|
 The Steel Guitar Forum
 Steel Players
 Would Jerry Garcia be welcome here? (Page 1)
|
| This topic is 2 pages long: 1 2 |
next newest topic | next oldest topic |
| Author | Topic: Would Jerry Garcia be welcome here? |
|
Mike Perlowin Member From: Los Angeles CA |
posted 10 January 2006 03:26 PM
profile
(assuming he was still alive.) I just had to ask. Lest there be any confusion, I have a lot of respect for Garcia. he was a fine guitarist, had a great career, and was a real scholar of American Folk music in all it's forms, and integrated it all into the Dead's music. My problem is not with anything he did, but rather with those who think he is the world's greates steel player, and that what his ride on TYC represents the sum total of everything that can be done on the instrument. |
|
Mike Weirauch Member From: Harrisburg, Illinois**The Hub of the Universe |
posted 10 January 2006 03:33 PM
profile
quote: Mike, he's the world's greatest steel player. Haven't you ever listened to the song "Teach Your Children"? Where have you been hiding?  |
|
Jim Peters Member From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
posted 10 January 2006 03:38 PM
profile
His sense of humor directed at himself would be welcome. JP |
|
Frank Parish Member From: Nashville,Tn. USA |
posted 10 January 2006 03:41 PM
profile
I never was a Dead fan but I rocognize Garcias efforts as a musician and even have seen painted ties with his art work on them so he made a big enough noise to suit me. What I would give if I could talk to guys like Lennon, Garcia, or Hendrix. I'm sure there's enough guys here that would love to hear his opinions and outlook on the future of r/r and music in general. From where I'm listening, I don't see anybody out there right at this time that would equal the mind and talent of Hendrix or even Garcia for that matter. I think Lennon and McCartney were on a level of their own with no comparison at least at that time. Unfortunately as many of us that would like to hear Garcias comments on this forum, I think there could be a lot more here that isn't going to like him or his music in any shape, form or fashion.I would hope that if they didn't like him or his music that they'd refrain from being rude. |
|
Craig A Davidson Member From: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA |
posted 10 January 2006 03:52 PM
profile
Mike, I think he would be welcome on here. I just will never try to put him on the same level musically as Buddy,Jimmy,Lloyd, or Paul. To me Jerry was a guitar player who picked up the steel and dabbled in it, like Ron Wood, or Bernie Leadon. They were good enough to get something out of it, but not accomplished to do a whole show. I am not stepping on toes saying this. I am just comparing. Of course I remember them from my pot induced days so maybe I am wrong. |
|
Dave Zirbel Member From: Sebastopol, CA USA |
posted 10 January 2006 03:53 PM
profile
I thought everyone was welcome here. |
|
David Wren Member From: Placerville, California, USA |
posted 10 January 2006 03:54 PM
profile
If Jerry Garcia was here, would he know it? ------------------ |
|
Mike Cass Member From: Nashville,Tn. U.S.A. |
posted 10 January 2006 04:10 PM
profile
I had the pleasure of meeting Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir back in the early 70's in Mpls. Friends of friends etc,...we all ended up in a late night bluegrass jam session at the house I lived in(read commune). Id just returned home from a club gig and walked smack into that scene.... All the time JC was tearing up the 5 string(dont forget the missing digit!),he was looking at my spare steel sitting in the corner. Talking with him many hours later,the first name out of his mouth was Buddy Emmons. imho,as far as steel guitar went,his heart was in the right place. Y'all might want to catch a recording JC did a few years before he passed. I cant remember whose project it was,but he'd sure come a loooooooong way since TYC. Yeah, I think he'd be welcome here,and judging from the recording I mentioned above,he;d give most of us a good run for our $$. Dont ever make the mistake of thinking that he never progressed from his beginnings on the steel guitar. [This message was edited by Mike Cass on 10 January 2006 at 04:20 PM.] |
|
Chris Erbacher Member From: Sausalito, California, USA |
posted 10 January 2006 04:36 PM
profile
okay, my two cents. he was a guy who played probably the most recognizable pedal steel part in almost all of popular music, after only playing it for 3 months, that's right, he had been playing for 3 months when he recorded that, how many members can claim that one? he would be the first to say he wasn't as good a steel player as most of the great ones listed above, just good enough to get the job done when it counted and get a lot of us hooked on steel after hearing it, for that alone he is welcome here. when i took a lesson with barry sless and asked him what got him to play the steel 30 some years ago, he told me TYC, goes to figure. he was smarter than people give him credit. |
