Steel Guitar News

Latest News

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:03:00 +0000

SteelRadio.com - End Of An Era

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 03:24:00 +0000

Michael Scott posted the following announcement on The Steel Guitar Forum:

SteelRadio Fans,

It is with great sadness that I must inform all of you that SteelRadio.com is closing. Since its inception in 1998 and its birth in 2001, SteelRadio has been the in the forefront of Internet broadcasting the music of the steel guitar. We were first with a live remote broadcast when no one else was approaching it; there were no books and no one to follow. After eleven years of working in Internet radio and ten years of broadcasting, I will click the mouse and SteelRadio will become silent.

This economic situation that has our country and most of the world in a death grip has finally taken its toll. Over the years, we have received donations from around the world and without those donations, we could not have lasted this long. We appreciate every one of them.

I want to thank all the loyal listeners who have stayed with us since SteelRadio’s first broadcast on December 12th 1999 when we proved that there was a listener base that wanted to hear the steel guitar. I will miss you.

I will have a few last “Big” blowout broadcasts in October; but unless a miracle happens, November 1st will mark the end of SteelRadio. Keep an eye on this thread for the final show dates.

Sincerely,
Michael Scott
Owner/Operator
SteelRadio.com

A followup announced the final live show:

After talking with my DJs, we have chosen October 28th as our last live “In Studio” broadcast. We will start at 6pm central time and will run until around midnight. My DJs and I will be celebrating our years of broadcasting and reminiscing about the times we’ve had being on the air while saying our good-byes to an old friend. We will play some selected tracks from our extensive database and taking and making phone calls. So if you wish to say whatever is on your mind “On The Air”, call us at 314-256-9029 or send an e-mail to steelradio@charter.net.

Our thanks to Michael Scott and the entire staff of SteelRadio.com, for these years of wonderful broadcasts of steel guitar music. It's really sad to see it end like this. Best wishes on your future endeavors.

Bobbe's Tips plus Music

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:39:00 +0000

I've started a new blog to host Bobbe Seymour's newsletter "Bobbe's Tips" plus some instrumental steel guitar music. It's updated frequently and it works well with iPhone and other mobile devices. Check it out at PedalSteelMusic.com.

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association 25th Annual Convention

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 22:05:00 +0000

The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association will hold its 25th annual convention Thursday Oct 6 through Oct 8 at the Holiday Inn Banquet and Conference Center, 411 S. Larkin Ave., Joliet, Illinois.

This year’s guest from Honolulu is Greg Sardinha. Greg will be featured daily and will also perform at the Luau show on Saturday night. He is one of the most highly regarded steel guitar players in Hawaii, recently awarded the Hawaii Music Award for Steel Guitar Album of the Year.

The 3-day convention fee is $45 or $15 daily, which includes entertainment, seminars, playing, and jam sessions. A memorable event for performers, collectors and lovers of Hawaiian steel guitars. Please register early! Details here.

For more information, contact Don Weber at 815-351-2140 or Wally Pfeifer at 815-351-2740.

Here's some authentic Hawaiian steel guitar playing:

Berklee Profs Report From ISGC

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 03:02:00 +0000

There's another good article about this year's International Steel Guitar Convention on the Berklee Blog.

Also, check out this report of an Al Perkins Recording Session.

Ron Kyne

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 18:37:00 +0000

Ron Kyne

There's a good article about Ron Kyne and his trip to the ISGC at Harold-Mail.com. I missed his set (it was before I arrived), but it's nice to see pedal steel getting exposure in the press.

ISGC St Louis Performers and Vendors

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:29:00 +0000

Here's the list of performers and vendors for the International Steel Guitar Convention. The convention is being held at the Millenium Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri (USA). I'm sorry to say that I'll miss the Talent Search event, as my plane doesn't arrive until 4 PM. Other than that, I'm looking forward to a great show and a lot of meeting' & greetin' as I haven't been to the ISGC in several years.
Read more »

Scotty’s 40th Annual ISGC

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 20:52:00 +0000

INTERNATIONAL STEEL GUITAR CONVENTION
September 1st, 2nd & 3rd, 2011

The Millennium Hotel
200 South 4th Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63102 USA
Phone: 314-241-9500
Ask for “Reservations” and tell them you are with the International Steel Guitar Convention to get the Convention Discount Room Rates:
Singles: $92.00 * Double: $97.00 * Triples: $102.00 * Quads: $112.00 * Suite $150.00
There were still rooms available as of August 10.

