Steel Influences? 50's,60's,70's,80's,90 - 05'

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 7 Jun 2005 2:43 am

50's > Don Helms/Little Roy Wiggins/Jerry Byrd 60's > Weldon Myrick / Buddy Charleston 70's > Lloyd Green / John Hughey 80's > Lloyd Green / Hughey 90's to Present > Hughey / Franklin / Mike Johnson / Tommy White and of course the Big E from 60's to today!

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 7 Jun 2005 3:53 am

Although that is an impressive list, it's not even close to being complete.

Some major pickers are missing such as Jimmy Day, Hal Rugg, Pete Drake and in the 80's Bruce Bouton. And,there are many more that could be added to the list.

If you meant to say those were YOUR influences that's one thing. But to say they were the only influences is wrong.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 7 Jun 2005 8:26 am

Making any kind of "favorites" list is hazardous. There are SO MANY who have contributed to what is the "current" state of the steel guitar, that to not mention them all at the same time is risking offending someone. We all have our individual "influence" set, but generalizations are dangerous.

I thank them all!

Most people don't know that when they turn on their PC and surf the web they are using fundamental computer control methods not developed by Gates & Micro$oft, but developed by individuals for the NSA in the 50's, 60's and 70's for codebreaking. Incorrect attributions run rampant here too.[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 07 June 2005 at 09:27 AM.]

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 7 Jun 2005 10:00 am

Hard to divide players by decade, since so many players transcended various decades. In any event, I would say that the following have inspired me tremendously:

'50s: Curly Chalker, Jimmy Day, Speedy West, Don Helms
'60s: Lloyd Green, Jay Dee Maness, Red Rhodes
'70s: Red Rhodes, Bobby Black, Jay Dee Maness, Skunk Baxter
'80s: Jay Dee Maness, Herby Wallace
'90s - today: Jay Dee Maness, Red Rhodes, Paul Franklin[This message was edited by Joe Alterio on 07 June 2005 at 11:00 AM.][This message was edited by Joe Alterio on 07 June 2005 at 11:01 AM.]

Allan Thompson · Post by **Allan Thompson** » 7 Jun 2005 10:34 am

Don`t forget Tom Brumley.

Mark Krutke · Post by **Mark Krutke** » 7 Jun 2005 5:00 pm

1950's
1960's
1970's
1980's
1990's
2000's
.....Buddy Emmons

just my opinion

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<A HREF="http://www.authenticrecording.com" TARGET=_blank>www.authenticrecording.com</A> [This message was edited by Mark Krutke on 07 June 2005 at 06:03 PM.]

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 7 Jun 2005 6:38 pm

While there have ben so many with an influence on me, Jr. Knight was my first television influence. He is a major reason I play steel today. After getting my first steel in April 1979 I got hooked on Buddy Emmons sound and playing and 26 years later I am still hooked on Buddy Emmons playing.

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 7 Jun 2005 11:28 pm

Gentlemen, these were my influences from these certain era's. I listed these just to see how many other players had the same influences. Not meant to offend anyone or say that these were the best players. I enjoy all of the steel players , past and present. Those I listed were only my influences. That's all! Thank you!

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 8 Jun 2005 2:07 am

Billy you should have stated that those were your personal choices. The way the post subject and content is, it can and was interpreted as those were the only ones.

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 8 Jun 2005 2:50 am

You are correct sir. I should have worded the post a little differently. Not trying to offend anyone or favor one player over another. The influences I listed are the ones I was raised up listening to and learned from. I like all players. We have steel shows in Magee and Gulfport during the year. I'd like to take this opportunity to invite you come play with us here in Mississippi. Thanks and come see us!

David Wren · Post by **David Wren** » 9 Jun 2005 7:10 am

Nice to see Bobby Black in this group... anyone who has ever had the pleasure to know Bobby will vouch for the fact that he is not only a great player, but a wonderful human being as well (who has gone out of his way to help many a steel player)....My self, I gotta add Buddy Charleton and Weldon Myrick (SP? great in Area code 615), interesting riffs, and fast and clean.

But above all Bryd and Emmons, in that order.