|
Bruce W Heffner Member From: Hamburg, Pa. |
posted 10 January 2006 04:50 PM
profile
Of course he would be welcome, as anyone, well almost anyone, should be on this forum. Steel guitar needs all the fans it can get. Bruce ------------------ |
|
Ray Montee Member From: Portland, OR, USA |
posted 10 January 2006 04:53 PM
profile
"Teach Your Children"......... Can someone put it up for the whole world to hear? |
|
Mike Winter Member From: Oregon City, Oregon, USA |
posted 10 January 2006 05:09 PM
profile
And if he did visit here, it would've been as a humble student...that's how he approached music in general. He never did think he had arrived. He would've absolutely dug picking some of your seasoned "player" brains. No doubt he would've agreed about the general consensus regarding his admitted limited ability, but probably wouldn't have understood how some folks let pride get in the way of welcoming a student they didn't like. It's funny, you'd think that playing the world's most recognizable pedal steel intro would swell a fella's head...but it didn't swell his. Ask those that knew him best. Then there's that last tasteful, single note at the end of last vocal line of the song. (Thanks Dave G.) Yeah, I'd welcome him...and RR, too.  ------------------ [This message was edited by Mike Winter on 10 January 2006 at 05:11 PM.] |
|
Mark Eaton Member From: Windsor, Sonoma County, CA |
posted 10 January 2006 09:43 PM
profile
Garcia would fit right in here-and with his wit and sense of humor -he'd really lighten this place up! Not to mention, as Mike alluded to, he was quite a student of American musical history, roots and tradition, and he could teach us plenty about that. Along with being an avid scuba diver, he quite possibly had the finest collection of black tee shirts in existence. ------------------ |
|
David L. Donald Member From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand |
posted 10 January 2006 09:54 PM
profile
He loved the steel guitar. He worked at playing it. He was musically wide ranging and had an open mind. Most would welcome him here. A few caught in their old paterns, A very few others would decide he is It wouldn't work, Life would go on. [This message was edited by David L. Donald on 10 January 2006 at 09:57 PM.] |
|
Ron Steenwijk Member From: Greensburg,PA |
posted 10 January 2006 10:05 PM
profile
David.....you missed your calling my friend. Ron ------------------ [This message was edited by Ronald Steenwijk on 10 January 2006 at 10:13 PM.] |
|
b0b Sysop From: Cloverdale, California, USA |
posted 10 January 2006 11:34 PM
profile
If he were to apply for membership, I'd have to deny it. We don't allow Dead people to post. |
|
Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 11 January 2006 03:38 AM
profile
Five dollars is five dollars... |
|
Charlie McDonald Member From: Lubbock, Texas, USA |
posted 11 January 2006 04:16 AM
profile
In the world of initials, TYC is recognized on this forum. Some names are known by their initials, but very few songs, thus distinguishing Garcia's legacy from that of some 'world-class' players. But, from another topic: quote: I'm sure JG would be welcome, and he would probably have given as good as he got, and with humor. |
|
Mike Weirauch Member From: Harrisburg, Illinois**The Hub of the Universe |
posted 11 January 2006 05:04 AM
profile
quote:Isn't that discrimination? |
|
Andy Sandoval Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA |
posted 11 January 2006 06:36 AM
profile
Here you go Ray, and for others who have never heard Teach Your Children. Like others, I too was inspired by this tune to want to learn to play this wonderfully beautiful instrument. [This message was edited by Andy Sandoval on 11 January 2006 at 06:41 AM.] |
|
Jim Peters Member From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
posted 11 January 2006 06:52 AM
profile
That's probably the millionth time I've heard that intro, it still makes me smile!  Technique and chops has nothing to do with it. JP [This message was edited by Jim Peters on 11 January 2006 at 06:52 AM.] |
|
David Doggett Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
posted 11 January 2006 07:53 AM
profile
