Uglysisters CD Store in England is hyping an album over eBay featuring steel guitarist "JIMMIE TARLTON".

Another eBay item features Vocalist Jimmie Davis' steel guitarist "Buster Jones".

Another eBay item is a great photo of
Steel Guitar Country Western Hoedown #1576140463.......from the Pee Week King's Show-1967. The steelman's photo shows a good looking guy playing a pedal steel with the name Jim Vest on it.

WHO might these guys be? Never heard of them before, here in the far out west.

[This message was edited by Ray Montee on 03 November 2002 at 10:12 AM.]

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Jim Vogan Emmons Sd10
G.D. Walker Stereo Steel Combo
Bakelite Ric
Hilton volume pedal

An added note about Don Davis: Don preceeded me with Pee Wee King. He left Nashville while they were on the Opry and went to the West Coast, reportedly to work with Tex Williams. I replaced hin in late 1946 and was with Pee Wee for over 8 years. He had been Pee Wee's steel man for some time before that -- I don't know how long. We (Pee Wee's Golden West Cowboys) moved to Louisville in about 1947, and I saw Don several times when we would return to the Opry on occasion over the next couple of years. Don went into the Army after that and was in Special Services travelling around to entertain troops at various bases in the U.S. I think the gigs you refer to were after he was discharged.

[This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 04 November 2002 at 03:48 AM.]

I don't know who was with Pee Wee when he first came to the Opry, but I DO know that Clel Summey (sp?) was Pee Wee's first steel player. Clel did "funny hat" comedy and, to the best of my recollection, played a 6-string electric steel hung from his neck by a strap. Don followed Clel and I followed Don. When I joined Pee Wee in 1946, Roy Wiggins was with Eddie Arnold, and had been for a few years. Eddie was Pee Wee's main vocalist for awhile before I joined Pee Wee, and I don't know whether Roy Wiggins was with them at that time or not. I knew Roy and Eddie pretty well in those days, and I never heard either of them mention that Roy came to the Opry before or after Eddie left Pee Wee.

With regard to the first electric steel on the Opry, I can't answer that either -- but I suspect that Clel was among the first.

I understand that Don is living down on the Alabama coast. Since he preceeded me on the Opry, he could probably give more authoritative answers to these questions. While my tenure on the Opry was about 56 years ago, by the time I got there Chet Atkins, Grady Martin, Hank Garland, Jabo Arrington, and other GREATS had already gotten there ahead of me.

Regards,

Ray Montee always starts trouble,,oops,,I mean nice threads...too bad he' so dammed old.

This is another good one by Ray and you guys
did this thread proud. Let the others start
the war,,lets do things like this again.

Jimmie Davis wrote some cute little songs, but he also authored and recorded some of the bawdiest Jimmie Rogers styled blues ever to meet wax, a guy once played me a heap of them he'd gotten on a compilaton. It was a while back, but they were cut in the 1930s and covered such taboo subjects as they joys of interacial lurve (I kid you not), lovemaking and general bawdiness.

By the time he ran for the Governership he had changed style somewhat and his opponents unsuccessfully tried to destroy his chances by bringing up his past recordings.

Actually, here's a snippett from the All Music Guide online:
[quote]Born James Houston Davis in Beech Springs, LA, on September 11, 1899 (he would later report it as 1902, then switch back to the earlier date), Jimmie Davis was the son of a poor sharecropper, but nevertheless he earned a Bachelors Degree from Louisiana College Pineville and in 1927 a Masters Degree from Louisiana State University. The following year, he began teaching history at a small college in Shreveport. Davis began singing occasionally for a local radio station and first recorded in 1928. One year later, he signed with Victor and began recording; these initial releases reflect a style devoted to Jimmie Rodgers, emphasizing Rodgers' penchant for double entendre. Over five years he recorded almost 70 sides for the label, and though none of the singles sold well, Davis was probably less to blame than the Depression-era economy. He moved to Decca in 1934 and gained his first major hit, "Nobody's Darlin' but Mine." Another hit, "It Makes No Difference Now," was bought from Floyd Tillman, but Davis' biggest success came from his own copyright, "You Are My Sunshine." First recorded by Davis in 1940, the song quickly entered the first rank of popular and country music standards, covered many times over by artists from both genres.

Meanwhile, Davis had quit teaching and accepted a position at the Criminal Court in Shreveport. He became the chief of police in 1938, and moved to state government four years later by being elected Louisiana Public Service Commissioner. [quote/]

When Jimmie started running for governor his opponetts brought out these sordid old recdrdings

Iwent to visit an uncle, while there I wentto a local music store and bought two Jimmie Davis records. This uncle said " you cant play that stuff in this house". I said Unk these are "Gospel records" . You still cant play them here.

Not to be different, but ,Ole Clel ,or cousin jody, always played a Dobro ,hung from a strap around his neck. I dont recall ever seeing him play an electric steel, or lap steel as it is called.

...In the late '40s, Hadacol was a potent alcohol elixir that sponsored Hank Williams' radio show. Its commercials jingled: "What put the pep into Grandma."