We dropped Sunday, however, we may restate it at a later date. Dropping Sunday did give each of you an extra day to return home but some of you did miss no show being on Sunday. The Talent Search, Hawaiian show, Jazz show and Gospel will remain on the schedule time permitting.

The 2011 Players:
Steel guitar players from all over the World gather in Saint Louis for some pickin’, fellowship, to renew old friendships and to make new friends. This will be our 40th successful Steel Guitar Convention in a row. For a “Back To The Basics” we plan to have a jam session on the main stage and, of course, we will have our usual array of outstanding Top Name Players, as well as some new names on the Show...

For advance tickets, contact:
THE INTERNATIONAL STEEL GUITAR CONVENTION
9535 Midland Blvd.
St Louis, Missouri 63114-3314 USA
Phone: 314-427-7794
Email: scotty@scottysmusic.com

Admission prices:
Thursday Night "Hall Of Fame" Fund Raising Show: $10.00
Friday: $35.00
Saturday: $35.00
2 day advance $60.00
Optional: Friday “Late Night Concert” in the Main Ballroom: $5.00

The latest information about the ISGC is always available online at SteelGuitarForum.com.

Duet for Theramin and Lap Steel

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:38:00 +0000

Sure to be a very artsy show, Scott Burland (theremin) and Frank Schultz (steel) will perform at Conundrum Music Hall in Columbia, SC. Also, filmmaker Robbie Land will be screening his abstract imagery alongside the duo's performance.

Saturday, August 13, 2011
9pm (doors at 8pm)
$6

www.conundrum.us/concerts/

Big Branson Steel Show This Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:44:00 +0000

Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Branson, MO. Details on the Steel Guitar Forum.

Friday - July 29
2:00 - 2:25 - Ronnie Fisk
2:35 - 3:00 - Larry Baker
3:10 - 3:35 - Wayne Morton
3:45 - 4:10 - Ron Plumlee
4:20 - 4:45 - Ron Frederiksen
4:55 - 5:20 - Bill Myrick
5:30 - 5:55 - Ray Qualls
6:05 - 6:30 - Bill Dobkins
6:40 - 7:05 - Dave Flanagan
7:15 - 7:40 - Jerry Foster
7:50 'til ? - Ron Symank

Saturday - July 30
10:00 - 10:25 - Eddie Lane
10:35 - 11:00 - Don Reed
11:10 - 11:35 - Curt Shoemaker
11:45 - 12:10 - Mike McGee
12:10 - 12:25 - Leona Williams
12:35 - 1:00 - Lefty Schrage
1:10 - 1:35 - Austin Stewart
Lunch Break 1:35 - 2:15
2:15 - 2:40 - David Wright
2:50 - 3:30 - Joe Wright
3:35 - 4:00 -"Wright Brothers"
4:10 - 4:35 - Kevin Clemens
4:45 - 5:10 - Mike Sweeney
5:20 - 5:45 - Buck Grantham
5:55 - 6:20 - Fred Justice

Sunday - July 31
10:00 - 10:45 - Church Service, Jerry & Venda Hanley
11:00 - 11:25 - Mike McGee
11:35 - 12:00 - Jerry Newberry
12:10 - 12:35 - Louie Hallford
12:45 - 1:10 - Buck Grantham
1:20 - 1:45 - Mike Sweeney
1:55 - 2:20 - Austin Stewart
2:20 - 2:35 - Leona Williams
Lunch Break 2:35 - 3:15
3:15 - 3:45 - Wright Brothers
3:55 - 4:20 - Fred Justice
4:30 - 4:55 - Marty Neer
5:05 - 5:30 - Jerry Roller and Carlene
5:40 - 6:05 - Dean Holman

Dave Easley

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 20:55:00 +0000

Found a good interview with jazz steel guitarist Dave Easley in the South Bend Tribune:

Click Here

Suspending Publication

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:23:00 +0000

This site hasn't attracted the viewership I had hoped for. It's hard to justify this much work for a handful of regular readers. I'm suspending the frequent "almost daily" publication now. May resume at a later date.

See the Event Announcements section of the Steel Guitar Forum for announcements of upcoming steel guitar events.

