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 The Steel Guitar Forum
 Steel Players
 Ed Black Information.
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| Author | Topic: Ed Black Information. |
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Russ Tkac Member From: Waterford, Michigan, USA |
posted 02 March 2005 05:55 PM
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Does anyone know Ed's copedent? I enjoyed his playing a great deal. Also, what has become of his steel? Did he continue to use the ZB. His solo on Linda Ronstadt's "Silver Threads a golden needles" was one of the first solos I learned. When did he pass? All the best, |
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Skip Edwards Member From: LA,CA |
posted 03 March 2005 11:40 AM
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Hi Russ... I knew Ed Black pretty well. He was a really classy guy. I play steel & keyboards, and we used to work together quite often. He lived around the corner from me for a few years & we carpooled to gigs alot. He was also a really good gtr player & an awesome handtooled leatherworker. We also did quite a few sessions together. One of my favorite of Ed's projects was an instrumental band called "The Eddys", with Ed on gtr, along with Dick Fegy on gtr & Donald Lindley on drums ... both also deceased, unfortunately. I played his ZB a couple times. It was a 2tone - blonde top with walnut necks & apron, if I remember right...although the necks & apron could have been blue, I'm not sure... it's only been 30 yrs since I last saw it. Ed switched to Emmons in the late 70's & played p/p's for the rest of his career. He had a couple D10's- blue mica & I think the other was black mica. I don't have a clue what happened to his ZB. I don't remember his lever set-up, but he did have his pedals set up Day style - that I'm sure of- at least he did on his ZB. Ed died in Nov 1998, from cancer... kidney cancer, I believe. I last saw him in Phoenix, where he was living.. his home town, too. He came out to a gig I was doing at the Desert Sky Ampitheater - he was friends with a few of the guys on the gig... He had been improving with his health problem, or so he said, but soon after that it recurred. Really a shame, too. He was a real class act. I think he is one of the true originators and unsung heroes of the California country-rock style of steel. If you can find it, check out his playing on an LP by Michael Dinner...I think the name of it was "The Great Pretender"...around 1974. -Skip Edwards ------------------ |
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Russ Tkac Member From: Waterford, Michigan, USA |
posted 03 March 2005 03:01 PM
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Skip, Thanks so much for the reply! Yes, Ed was a great guitar player too. I saw him a number of times with Ronstadt and Karla Bonoff. My ZB looks a lot like his. I also played the "Day" style but I had a Sho-Bud Professional in the 70's. He and Dan Dougmore did a Tour with Ronstadt around '75 and did a number of two steel tunes. That was great! I have a copy of a tune from "The Eddys" It was a b-bender steel tune that Mike Breen put on the Clarence White Forum web site. Who played the b-bender? I also have the Michael Dinner album. Ed played great on that! The steel on "The Great Pretender" song is classic Ed! Thanks so much for your reply it made my day. All the best, [This message was edited by Russ Tkac on 03 March 2005 at 03:23 PM.] |
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Fish Member From: |
posted 04 March 2005 03:24 PM
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As a young steel guitarist trying to scrape out a living in mid-seventies Los Angeles, I was lucky enough to meet someone as bighearted, kind and selfless as Eddie Black. Ed warmly took me under his wing and showed me the ropes in Sin City, helping my find jobs, teaching me how to play “Night Life” and “Cherokee” on the C6th neck, and essentially welcoming me into the steel guitar community at large with style and grace. We used to get together at his Hollywood Hills house and listen to records. Ed had the best collection of steel guitar albums I’d ever seen. He always had a copy of whatever was new out of Music City. I fondly recall listening to Buddy Emmon’s “Black Album,” Tommy White’s first album, Paul Franklin’s earliest recordings with Jerry Reed (plus his first solo album), Ray Charles’ “Volcanic Action of My Soul” (featuring extraordinary playing from Buddy), Jerry Byrds’ “Satin Strings of Steel,” and Fiddlin’ Frenchie Burke’s great country album---all for the first time at Ed’s place. I cherish the mint copy of the Cherokee Cowboy’s instrumental album that he gave me. Eddie had impeccable taste, a great wit, a heart of gold and a strong desire to“spread the word” about steel guitar to anyone who would listen. He was a true fan of the instrument and a fabulous player. He was a consummate musician who could plot out the changes to “Giant Steps” on the C6th tuning, then lecture for ten minutes about the purity of Tom Brumley’s ZB tone. And he was brilliant guitarist, too. I saw him playing several times with Linda Ronstadt, and he always played guitar and pedal steel with finesse, understatement and musical economy, qualities that were (and still are) rare in a young player. Ed always played exactly what was needed to support the singer and the song, and he never would showboat for the sake of “flash.” I could on and on about the guy….suffice it say that they broke the mold when they made Eddie Black. I learned tons about the steel guitar from Ed, and even more about how to conduct oneself as a professional. He was one in a million and he left this earth with many lifelong friends very sad to see him go. Steve Fishell |
