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The Steel Guitar Forum
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Steeler for Mel Street
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This topic was originally posted in this forum: Wanted To Buy |
| Author | Topic: Steeler for Mel Street |
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GORDY NICHOL Member Posts: 67 |
posted 24 July 2000 07:07 AM
This has probably been asked alot,but who was Mel Street's steel player; both on recordings and the road . Mel was one of my favorite's |
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dblnk unregistered Posts: 67 |
posted 24 July 2000 08:06 AM
Loyd Green played on his recordings. Mike Johnson worked in his touring group. He also had a steel player in Va. prior to coming to Nashville, named Buddy Pennington. Mel was one fine fellow, and as soulful a C/W singer as I've ever heard. ------------------ |
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Terry Wood Member Posts: 1205 |
posted 24 July 2000 08:45 AM
Hi Gordy, Bob's right about Lloyd Green. The Green touch is very evident, and all over Mel Street's recordings. I worked on the road for about 2 years with a guy who had played lead guitar with Mel Street. He said that Mel was a great guy to work with, and we all now can tell what a fine Country singer he was. God Bless Ya! Terry J. Wood |
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Ricky Davis Moderator Posts: 6522 |
posted 24 July 2000 10:26 AM
Sonny Garrish. |
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Jack Stoner Sysop Posts: 8119 |
posted 24 July 2000 10:29 AM
I thought Weldon did some of the sessions. |
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Jeff Evans Member Posts: 554 |
posted 24 July 2000 02:56 PM
Ricky: Please specify: you meant the name you posted was a road player, right? Or were you kidding? Or do you have some Mel Street I don't? (I have six LPs, a greatest hits CD, and a few 45s.) Lloyd cites the Mel Street recordings as some of the work he is proudest of--or at least as some of the sessions on which he was most at liberty to play. The Mel Street sound is Lloyd Green. [This message was edited by Jeff Evans on 24 July 2000 at 03:05 PM.] |
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Mike Sweeney Member Posts: 2715 |
posted 24 July 2000 03:24 PM
Bob is right, Lloyd did the studio work and Mike Johnson did the road work. To the best of my knowledge Sonny Garrish never did a Mel Street master session. I've heard everything he ever cut and it is very obvious that it is Lloyd Green. Mel was very lucky to work with two of the greatest players ever. |
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Ricky Davis Moderator Posts: 6522 |
posted 24 July 2000 04:09 PM
Oh yeah Lloyd Green is on all the Mel Street stuff I've heard. Ricky |
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GORDY NICHOL Member Posts: 67 |
posted 24 July 2000 04:18 PM
Thank You gentlemen for your responces!I too have the greatest hits,but it is in a "VERY WORN OUT" condition cassette. I apologize to Mr. Green for not recognizing his great playing, but due to the condition of the tape and that there was alot of steel/guitar and steel/fiddle lead lines as well as B-3, I just could not tell who it was . |
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Tony Rankin Member Posts: 566 |
posted 24 July 2000 06:18 PM
Mel did a tune called, "The Town Where You Live" and Lloyd's playing on that tune brings me chills every time I hear it. It is as soulful as it gets! |
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Dennis Manuel Member Posts: 409 |
posted 24 July 2000 06:42 PM
Interesting to hear that people still talk about one of the greatest singers in the country music field, Mel Street. As a kid I had an old 8 track and I wore it out listening to it. The other day I was looking at "www.country.com" and guess what, they had his greatest hits on CD. I now have this CD and Lloyd Greene has his amazing abilities all over it. Borrowed Angel has a fantastic steel intro on it. [This message was edited by Dennis Manuel on 24 July 2000 at 06:44 PM.] |
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Ricky Davis Moderator Posts: 6522 |
posted 24 July 2000 10:28 PM
Oh sorry Jeff I didn't elaborate more; that was an inside joke. A little more about Mel Street. Everyone knows he took his own life on his birthday at age 45; but did you know that is exactly when his Father took his own life too?>age 45 on "his" birthday. Two of my all time favorite singers; Wynn Stewart and Mel Street died way too early and we all were robbed of these two great singing talents. They both loved the Steel Guitar more than any other instrument. Ricky ------------------ |
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ray qualls Member Posts: 1086 |
posted 25 July 2000 05:53 PM
I had the pleasure of meeting Mel Street in Holbrook, Az. in 1975 at a county fair. Nat Stucky was on the same show. Mel was a gentleman and he took me on a tour of his bus. I got an autographed picture of his to which I cherish to this day. He'll always be my favorite singer and entertainer. Sue Richards was on the same show. Don't know if it was Mike Johnson or who playing steel tho. Ray Qualls ------------------ |
