The top three pedal steel players of all time.

[scott murray]

Not sure of the point in these all-time lists but surprised not to see Curly Chalker listed.

he was mentioned twice before your post

[Bobby Nelson]

With it being understood that Buddy Emmons is a derivative source, and thus yes, on his own. After that, using the criteria of soulfulness, and being interesting to listen to and musical, my list is:

Jimmy Day (another derivative source)

Buddy Charleton/Lloyd Green (I can't separate them at #2)

John Hughey

In a more commentary sense, I have to put Paul Franklin at the top of the heap.

[Bill Lowe]

Can’t do 3
Buddy Emmons
Mike Johnson
Lots Green
Tommy White
John Hughey
Tom Brumley

[Stan Paxton]

WOW - All those complexities you guys talk about in the foregoing posts are too much for my simple mind. I have to keep it simple. .. Can only relate to what my ear, heart & soul loves to hear. It's like discerning difference in temperature between 10 below Zero & 40 below Zero - I can't. ..
So with all those many masters afore named, how can I determine who is greatest! ..
#1, Lloyd Green, #1, John Hughey, #1, Jimmy Day. ..
Respectfully, Big E on his own. ..

[Jim Cooley]

All of the above certainly deserve recognition, so I'll just add:

Innovation: Pete Drake
Touch and Tone: Dicky Overbey

[Johnny Cox]

Impossible to do in three players. Besides at this point it's just opinion. I can tell you some of my favorites though.
In no particular order,
Hal Rugg, Weldon Myrick, Lloyd Green, Buddy Emmons, Pete Drake, Curly Chalker, Maurice Anderson, Tom Morrell, Buddy Charlton, Billy Braddy, Tommy White, Robby Turner, Doug Jernigan. All these guys were/are monsters in their own right.

[Fred Treece]

“Most revolutionary” would be a good description for Rusty Young. Maybe not as great a pure player as many of the others mentioned, but no slouch either. Definitely a rebel.

[Donny Hinson]

I can't pick three. But I can probably think of two - Jay Harlin and Arthur Harmon (since they practically invented the instrument we call "pedal steel guitar").

[Johnie King]

1/Julian Tharp
2/Curly Chalker
3/Big Jim Murphy

[Tony Prior]

I'm interested in everyone's opinion on who they believe the three most revolutionary pedal steel players of all time are? The Criteria is Innovation, Taste, Touch, Tone ect...

It appears the question is not based on actual playing skill ( whos the best player ) but includes many other facets which includes influence, as in most influential.

So for me its 5, not 3 . I can't do 3 ! and this certainly does not mean that I don't think that there are a bunch of other great players, I do. But for me, these are the most influential.


Buddy
Loyd
Paul
Mike J
Tommy


I would agree that every Steel player has a favorite "whos the best player" but I also believe the 5 above have touched and influenced EVERY player, every day , everywhere on the planet . And still do.

[Curt Trisko]

Cody asks for the three most revolutionary.

Bud Isaacs, Speedy West and Ralph Mooney then.

Long live the revolution!

Looking at this thread, you'd think the steel guitar world was in constant state of upheaval.

[Floyd Lowery]

1/Julian Tharp
2/Curly Chalker
3/Big Jim Murphy

I don't think it possible to pick just 3 and say they are the best all time, but these 3 were certainly in a class of their own.

[Earnest Bovine]

1) Johnny Farina

#1 in chutzpah

[James Mayer]

1) Johnny Farina

#1 in chutzpah

[James Mayer]

Ok, seriously this time. With over 7 billion people on the planet and arguably less than 7% of that interested or even aware of American country music, I don't think the players everyone is mentioning have the exposure to be all that widely influential. If it's about "influential" then we should go with the most widely heard steel parts of all time, right?

1) David Gilmour - steel is all over Dark Side of the Moon, which "everyone" on Earth has heard too many times to count. With that recent auction, his humble Jedson lap steel became, by far, the most valuable steel guitar in the world.
2) Jerry Garcia - if not the wildly and internationally popular Grateful Dead, than "Teach Your Children" by CSN&Y.
3) Santo Farina - Sleepwalk. Not sure how, but everyone seems to have heard it.