That's even better than I remembered. Not the greatest lead work ever, but passable, with some really sweet spots that fit the mood of this beautiful song. And dang impressive for a 3 month newbie. It certainly has grabbed millions of listeners and created friends of the pedal steel guitar. Sometimes newer students of the instrument come up with fresh lines that are musically more interesting than a series of hack licks from someone technically better who is in a conventional rut. Are there full time steelers who could have done it better? Most certainly. Are there plenty of experienced hacks who would have done something completely forgettable? Oh yeah. [This message was edited by David Doggett on 11 January 2006 at 07:54 AM.] |
|
Kevin Hatton Member From: Amherst, N.Y. |
posted 11 January 2006 07:54 AM
profile
The ending still blows me away. Its like he was signing the "Your truly, Jerry Garcia". Just great. He was one of a kind. |
|
David L. Donald Member From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand |
posted 11 January 2006 07:54 AM
profile
quote: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We don't allow Dead people to post. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Isn't that discrimination? Yeah, but who's gonna sue? |
|
Joey Ace Sysop From: Southern Ontario, Canada |
posted 11 January 2006 07:58 AM
profile
TYC is tabbed at http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel/1970.html |
|
Ben Jones Member From: Washington, USA |
posted 11 January 2006 08:28 AM
profile
I dont know if Jerry would be welcomed but I HAVE learned the hard way that questions about him are not welcomed I recall seeing his name on the Guitar PLayer readers polls for steel when i was a lad (no I didnt vote ..so dont blame me that he beat out Buddy Emmons)...his was the only name i recognized...no doubt that is why he won those polls year after year. If you all want to hold a grudge against him for that reason alone...I think thats a lil silly. The general public as a whole are a bunch of ignorant morons, one look at the top ten chart will prove that to you in a second. im sure Garcia didnt look at those pools and think "Im the best!"..I dont think you all should either...those polls are what they are, a sampling of a public that knows next to nothing about what they are being asked to vote for. as for TYC, i stilll havent been able to to sit thru the song for long enough to notice there was even steel in it! I guess my generation kinda missed out on those early folky days of rock. edit: i see it is linked above so i will go listen right now! edit2; now that ive listened to the song, my above comments are pretty funny and they illustrate perfectly how unknowledgable the gen poublic is about steel...this comment is particularly funny since there is steel from the very first note on. Jerrys playing didnt sound too bad to me. Im sure he'd be the first to bow to Mooney or Emmons...but that was nice playing IMHO. nothing to cry about. [This message was edited by Ben Jones on 11 January 2006 at 08:31 AM.] [This message was edited by Ben Jones on 11 January 2006 at 08:37 AM.] |
|
Jim Blakey Member From: Alto ,New Mexico, USA |
posted 11 January 2006 08:36 AM
profile
There are 5422 registered members on this forum and its still the same old handfull of people that post the same old thing.You won't have any of the greats posting on here while this goes on. Bobby S. and Ricky D. and Reese A. won't be on here much longer either if this keeps up.Lets give it a rest fellows.You have beat a dead horse to death.Just my 2cents worth. |
|
Mike Winter Member From: Oregon City, Oregon, USA |
posted 11 January 2006 08:46 AM
profile
And...it was done on a ZB. ------------------ |
|
Terry Edwards Member From: Layton, UT |
posted 11 January 2006 08:54 AM
profile
Jerry's playing in TYC was not about technique and chops. It's all about composition. He nailed it. It's timeless. Every steel player should rejoice because this is a perfect example of why you don't have to play as good as (fill in a pro name) to compose and play good music on the pedal steel. What an inspiration!! |
|
David Wren Member From: Placerville, California, USA |
posted 11 January 2006 09:03 AM
profile
quote: Hey, that's what my wife says about me!... she's always trying to get on my good side. ------------------ |
|
Jim West Member From: Vista,CA |
posted 11 January 2006 09:43 AM
profile
One of the things that makes you a great musician or recognized as a master of your instrument, at least in the eyes of the music buying and listening public, is how memorable is the work you performed. If that is the case then TYC makes JG one of the great steel guitar players. I can't think of a more recognized pedal steel intro, once again to the general public, then TYC. |
|
Mike Perlowin Member From: Los Angeles CA |
posted 11 January 2006 09:50 AM
profile
Is it my imagination, or was he using the C pedal a whole bunch? Anybody else hear it? |
|
Howard Tate Member From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA |
