Oahu 1950ish Dunagan School of Music Lap Steel pic

George Geisser · Post by **George Geisser** » 8 Jul 2020 1:07 pm

my buddy BJ Wright from Carthage Texas is in this class picture somewhere.

Tom Snook · Post by **Tom Snook** » 9 Jul 2020 1:47 am

I see him!
ALOHA

George Geisser · Post by **George Geisser** » 9 Jul 2020 5:25 am

BJ told me that a salesman came door to door (I believe Lubbock) selling the Oahu course, Lap Steels and amps . His dad bought him one and enrolled him in the class taught at school. I couldn't believe the interest in the Steel and that it was taught in Public Schools

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 9 Jul 2020 6:53 am

Small wonder there's so many steel players in Texas, since they taught it in elementary school. In Hawaii, they teach ukulele. Where I grew up, we leaned the Flutophone. Thirty or more of these things squeaking along to You Are My Sunshine was more than any poor elementary school teacher should ever have to endure.

Bob Tuttle · Post by **Bob Tuttle** » 9 Jul 2020 7:16 am

Hey George. Here is my picture when I was enrolled in the Oahu course in 1951, Odessa, Texas. That's me, second from the left in the front row.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 9 Jul 2020 8:47 am

Looks like the same building in those two photos.

George Geisser · Post by **George Geisser** » 9 Jul 2020 11:28 am

Bob Tuttle that's too ironic considering i showed you this picture yesterday! The poor quality and size did contribute to not making the connection. Unbelievable, that's no doubt the same school same "trees", window pattern etc and probably close to the same year judging on the tree growth. I posted this mainly as a tribute to BJ , a great guy and past owner of my green MSA UNI

Don Barnhill · Post by **Don Barnhill** » 9 Jul 2020 11:33 am

Guys that is so cool! Maybe we need more programs like that in our schools today.

Randall Palmore · Post by **Randall Palmore** » 9 Jul 2020 11:36 am

Bob- I might have asked you previously? So forgive me if so? Was Durwood Potts your teacher? He chewed me out good for pursuing the pedal steel. It was Byrdâ€™s way or the highway with him! Hope you are doing good. Great photo and lots of enthusiasm in Odessa for steel guitar! Take care R

Bob Tuttle · Post by **Bob Tuttle** » 9 Jul 2020 1:28 pm

Hey Randall. No, Mr. Potts wasn't my teacher. The school was the Dunagan School of Music. I.D.Dunagan and his two sons taught steel and guitar. My teacher was Stanley Dunagan, Until a young Al Petty came to town and started teaching for them. I was transfered to him and he taught me for close to three years.

Randall Palmore · Post by **Randall Palmore** » 9 Jul 2020 5:39 pm

10/4 Bob.. I recall Potts telling me he came to Odessa to teach? This was prior to him opening his music store...his teaching might have been a short stint? All the best to you Thanks for the pic.. quite a few students there! R

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 10 Jul 2020 8:18 am

Bob Tuttle wrote:Hey Randall. No, Mr. Potts wasn't my teacher. The school was the Dunagan School of Music. I.D.Dunagan and his two sons taught steel and guitar. My teacher was Stanley Dunagan, Until a young Al Petty came to town and started teaching for them. I was transfered to him and he taught me for close to three years.

Wow - THE Al Petty who played with the Rainbow Riders? He is fantastic! Check out this track with the wild doo-wah button effects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qLuI7nuGqU

Bob Tuttle · Post by **Bob Tuttle** » 10 Jul 2020 10:45 am

The one and only. Al was about 20 when he recorded that.

Bill Groner · Post by **Bill Groner** » 10 Jul 2020 12:28 pm

And to think.......all of those kids are now in their early to mid 80's...........YIKES! I can say that Bob because I was one year old when that picture was taken.

Bob Tuttle · Post by **Bob Tuttle** » 10 Jul 2020 1:06 pm

I was 12. Here are a couple more pictures.

Bill Groner · Post by **Bill Groner** » 11 Jul 2020 7:18 am

Can anyone name the make and model of the lapsteels in the front row left to right?

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 11 Jul 2020 7:31 am

Bill Groner wrote:Can anyone name the make and model of the lapsteels in the front row left to right?

Wondered that myself. Looks like a combo platter of Airlines, Silvertones, Valcos, and Alamos to me.

Randall Palmore · Post by **Randall Palmore** » 11 Jul 2020 7:33 am

Looks like Bob's in an Alamo..I think? I have one like it!

Bill Groner · Post by **Bill Groner** » 11 Jul 2020 7:56 am

I thought I saw a Fender in the mix? 7th from the left.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 11 Jul 2020 8:25 am

Bill Groner wrote:I thought I saw a Fender in the mix? 7th from the left.

Agreed. The tall dark-haired girl in the middle row standing towards the right may have a BR-9 Gibson.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 11 Jul 2020 8:36 am

Jack Hanson wrote:The tall dark-haired girl in the middle row standing towards the right may have a BR-9 Gibson.

Looks like the kid with his head cocked to the side towards the middle of the back row has one too.

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 12 Jul 2020 12:49 am

There's a couple Supro Commets in the front row, a 1949-50, on the left, no pickup cover and a ~ 1953 to the right with cover plate by my estimate.

Tom Snook · Post by **Tom Snook** » 12 Jul 2020 2:34 am

5th from right Fender Champion.
ALOHA
Hey, how'd that Clinesmith get in there?

ALOHA

Greg Forsyth · Post by **Greg Forsyth** » 13 Jul 2020 12:05 pm

Anyone see a Ric in the photo (guitar not kid)? I don't think I do but not sure, and wondering why.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 28 Jul 2022 7:22 am

Received via email:

The other day I was just going through the internet and did a search for Dunagan School of Music and ran across your site. Just to let you know I.D. Dunagan was my grandfather. I’m sure that if you spent any time around Lubbock you would have known my uncle Don, my aunt Marliss or my dad Marvin. Dad had 3 kids, Charlene, Jeff and me, Ron. Dad and my mom, Sarah have both passed away. I’m now raising my own clan of Dunagan’s. My granddad and his wife Ester both passed away when I was relatively young. The only picture I have of I.D. and me was of him holding me when I was around 3. He died shortly after that. I’m not sure about a lot of the dates. I was extremely happy and surprised to see those pictures at this site. I’m going to pass this along to my kids and their wives.

Ron Dunagan

The Steel Guitar Forum

Oahu 1950ish Dunagan School of Music Lap Steel pic

Oahu 1950ish Dunagan School of Music Lap Steel pic

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