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Russ Tkac Member From: Waterford, Michigan, USA |
posted 04 March 2005 04:02 PM
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Steve, Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about Ed. As one who only had an appreciation for his musicianship, it’s great to know that those who knew him remember a great person as well. For me as a fan it makes his playing all that more special! Russ |
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Pete Finney Member From: Nashville, Tn. |
posted 04 March 2005 04:29 PM
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I got to spend an afternoon with Ed in the mid-seventies when he came through Washington D.C. with Karla Bonoff, he was a wonderful guy. He played great guitar and steel with her that night at the old "Cellar Door" club. And how about Steve Fishell? What a nice bit of writing and remembering, that's about as eloquent as anything I've ever read here.... I don't think anyone's pointed out anywhere on the forum that Steve just won a Grammy as producer of "Best Traditional Folk Album" for "Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster". Way to go, Steve (and thanks for the champagne...) |
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Stu Schulman Member From: anchorage,alaska |
posted 04 March 2005 05:24 PM
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If you guys can find that Michael Dinner recording you will be blown away with my old friend Ed Blacks steel guitar playing,Just great stuff,That Skip Edwards aint no slouch his ownself! |
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Tom Mortensen Member From: Nashville TN |
posted 04 March 2005 06:54 PM
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I was playing at a steak house in Cave Creek, Arizona the first time I met Ed. He drug his chair across the dance floor and sat directly in front of me with his feet propped up on the stage and his arms folded. Really rattled me for a couple of songs. Ed was a pro and always brought that to the gig, no matter how small. I miss talking to him. ------------------ |
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Dan Tyack Member From: Seattle, WA USA |
posted 05 March 2005 12:18 AM
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Ed was definitely a great guy and great player. I can't tell you what he was playing on steel because the only times we played together he played guitar. And it was a blast! Hi Skip and Steve! Long time no talk to... ------------------ |
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Michael Johnstone Member From: Sylmar,Ca. USA |
posted 05 March 2005 01:59 AM
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I also knew Ed Black quite well,saw him play and hung out with him many times,subbed for him and recorded him in my studio.In fact,the Eddys finished up and mixed an album at my studio that they started over at Dave Pearlman's studio(also a great L.A. steel player).I was listening to a tape of a few of the tunes just the other day.They did a great instrumental called "Stealing Corn" as well as a lot of spagetti western type tunes like "Theme from the Magnificant 7","Silver City" and a thing called "Saddle Up" which was a medley of a bunch of Bonanza type tunes - all very true to form with exactly the right twang and groove.They really captured that larger than life,mythical Southwest "Marlboro Man" cowboy geetar twang thang.And like Skipper says,everybody in town had a hand tooled guitar strap or in many cases,a whole Telecaster covered with tooled leather courtesy of Ed. A prince among men - I miss him terribly. -MJ- |
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Brandin Member From: Newport Beach CA. USA |
posted 05 March 2005 09:29 AM
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I owned Ed's Blue&Blond D-10 ZB back in the late 80's. I used it for a few years, but there was no Steel Forum then, and it was just too hard to keep up. Sorry guys. I also took lessons from Steve and Ed at Westwood Music back in the mid 70's. Lucky me! GB [This message was edited by Brandin on 06 March 2005 at 08:55 AM.] |
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John McClung Member From: Los Angeles, CA, USA |
posted 05 March 2005 10:27 PM
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I bought a portrait of Ed Black done by a friend of his, Ellen Bloom, about 15 months ago. It proudly hangs in my music studio, nice having Ed watching over me, probably cracking up at all the wrong notes. Here's a link if you'd like to see me and Ed. The painting is titled "Twang Man." Once there, feel free to check out albums of pix I took at LA steel jams. Mike Johnstone and his then brand new Excel appear in 2003. Jay Dee appears in 2004. ------------------ [This message was edited by John McClung on 23 November 2008 at 11:57 PM.] |
