This also will make a great vacation time for anyone wanting to include Disney World and other sites -- bring the whole family!

More info (with links) is here:

We hope many of you will come to hear these very talented steelers. Last year, the first year, attracted many people (including journalists) from all over the world!

Another thread on this topic, which includes the Press Release.

More info on Sacred Steelers Tunings with links to Sound Samples.

Ann Fabian
Carter Steel Guitars
617 West Kearney Street
Suite 101
Mesquite, Texas 75149 USA
1-800-969-7332 orders (accessories and steels)
1-972-288-9100 technical info
1-972-288-9169 FAX
www.steelguitar.com
The Steel Guitar Information Resource
www.steelguitarINFO.com
OnLine Steel Guitarists Directory
www.OnLineSteelers.com

[This message was edited by Ann Fabian on 07 January 2001 at 08:52 AM.]

Dan Tyack and Lonnie Bennett have started the Sacred Steel Instrument Fund to enable financially challenged, emerging (mostly younger) sacred steel musicians get the instruments (steels, guitars and basses) they need. Musicians who "graduate" to higher-grade instruments are encouraged to donate their old instruments to the Fund. All donations are tax deductable.

The instruments for this cycle will be awarded at the 2001 convention. Recipients will be asked to showcase their progress at the next convention.

Great concept!

[This message was edited by Bob Stone on 05 January 2001 at 07:14 AM.]

I have a thread in Buy and Sell about this. Anybody who wants to donate an instrument, or to sell the fund an instrument at a 'charity' price (or just a good deal), get in touch with me at dan@tyack.com. It's all tax deductable.

[This message was edited by Ann Fabian on 08 January 2001 at 11:18 AM.]

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Mark van Allen-"Blueground Undergrass" Pedal, Non-Pedal, Lap, and Dobro

[This message was edited by Mark van Allen on 13 March 2001 at 10:51 AM.]

For the record, Lonnie Bennett and Marcus Hardy have done about 99% of all the work. They have labored tirelessly for months. Thanks guys. We appreciate it. Hang in for a few more days. It's almost here!!

The eight (!) steel guitars donated to the Sacred Steel Instrument Fund are a real testimonial to the camaraderie and spirit of giving and sharing generated by this event. Some of these are expensive, brand new instruments. The recipients are going to be some kind of happy folks.

[This message was edited by Bob Stone on 21 March 2001 at 06:19 AM.]

IMHO this is the event of the year.

I'm going to put this out there for all you steel players that complain about the lack of young musicians who are into the steel, or who complain about the lack of steel in gospel music, of who just complain. Any forum member who comes to this convention and doesn't feel that they have gotten their money's worth, I will refund them personally the cost of admission.

You can think of this convention like the old DJ conventions in Nashville, where the hottest players in the world gathered and shared. These guys won't play 'A Way to Survive' but they will give you the means to survive. Sanford Florida will have the most creative, soulful, inovative, and funky steel players in the world next weekend. If you disagree with me, I'll personally give you your admission back.

If you are a serious steel player in the southeast and aren't there, you should be ashamed of yourself. Put it another way, if you are serious about the instrument, you would find a way to be there. You will learn more about playing than in any dozen instruction tapes.

OK, I'll get off my soap box now.

This convention isn't about religion (even though most of the participants are from several Pentacostal dominions), it isn't about race (even though most players are African American). For people on this forum, it's all about a virtuostic steel guitar tradition that few of us knows about. CHuck Campbell has as much to teach us pedal steel players as Buddy Emmmons.

But it is different. I said it's not about religion, and that's true in a way. It doesn't matter what religion (or lack thereof) you ascribe to, these folks will accept you, because that's the way they are.

But a lot of the virtuosity of their playing is tied into their worship. Their playing is not about playing a bunch of fast licks to impress other musicians. It's about creating an environment that brings the attendees of a service closer to GOd. There playing involves a lot of rhthmic repetitiveness, but an amazing amount of rythmic sophistication, similar to great jazz.

If you hear their music, and absorb it, you cannot help but be influenced by it for the rest of your life.

See you Thurs. evening at the motel.

Can't wait!

Bob

By the way, the lovely Ms. Kim Love, Jewell Dominion steel guitarist from Philly, has been confirmed for Friday only--she has to meet up with a touring choir in DC on Sat. She's a great musician, and like most Jewell Dominion steelers, uses "industrial strength" wah pedal.