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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Session500; Hilton Pedal
www.ameechapman.com

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 9 Jun 2005 8:52 am

50's>Jerry Byrd
60's>Lloyd Green
70's>Lloyd Green
80's>Lloyd Green
90's>Lloyd Green
00's>Lloyd Green

Tim Harr · Post by **Tim Harr** » 9 Jun 2005 10:05 am

When you leave out Jerry Byrd from a long list like that I feel you have really missed out..

He was the master at touch and tone..

Just ask BE he will tell you

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 9 Jun 2005 10:56 am

In addition to the obvious players I would include Maurice Anderson and Zane Beck in the 80's and Bobbe Seymour was an infuence to me in the 90's after I got hold of a live tape of him with Johnny Paycheck. Also, because Ben Jack and Bobby White were right here in my home town they were a tremendous influence on my playing. I was privileged to play several steel shows with Maurice and he was so very nice to me and I loved his playing. Zane built my first "real" pedal steel guitar for me on a trade out for a set of cabinets I built for him and he was forever giving me strings, records, pickups and effects units so I paid a great deal of attention to his playing style. He was a great player and a great friend. In my teen years I would park behind the club next to the wall behind the bandstand and listen to Ben Jack play. He always was a great player. Bud Isaacs was a huge influence for obvious reasons. So many great players too numerous to try to mention.
Jerry

Buddy Emmons · Post by **Buddy Emmons** » 9 Jun 2005 11:31 am

Billy,
I admire you for the way you handled the response to your post but I see no reason to apologize to anybody for anything. The question mark in the headline (Steel Influences?) clearly indicates to me that you’re inviting opinions other than your own.
As for my influences, I’ve stolen from everybody.

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 9 Jun 2005 1:35 pm

Right Buddie, I don't know Billy real well, but I know he a considerate person, besides being a fine player, and a pleasure to talk to. I never thought he was speaking for anyone other then himself.

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Sierra Session D-10
http://www.Charmedmusic.com

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 9 Jun 2005 3:49 pm

Thanks guys, I guess you can't make everybody happy. I study other steel players and I'm really interested in what and who they listened to and learned from over the years. I think everybody probably has different influences. I know I have. One thing ex-uncle Bobby Bowman told me in 71' when he helped me get started was to listen to everybody and learn fast ,slow and anything else I could including both necks. That's really paid off for me over the years as I'm just as comfortable on the E9th as I am the C6th. Buddy, I'll tell you short story you probably don't remember from the late 60's and then I'll hush. My father, Billy Sr.(Laurel,Ms.) bought a rosewood p/p from you in 68-69' sometime. He died in Dec.70'. Well the p/p stayed in the closet in my mothers bedroom in the case for a year. One of my mothers sisters married Bobby over in Houston. She brought him to Laurel to meet everybody and that's when I got started. I played the p/p until the early 80's. So you see the Big E has actually influenced two generations of players in my family. I look foward meeting you one day. Thanks for the earlier post!

George Duncan Sypert · Post by **George Duncan Sypert** » 9 Jun 2005 5:18 pm

Steel Influences for me were: Jerry Byrd, Little Roy Wiggins, Billy Robinson (although I didn't know who he was at the time) Herby Remington, Leon McAuliffe, Speedy West in the late 40's. Early 50's to 60's. Bud Issacs, Ralph Mooney, Jimmy Day, Buddy Emmons (although I didn't know who he was at the time either)
60's to the 70's--LLoyd Green, Wayne Gailey,
Buddy Emmons, Weldon Myrick, Hal Rugg, Curly Chalker, Doug Jernigan, Buddy Charleton, John Hughey. 80's--did I say Emmons, Day, Hughey, Rugg-etc,. 90's Paul Franklin, Mike Johnson. Mostly quit listening to commercial radio during the 90's. Hardly any at all these days. There are many great steel players that have influenced us all. I don't mean to over look anyone. I have had the good fortune to meet and talk with most of the above mentioned players. I feel very fortunate to have met these heroes of mine. It was beyond my greatest expection. I appreciate all of their talents and contributions to this instument that we all love.
George[This message was edited by George Duncan Sypert on 09 June 2005 at 06:21 PM.]

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 9 Jun 2005 7:53 pm

I think I will let this one slide. Jody.

