to these days with all the great steel players of today, right here on this Forum.

Some of those pedal steel tunes I did solos on were 54 years ago! Thanks anyway........al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 14 Feb 2005 12:44 pm

I'm bumping Al to the top because thats where he belongs.

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 16 Feb 2005 5:50 am

Al:
You forgot one thing, a lot of us were around fifty four years ago and we know what good music was.
One of my favorites from that era was the
101 Ranch Boys radio show from York Pa. My friend and inspiration Leonard T. Zinn was smokin that steel every Saturday. And like you he is still smokin that thing. So my offer still stands to put some of your material on CD'S. Let me know.

Bud

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 22 Feb 2005 2:37 pm

DELEATED>>>>BIG MISTAKE< SORRY

Lem, I hope nobody else read this.

Bill

[This message was edited by Bill Ford on 22 February 2005 at 02:50 PM.][This message was edited by Bill Ford on 22 February 2005 at 02:53 PM.]

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 22 Feb 2005 2:43 pm

No problem, Bill. All is cool.

Lem[This message was edited by Lem Smith on 22 February 2005 at 02:57 PM.]

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 22 Feb 2005 2:52 pm

Lem, Al, everybody...serious apologys.

I don't know where my brain was/is.

Bill