posted 11 January 2006 10:08 AM
profile
I had never really listened to it before. I was probably more pitchy at three months, not sure. Like him I had been playing guitar for many years. But the vocal harmonies are really pretty. BTW, I'm about half dead, can I get half of my five bucks back? ------------------ |
|
Bobby Lee Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA |
posted 11 January 2006 10:16 AM
profile
Terry Edwards wrote: quote:Worth repeating. A great composer is by definition a great musician, regardless of his chops. Some steel players can play Emmons' arrangment of Danny Boy perfectly, but they could never have come up with it themselves. Understanding the nature of music is more important than the total mastery of an instrument. ------------------ |
|
MUSICO Member From: Jeremy Williams in Spain |
posted 11 January 2006 10:22 AM
profile
Let´s take a hypothetical situation. First the facts.-------------------------------- Im accepted here on the forum. Post when I can, or have something to say. I am not a great steel player, but Im sure that if I posted a sound clip of me, I would get encouragement from all. Definitely noone would say I was garbage, rubbish, s**t or anything like that. Fantasy-------------------------------------- I am a minor TV and theatre personality here in Spain. Sometimes Im recognized on the street and sign autographs. I have the contacts to make projects work. So ¿what happens if I write and record a song? A simple song, but a great one. Something like "Imagine" or "let it be". It becomes an overnight success, number one worldwide....and I did it not on my banjo, violin or six string....but on my PSG. I get my pic, sitting at my Carter on the cover of Time and Newsweek......and they say things like "this years greatest singer" because they like phrases like that even though Pavarroti has better technique.....and they say things like "putting the Steel Guitar back on the map"...or "best peddler in the world". ¿Would you all start criticizing me? Hope not. Much better to all have a great time and say "Go for it". And pat me on the back when I say in an interview..."If you really want to hear good steel listen to Reece Anderson and Buddy Emmons"...and not get angry when I say that same phrase but they choose not to print it. (it happens to me all the time...Ive had mags print that I was a newsreader and allsorts of mistakes). I would NEVER say Im the greatest Pedal Steeler in the world (and I never said I had been a newsreader)....but they might say it about me. End of fantasy------------------ Space for reflection---------------- Jeremy Williams |
|
Mark van Allen Member From: loganville, Ga. USA |
posted 11 January 2006 10:39 AM
profile
Musico beat me to it... reading this thread I was struck by the same question: What if one of the recognized regulars here, somebody who posts all the time, who we feel we "know" to some degree, were to have the sudden success of playing on the next "Teach Your Children", with perhaps less than perfect intonation, or suddenly be seen on Guitar Player magazine, Leno, and Letterman, rocking in out in a Sacred/Blues frenzy while leading the band in front of enthralled teens? Would that person then be vilified here, insulted and degraded? Or congratulated, supported and admired as someone advancing the "state of steel"? It's a serious question. |
|
Mike Perlowin Member From: Los Angeles CA |
posted 11 January 2006 11:27 AM
profile
I think if one of our regulars had that kind of success, most of us would congratulate him or her, because even though many of us have never met face to face, we feel like we know each other. Neither Garcia or RR has that advantage. |
|
Rick Garrett Member From: Tyler, Texas |
posted 11 January 2006 12:27 PM
profile
I hope he would be welcome here. I wonder though to be honest. If he was still among the living he would probably be the first to say that he wasn't among the masters of the steel guitar. No doubt his contribution to music as a whole was incredible. Rick |
|
Mark Lind-Hanson Member From: San Francisco, California, USA |
posted 11 January 2006 12:49 PM
profile
Meeting Jerry was a highlight of my young life. He would be welcome in my house any time, whether he were, or wasn't alive. |
|
Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 11 January 2006 01:00 PM
profile
quote:But if you did, I'm sure he'd be grateful... |
Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: This topic is 2 pages long: 1 2 All times are Pacific (US) | next newest topic | next oldest topic |
 |
|
Contact Us | The Pedal Steel Pages
Note: Messages not explicitly copyrighted are in the Public Domain.
Powered by Infopop www.infopop.com © 2000
Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46