Oklahoma City Steel Jam Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:51:00 +0000

The Oklahoma City steel jam is a monthly event at the Oklahoma Country Western Museum Hall of Fame in Del City, OK. Leroy Wood, who organizes the jam, writes, "We have a full staff band with a pro front man, vocals, and MC. These guys know all the real country songs, and make any steel picker sound good." It's open to the public - everyone is invited to bring their steel guitar or just show up to listen.

Oklahoma City Area Steel Jam
Saturday July 16, 10 AM - 3 PM
Oklahoma Country Western Museum Hall of Fame
3925 Southeast 29th Street
Del City, OK (Google map)

Maybe someone could send me a picture or two for next month's announcement.

Michigan Steel Show, July 17

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 03:35:00 +0000

The Michigan Steel Guitar Association will be hosting their annual Steel Guitar show on July 17th at the Harrison Moose Lodge in Harrison, Michigan. This show features half-hour sets by each of the region's best steel guitarists, backed by an excellent house band. It's all packed into one day, but if driving a distance you'll probably want to book a room as the show runs late into the evening. Here is the schedule of performers:

2:00 Jerry Hendrix ( Manistee, MI)
2:35 Mike Kyle (Flint, MI)
3:10 Barry Francek (Harrison, MI)
3:45 Wayne Hetzler (West Sunbury, PA)
4:20 Gene Calkins (Cedar Springs, MI)
4:55 Tim Rowley (Pinconning, MI)
5:30 Bob Wright (Kingsley, MI)
6:05 Del Shorts (Farwell, MI)
6:40 Danny Hullihen (Harrison, MI)
7:35 Herby Wallace (Sevierville, TN)
8:30 Mike Sigler (Rushville, OH)
9:25 Rusty Rhoads (Nashville, MI)
10:20 Super Jam

Harrison Moose Lodge (Google map)
5185 N. Clare Ave
Harrison, MI 48625

International Steel Guitar Convention Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 05:58:00 +0000

DeWitt "Scotty" Scott has announced the schedule for the 2011 International Steel Guitar Convention, to be held September 1-3 at the Millennium Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. Here it is:

Thursday, September 1st, 2011
Talent Search 12:00 noon to 5:00pm.
Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame, Inc. Fund Raising Show 7:00pm - 10:00pm. Jimmy Queen and our staff band will host the event again this year.

Friday, September 2nd
Bill Stafford - Neil Flanz - Mike Idhe & Norm Zocher - Rusty Rhodes - Joan Cox - Zzne King - Mike Jones - Joe Wright - Kenny Kitching, Australia - OPENING CEREMONIES not completed as yet - Herby Wallace - Ron Elliott - Doug Jernigan - Russ Hicks - Siley Roberts - Al Bresco - Chuck lettes - Lynn Owsley Show with Billy Robinson, Donna Jackson and the Calhoun Twins.

The Late Friday Night Concert will be held in Main Ballroom rom 1:00am - 3:00am. Russ Hicks is furnishing the band and also a few top country artists will join in. Not selected at this time.

Saturday, September 3rd
Dell Mullen - Al Vescovo - Eddie Lange - Mitsuo & Steve Sanford - Austin Stewart - Tommy Dodd - Jim Cohen - Bobbe Seymour - Doug Jernigan, Larry Sasser & Jay Dee Maness - Mike Sweeney - Ron Elliott - BREAK Steel Jam with up to 6 players, not selected at this time (Jim Vest has a desire to join in) - Herby Wallace - Joe Wright - Dan Tyack - Terry Bethel and Mike Sigler. There are a few open slots and am waiting for confirmation from the players.

Doug Jernigan will do the teaching seminar on the E9th tuning on Friday. 10:00 - 4:00.

The Hawaiian Gathering will be on Friday starting at 10:00am. The Jazz Show will be on Saturday starting at 9:30am. The Gospel show will also be on Saturday starting at 3:00pm. All three events will be held in the Jefferson Rooms this year.

See ScottysMusic.com for pre-registration and hotel reservations. Late-breaking news and discussions can be found on The Steel Guitar Forum.

