The picture to your right; is me, at the age of twelve-playing my Stella Harmony.
My love for music dates back to around 1960. I was five years old when I started playing mom and dad's old 78's. I distinctly remember playing "Tennessee" Ernie Ford's , "Sixteen Tons". My mind would conjure up horrific images of a man, still trapped in the coal mines, trying to claw his way out. Carl Smith, Buck Owens, Carl & Pearl Butler, Kitty Wells, "Little" Jimmy Dickens, and Jimmy Dean were all the rage back then. Now a-days, when you mention these names to individuals, they look as perplexed as yesterday's "Rubic's Cube." My family, aunts & uncles, cousins, and grandparents, would go to Hazard, Kentucky nearly every Memorial holiday to decorate the graves of loved ones. We would stay at the Hibler Hotel in Hazard. When I was around 7 or 8 years old, I remember putting nickels in the jukebox at the old Hibler Hotel restaraunt; just to listen to Carl and Pearl Butler sing, "Don't Let Me Cross Over." I would have never imagined, that some 20 years later, I would be playing that same song with them; on stage!
I would get pieces of wood, that dad would use to start the coal furnace with, and draw what I thought resembled strings, a fret board and guitar pegs with a black crayon. I would pretend that I was on the Grand Ole Opry; and sung to adoring fans! My piece of wood was eventually replaced by a red and white Stella Harmony guitar. My grandmother bought it for me at a pawn shop in Middletown, Ohio. I learned to play by watching other guitarists at our home church we attended.
My Aunt Mary worked at The Venice Pavillion, in Ross, Ohio. Many of the country artists of that time would be scheduled there to perform. Aunt Mary would have them to autograph their promotional pictures, handbills, or even a food check, and would bring it to me. She took me with her one evening when she was off, and introduced me to a local celebrity by the name of Arnie Lunsford, and a girl, who was around my age, Sandy Golden. Aunt Mary asked me what was that thing on stage that looked like an "an ironing board with strings." That was pretty much my first up close and personal introduction to the pedal steel guitar.
Around 1975, I began to play the steel guitar, simply out of necessity, rather than an over-whelming desire. I thought the instrument was cumbersome to carry, too difficult to play, and unappreciative to the average listener. A friend of mine wanted a steel guitar in his gospel group. So, I volunteered to leave the rhythm guitar and play the steel. Nearly thirty years later, I now realize the truth-it is still cumbersome to carry, at times too difficult to play, and falls short on the average listener's ears. But I have never, ever regretted the moment I first started playing the steel.
In 1978, I started working with a band which provided back-up for several country artists; who did not carry their own musicians on the road. My first steel was one of those Sho-Bud Mavericks -(Sho-Bud sold a ton of those models!) My amp was a Standel Studio model, much like the one Lloyd Green used in his earlier sessions. From there, the momentum to fulfill my desire of being the best I could be, grew to a groundswell. I practiced hours upon hours a day. I think I even went to bed with my picks on one night, -forgetting to take them off. I knew, seemingly, every musician whoever traveled with various artists. The numbers one's of an artist, their styles, and what they expected from their steel-guitarists.
But as the road to musician stardom grew longer, deeper, and sometimes even crooked, so did my life. I need to digress, of sorts, to explain my philosophical musings. As a young boy, I attended church and even gave my life over to Jesus Christ. The church was my life. I remember crying, when I did not have a way to the House of God; I wanted to go that bad! But when I started playing professionally, I left the "Father's House" and like the prodigal son, I went into a "faraway country."
When I started traveling the road, and working the nightclubs, and auditoriums, I gave no thought to the church much. But one night, while working in a local club, the Holy Spirit began to deal and woo with my heart. And like a wayward, homesick son, I said "Yes," and returned to my Spiritual House.
That's been many years ago, and while I no longer play or perform on the country circuit, the night clubs, or secular recording sessions, I do; however, work with gospel groups, concerts, and gospel recording sessions.
I do not question the sincerity of my fellow steel-guitar compadres, who say they can continue to perform secularly, and still maintain christianity. I do as I am impressed upon by the Holy Scriptures. The great Apostle Paul said, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." I Thessalonians 5:22 Also, while writing to the church in Corinth, Paul said, "Come out from among them and be ye seperate, saith the Lord, ..." II Corinthians 6:17
I do not want to seem preachy or have a self-righteous approach to my beliefs. But I could not in good conscience, use what God has given me-to praise Him, to use it for and be a part of a scene that promotes unfaithfullness in marriages and families. All I want to do now is promote my Heavenly Father. He is the biggest star I have ever worked for.
To my steel guitar friends and other musicians: If you are struggling with the same convictions, as I did, then please take a serious inventory of your life and it's destiny. Allow Jesus Christ to be a part of your life; and the music you then play for Him, and totally Him, will take on a sweeter tone and a more fulfilling satisfaction for your love and appreciation of the steel guitar.
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