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Russ Tkac Member From: Waterford, Michigan, USA |
posted 06 March 2005 07:52 PM
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Thanks to all for posting. I wish I'd had an opportunity to meet Ed. He left an impression on me musically and I'm glad to know he personally was a good friend to all of you! Thanks, |
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Dave Ristrim Member From: Whites Creek, TN |
posted 07 March 2005 06:07 AM
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Ed's playing on Michael Dinners "The Great Pretender" album blew me away! Way back when, I was in a cover band that did a couple songs from that album. What a blast. I have recently digitized and remastered it for my own listening pleasure. Wow, what a great record! Aside from his playing, one of the nicest guys I've ever met. Peace, Dave |
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Al Miller Member From: Nashville, TN |
posted 07 March 2005 07:20 AM
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I First Met Ed Black When I Worked At Mr Luckys With Jay-david Sloan And The Boys ..( Man That Seems Like A Hundred Yrs Ago)Ed Was Always A Friend And Very Helpful With Things I Couldnt Or Did not Know How to Play or find .. I Never Had The Pleasure Of Hearing Him On Guitar But If It Was Any Thing Like His Steel Work Im Sure It Was Fine ... I Would sub For Ed At A Place Called Rustlers Roost When Tom Mortenson Couldnt, When Ed Was Out Of town .. I Looked for Ed After Leaving Phx For Yrs Until Tom Told Me Of His Passing I was Devastated to Say The Least.. I will Always Have Fond Memories Of The GREAT ED BLACK >> Rest in Peace My Friend .. Boo Miller |
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Russ Tkac Member From: Waterford, Michigan, USA |
posted 08 March 2005 07:32 PM
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GB, Any chance you remember the serial number of the guitar you bought from Ed? Russ |
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Kenny Radas Member From: Edwardsville,IL,USA |
posted 09 March 2005 09:09 AM
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Check out these websites. These were sent to me by Rick MacDonald. He played guitar with Ed in the Eddys. http://www.worldisround.com/articles/143916/index.html Rick had posted this out on the Clarence White forum: 'Skip has it a little mixed up. Dick and Donald were in the original Eddys, with a woman bass player/singer. The instrumental Eddys came along a little later, with Paul Solomon on bass, John Mauceri and later Hugh Wright on drums, myself-Rick MacDonald on guitar and Ed on steel and guitar. The song Mike Breen alludes to was called "On a Bender", it was the 2nd tune on the tape, I was the guitar player. Hope this clears it up a lttle.' |
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Brandin Member From: Newport Beach CA. USA |
posted 09 March 2005 09:25 AM
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I'm sorry, I don't remember the number, but it had the old style black knee levers. If I had known at the time that there was going to be a steel guitar forum, I never would have let it go. Also, I didn't buy the ZB from Ed, it was given to me by the person that did. I had to change the pedals and knee levers from the Day set-up to the Emmons. I got it to work, but it just wouldn't stay in tune. I feel very bad about letting this guitar go. GB |
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Russ Tkac Member From: Waterford, Michigan, USA |
posted 09 March 2005 11:05 AM
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GB, Don't worry about it too much. Everyone has a story of an instrument they would like to have back...my 1960 Tele I sold for $150.00 in 1973 comes to mind...oh well... Russ |
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Skip Edwards Member From: LA,CA |
posted 09 March 2005 03:57 PM
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Rick is absolutely correct... I'd totally forgotten about the later version of the Eddys. I don't remember vocals on the original EP, but I'm sure Rick is right. I've been trying to remember the name of the gal that played bass ... Pat Quinn, maybe? Rick, Ed & I did gigs together in SoCal in the 80's with Duke Davis. I remember we played "Saddle Up" a few times with him. I would play some of the parts on a synth - french horn, & some other stuff, and I had a Marantz cassette player that I ran through my rig that had the sound effects from the tune on it - this was pre-sampler days - horses galloping & cowboys whooping...stuff like that. I still have the cassette & the chart. I sat in on that tune with the Eddys at the Palomino once, although I don't remember which lineup it was. One thing for sure... We all were blessed to have known Ed. He was as cool as they come and a prince of a guy. We all miss him. As they say, "No hay dos." -Skip ------------------ |
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