Winston Street · Post by **Winston Street** » 11 Jun 2005 6:51 am

Gotta take up for Billy here.. I've been knowing Billy Carr ever since he was knee high to a toad frog, now he's belly high to a giraffe. Also one of the finest steel players in the country.. He learns off of everyone he can hear, including me sometimes, which makes for slim pickings. I never thought that he meant that these were the only infuential pickers from any of the era's that he mentioned. You couldn't list all of the steelers that he admires. I've found as he has, that you can learn off of someone that has been playing for only two days if your willing. He's gonna approach something differently than you have ever thought about.. I think that in the long run Buddy Emmons has probably touched more of us than any other player. Not saying that others have not, and not trying to leave anyone else out but Buddy has been there since the inception of the pedal steel as we know it today. He was/is a pioneer of the instrument and still continues to be a genius on it. There is absolutely no way to put a worth on the contributions that this man has made to steel guitar and music as a whole as far as that goes...

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 11 Jun 2005 9:22 am

Each of us have players that had particular influence on us. As I mentioned in Bob Carlucci's concurrent thread on early influences, my initial influences were Sneaky Pete, Lloyd Green, Jay Dee Manness, Pete Drake and Ralph Mooney, since I was into the 60s/70s west-coast and country-rock + Waylon thing back then, playing guitar. That was my initial reference point for steel.

Only as I dug more deeply (with the help of this forum) did I begin to see the complex chain of influences. To really figure this out clearly, like in a genealogical graph, is to essentially become a musicologist in this area. That may be useful, but I'm not sure it's necessary to learn to play.

I think this 'influence excavation' is normal, I went through this same process while learning guitar. I want to listen to and be influenced by as many players as I can, but still try to develop my own voice.

Winston Street · Post by **Winston Street** » 11 Jun 2005 10:33 am

Dave, as far as I'm concerned they're all top of the line.. They wouldn't be who they are if they weren't..

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 11 Jun 2005 12:28 pm

How much do I owe you Mr. MSA man(Winston). Put it on my running account! "Slim pickin", Ha! I don't think so. Folks Winston is a fine steel player, don't let him fool you. Also builds a fine guitar. I agree with your comments on the Big E. I remember listening to the midnight jamboree on WSM 650 one night last year I think it was. Buddy was playing with whoever the singer was, I don't remember, but sitting in the crowd according to the MC that night was John Hughey. That says it all when you've got Hughey sitting in the crowd listening to the Big E. Yes, I pull from everybody as far as licks, etc. goes. It's just that when I started in 71' I didn't have access to what we have now. That's how a lot of my influences came about was learning off records and the radio or TV. That's another reason I show any player anything I can if they ask. If I know it that is. I remember struggling through the early years trying to learn steel. The internet has changed all that though! Thank goodness!

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 11 Jun 2005 7:52 pm

Well Billy, there is one thing this post did for me, it made me realize just how old I am.My earliest influences were in the forties. Roy Ayres, L.T.Zinn and Don Davis
And Jerry Byrd. Not necessarily in the order either.Then all the rest came along...
God bless them all...

Old Bud

Roland Buras · Post by **Roland Buras** » 11 Jun 2005 10:30 pm

Billy I appreciate your modest pesonality , However you or one of the best pickers i have heard. If it was the "BIG E" That had a part in your playing then i have a touch of Buddy in me, do to the fact i have touched on a bit of your style the past few days. As you know i am a student player eager to learn and adapt to what is correct and applicable to my playing skills. I have never met any of the guy's that have left a legacy of the guitar to us accept for mr roy ayers mentioned here. so I lean on you and the heroes i know of the steel guitar, Royce Tarver, Reggie Duncan, Mr. Bill Stafford, Bobby Bowman, Danny Harrell, Hal Higgins, Mr John Hughey, Barney Miller, Joe Wright, Eddie Long, and many others. I would like to meet mr Buddy Emmons, Perhaps one day. It would be neat if he would except an Invitation to our Mississippi Gulf Coast Show. That is an Invite mr Buddy if you read this. We have the best southern catfish and Strawberry pie you ever tasted..Just ask and you shall recieve. Billy looking forward to you & Glenda coming back to the Fishcamp soon.

R J Buras
Lakeside Fishcamp
Ms Gulfcoast