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Fred Truitt Member Posts: 184 |
posted 26 July 2000 03:33 AM
I remember Mel and Buddy Pennington well having grown up in the Bluefield WV area. Mel was definitly on his way to the top. I,m really happy that you remember him too. It's so sad the way he had to go. Regards........Fred |
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dblnk unregistered Posts: 184 |
posted 26 July 2000 08:36 AM
Fred, do you know whatever became of Buddy Pennington? Last time I saw him was in '70 or '71. He was in poor health, then. He was a good player and a fine fellow. ------------------ |
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Fred Truitt Member Posts: 184 |
posted 27 July 2000 07:01 AM
Bob Sorry to say, Buddy passed away. Not sure of the date but it was in the '70's. He was a true gentleman. He was also a mentor to my brother Dale, who became a real good picker and plays a lot in Oklahoma. He always talks of Buddy. Take care.......Fred |
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Mike Sweeney Member Posts: 2715 |
posted 27 July 2000 07:10 AM
Dblnk, I come from close to there too and Buddy passed away about '76 or '77. He was a great player and guy too. Mike Sweeney |
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Bob Hempker Member Posts: 742 |
posted 27 July 2000 08:07 AM
Fred and Mike, I thank you for updating me on Buddy. I'm really sorry to hear that he passed away. I became friends with him in the early '70's. He was a fine fellow and a fine player. I met Mel Street in 1970. I had been with Loretta Lynn for about a year. We were playing an outdoor event at a little airport on top a mountain in Grundy, Va. Mel and his group were the local band opening the show for Loretta. She was looking for someone to play ryth gtr and front the band. We were all knocked out with Mel's singing. She talked to him at length about going to work for her to front the band and play ryth gtr. When the decision came down, she hired another guy, Don Ballinger. Don passed away in 1986. Don wasn't the singer Mel was, but he did comedy, and was great at fronting the band. Had it turned out the other way, who knows? Anyway, at least we have those wonderful recordings of Mel's. I would as soon listen to him as anybody when it comes to singing a country ballad. ------------------ |
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Mike Sweeney Member Posts: 2715 |
posted 27 July 2000 11:41 PM
I wonder if anyone remembers Mel singing on Cecil Surrets' show on W.H.I.S.T.V. in Bluefield WVA. in the late '60s? Also his first producer in Bristol Va. was Joe Deaton, he had a studio there and put out some great recordings on many different singers. Buddy Pennington,Eddie Trent,and Bryan Adams were just a few of the GREAT steel players he used. And as I understand it he was responsible for getting Mels' recording career started. Sadly Joe also passed away a few years ago. Well unless I can think of something else that's all the history lesson I can provide. Thanks, Mike Sweeney |
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Fred Truitt Member Posts: 184 |
posted 28 July 2000 03:07 PM
Mike I sure do remember the "Hillbilly Jamboree" on WHIS. I used to hang around the station. Cecil was a good guy, with Buddy there was King Edward "Smitty" Smith, Buck Dillon on Fiddle and crazy Ray Brooks on drums, and of course many more. Mel started his career there I guess, there was another singer named Darnell Miller who I think moved to Wheeling and may be still there. All these guys would play the Saturday nite dance at the Bluefield Auditorium. Great Memories! Are you from the area? Regards......Fred |
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Garland Nash Member Posts: 143 |
posted 28 July 2000 07:49 PM
I remember Buddy Pennington very well ,I cut an album with Smitty Smith an Cecil Surrat back in 1954 in Cincinatti on king records and Buddy played five string banjo before he ever touched a steel and he was a great musician. he took a few pointers from me and later became a good steel picker. I miss him Garland Nash Gainesville Georgia. |
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Mike Sweeney Member Posts: 2715 |
posted 29 July 2000 12:42 AM
Fred, I'm from the Blacksburg ,Christiansburg area which really isn't that far. The one thing I miss about that area is the mountains. We're in a bowl here in middle Tn. I had a 1st cousin who lived in Tazwell but I'm sorry to say he passed away recently. You may have knew him his name was Lacy Sweeney. Talk to you later, Mike |
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Fred Truitt Member Posts: 184 |
posted 29 July 2000 05:59 PM
Mike, Bob and Garland Gentlemen, Greatly appreciate your postings. Perhaps we can continue our comments on e-mail if you agree. For Mike, I grew up in Matoaka, just south of Bluefield. I know your area well. And yes, Buddy was a fine 5-string picker, he taught me a lot. You may e-mail me anytime. Please tell me what projects you are working on now. For me, I'm doing the Stephenville Theatre Festival shows playing steel for some Garth classics and Tanya classics, in between I'm singing some Kris Kristofferson stuff. Having a great time! Regards.......Fred |
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