If "best" means "technically proficient", "prolific" or "innovative" then those already mentioned elsewhere in the thread apply.

[Sonny Jenkins]

Jeff Newman would have to have a huge consideration,,,not only could he "play" anyone's style,,,but could analyze it in depth,,,then teach it. His contribution to the steel guitar community, while maybe not as innovation as the "worlds foremost steel guitar player",,,has certainly not been equaled by anyone,,,yet.

[scott murray]

Ok, seriously this time. With over 7 billion people on the planet and arguably less than 7% of that interested or even aware of American country music, I don't think the players everyone is mentioning have the exposure to be all that widely influential. If it's about "influential" then we should go with the most widely heard steel parts of all time, right?

1) David Gilmour - steel is all over Dark Side of the Moon, which "everyone" on Earth has heard too many times to count. With that recent auction, his humble Jedson lap steel became, by far, the most valuable steel guitar in the world.
2) Jerry Garcia - if not the wildly and internationally popular Grateful Dead, than "Teach Your Children" by CSN&Y.
3) Santo Farina - Sleepwalk. Not sure how, but everyone seems to have heard it.

If "best" means "technically proficient", "prolific" or "innovative" then those already mentioned elsewhere in the thread apply.

OP did ask for pedal steel players specifically but most people don't know the difference anyway I guess

[James Mayer]

OP did ask for pedal steel players specifically but most people don't know the difference anyway I guess

Good point. I saw someone list Jerry Byrd earlier......

I guess that bumps Garcia to the top of the list.

[Johnie King]

Floyd I’m with you there’s
really no way to pick three.
Maybe top 100 steel players

[Fred Treece]

Just thought I’d repost the OP’s request.

I'm interested in everyone's opinion on who they believe the three most revolutionary pedal steel players of all time are? The Criteria is Innovation, Taste, Touch, Tone ect... We all know the impact Buddy Emmons has had on the world of pedal steel. His contribution probably cannot be matched.

The first criterion on the list being “innovation”. Maybe we can assume that it is the OP’s most important qualifier, and also that it refers to revolutionary innovative playing. I don’t know, just guessing there. Nowhere on the list is “popularity” or “influential”, though I would not assume those are disqualifications.

Also there was this little tag at the end -

Tell me yours and why...

Okay, carry on. Fun topic.

[Craig A Davidson]

I would say:

Buddy Emmons
Jimmy Day
Lloyd Green

If you had to go for then we would have a big tie. Who would you pick? Hal Rugg, Weldon Myrick, Buddy Charleton, Ralph Mooney,Sonny Garrish, Curly Chalker, Maurice Anderson, Bobby Garrett, Speedy West, Ron Elliot, Tommy White, Johnny Cox, Terry Bethel, oh well you get the point.

[scott murray]

if we're ranking players on innovation, we need to acknowledge Jimmie Crawford. he was hugely innovative on both necks and had what Buddy Emmons called "the best right hand in the business"

here's a few good examples:

I Just Came to Get My Baby with Faron Young

a couple on C6

Rhode Island Red etc

[Bob Jennings]

Don't forget Alvino Rey--he played pedal steel and the talking steel, but, Bud Issacs started it with "Slowly". Granted; Buddy Emmons, Jimmy Day and all that have been mentioned developed the pedal steel to what it is today--so, who is the Top Three--better say the Top 10/15/20 or ???

Just my input.

Bob Jennings

[Roger Rettig]

Thanks for those links, Scott. Marvelous!

I was on a tour with Jimmie in the '90s and sound-checks were the best part of my day. I'd ask Jimmie to play me some thumb-style C6th and his library of material seemed endless.

Jimmie helped me so much during those times and he educated me on the real value of 'lowering the 9th' on E9. My old ZB didn't have that pull until JC showed me how invaluable it could be. What a sweetheart of a human being he was and what a monumental player.

[J R Rose]

Sara Jory

Sara Jory

Sara Jory

She is a great picker, a great performer, a great entertainer, and just all in all a great performer. Wishing you the best Sara, J.R.