Leigh Ivin Touring Canada with The Re-mains

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 06:25:00 +0000

Australian pedal steel guitarist Leigh Ivin has rejoined The Re-mains for their Canadian tour, now in progress. Leigh was one of the original members of the band in 2002, but has been absent from some of their recent endeavors because of distances involved. The Re-mains are a popular country rock band in their native Australia, where they tour extensively and have played all of the big festivals, including Tamworth Country Music Festival, Splendour in the Grass, The East Coast Blues and Roots Music Festival, and the St. Kilda Festival.

The band's personnel varies from time to time based on the availability of musicians. The line-up for this 6-week tour includes leader/songwriter Mick Daley, Tom Jones on bass, Allan Fisk on drums and Leigh Ivin on pedal steel. The remaining dates for the tour are:

July 9: Trash Twang & Thunder Festival, Calgary, AB
July 12 & 13: Wild Bill’s, Banff, AB
July 14-17: NESS CREEK MUSIC FESTIVAL, Big River, SK
July 19: Java Express, Moose Jaw, SK
July 20: The Cavern Club, Winnipeg, MB
July 21: McNally’s Tavern, Regina, SK
July 22 & 23: Lydia’s, Saskatoon, SK
July 25: Black Dog Freehouse, Edmonton, AB
July 27 & 28: Rolla Pub, Rolla, BC
July 29: ARTSWELLS FESTIVAL, Wells, BC
July 30: The Legion, Jasper, AB
July 31: The Legion, supporting Fred Eaglesmith
August 2: Tito’s, Grande Prairie, AB
August 3: Java Domain, Peace River, AB
August 4: Wunderbar, Edmonton, AB
August 5: Tracks Pub, Olds, AB
August 6-7: MOUNTAIN VIEW MUSIC FEST, Carstairs, AB
August 9: The Ironwood Stage & Grill, Calgary, AB
August 10 & 11: The Drake, Canmore, AB
August 12: The Palomino Smokehouse, Calgary, AB
August 13: The Ship & Anchor Pub, Calgary, AB (2pm show)
August 13: The Hideout, Red Deer, AB with Romi Mayes

Remembering Jack Kondora

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:29:00 +0000

There will be a steel guitar show to honor the life of Jack Kondora this Saturday at the Moose Lodge near his hometown of Harrison, Arkansas. Jack passed away on May 24, 2011. He was a superb steel guitarist and an active member of the Ozark Steel Guitar Association. It's said that "No man loved the steel more", and he is surely missed by his many friends and fans.

The event will begin at 10:00 AM on Satuday, July 9, at the Harrison Moose Lodge (Google Map). A list of performers has not been published, but there will certainly be some great steel playing in Jack's honor. See the Steel Guitar Forum announcement for up-to-date information.

Steel on the Internet

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 04:15:00 +0000

Just a couple of items from Steel Guitar Forum Central today:

SteelGuitarForum.com had a bandwidth upgrade last weekend. It's measuring about 3x faster on the outgoing traffic, and reports from users have been very positive. Also, a faster Google-based search page has been added to the system.

Bobbe's Tips, the email newsletter from Bobbe Seymour of Steel Guitar Nashville, has never been archived online. I've taken on that task - you can now read back issues of Bobbe's Tips at http://b0b.com/bobbeSeymour.

Thanks for following SteelGuitarNews.com.

Lucky Oceans on John Bennett's New CD

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 07:08:00 +0000

John Bennett and Lucky Oceans

Many American steel guitarists of a certain age remember Lucky Oceans as Asleep At The Wheel's first steel guitarist. These days, his name is too often preceded with "What ever happened to..." here in the states. Not so in Western Australia. Lucky moved there 3 decades ago to become a popular and celebrated musicologist, hosting The Daily Planet on Australia's ABC Radio National. And of course he's also WA's foremost steel guitarist.

The big musical news from Western Australia this week is that indigenous singer/songwriter John Bennett has just released his first CD, and Lucky Oceans is playing steel all over it. Lucky laid down his parts in the studio before meeting John, as they live at opposite ends of the huge province. They are getting together this week, though. John and Lucky will be performing in concert at ABC Perth's Studio 620 on Monday, July 4th. Then Lucky will be featuring John Bennett on his radio show Tuesday afternoon.
Read more »

Cowboy Country Revisited

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:29:00 +0000

Scott Gerber, Bobby Lee and Cousin Elmo

There's not much news for this holiday weekend, so I'll engage in some shameless self-promotion. In the 1980's Scott Gerber, Gordy Lynch, Tom Bischoff and I formed a band named Cowboy Country. We played honky tonks and social events in Sonoma County, California. The band broke up after about 5 years.

In February 2010, three of us from the original band got together for a living room jam session at my home in Cloverdale. We hadn't played together in over 20 years, but it was like falling off a log. I recorded the event and assembled the best tracks onto a personal CD. I've uploaded the songs from that CD to my music pages at b0bLee.BandCamp.com for your listening pleasure.
Read more »

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Waikiki Beach

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0000

Waikiki Beach Walk and Outrigger are celebrating the heritage of the Hawaiian steel guitar with a series of Sunday evening performances throughout the month of July. The first and longest show (5 PM - 8 PM) is called Stars of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar. It includes Alan Akaka & the Islanders with Na Keiki a Ke Kula Mele, Bobby Ingano, Casey Olsen & the Hiram Olsen Trio, Greg Sardinha, and special guest Kiyoshi “Lion” Kobayashi from Japan. The full monthly schedule follows:

July 3 - Stars of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar (5 - 8 PM)
July 10- Henry Kaleialoha Allen (5 - 6 PM)
July 17- Eddie Palama (5 - 6 PM)
July 24- Greg Sardinha (5 - 6 PM)
July 31- Na Keiki Kika Kila – The combined schools of steel guitar masters Alan Akaka and Greg Sardinha. (5 - 6 PM)

Doug Jernigan in the News

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 06:38:00 +0000

Doug Jernigan has been coming on string these last few months. His classic style on the new Jake Hooker CD is earning rave reviews from traditional pedal steel fans. Doug played his 1972 Emmons fatback through a Fender Twin Reverb to get a real vintage sound for the project. The album, titled One Man World, was produced by Jim Loessberg and Jake Hooker at Hilltop Studios in Madison, Tennessee. You can order the CD direct from the label at StartexRecords.com.
Read more »

Greg Leisz on Michael Grimm's CD

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 05:30:00 +0000

(Note: the photogenic Earnest Bovine sat in for Greg on the video)

We get used to seeing Greg Leisz' name on a lot of records these days, so it's no real surprise that producer Don Was tapped him for "America’s Got Talent" winner Michael Grimm’s new album. Taste and tone are the essential ingredients for modern pedal steel tracks, and Greg's sound has plenty of both. While there's not a lot of pedal steel and dobro on Grimm's CD, what's there is just perfect. The hit single Fallin' is a good example:

This is a great vocal album (and it's "news"), but I'm actually more of an instrumental music fan. Greg has recorded a lot of wonderful instrumental music with guitarist Bill Frisell, who gives him considerably more musical freedom. That's what I recommend to steel fans who want to hear more of Greg Leisz:

Feeling better now?

Eric Heywood featured on Jeffrey Foucault CD

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 05:04:00 +0000

I especially love the sound of the pedal steel when it's surrounded by acoustic instruments. So does singer/songwriter Jeffrey Foucault, apparently. His latest CD, Horse Latitudes, is almost a duet with steel guitarist Eric Heywood. Listen to Eric's solo and outro on the title track:

Jeffrey Foucault - Horse Latitudes

Do you hear the Neil Young / Ben Keith influence there? They call this style of music Americana - a blend of folk, rock and country that has been attracting more and more good musicians in recent years. There's a good interview with Eric in No Depression magazine, reprinted on EricHeywood.com, where he talks about his connection to various Americana acts.

Back to point, Jeffrey Foucault's Horse Latitudes is available now on the Signature Sounds record label, available wherever vocal music is sold. Now if we could just get Eric Heywood to do an instrumental album. <wink>

There's An App For That

noreply@blogger.com (b0b) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:41:00 +0000

I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. There's an iPhone/iPad app that simulates pedal steel. See the demo:

I showed it to Mrs. Lee and the first thing she said was,
"Does it do bar slants?"
"I don't think so."
"What good is it then?"

Gotta love that woman! In all seriousness, I believe that this educational toy can help people understand how the instrument works and what it's capable of. It emulates 10-string E9th and C6th copedents, and also does 6-string dobro in 4 different tunings. The developer (Mad Calf Apps) has obviously put a lot of work into it. It's only $1.99. Here's the link:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pedal-steel/id441742219?mt=8