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Author
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Topic: Speedy West
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Tiny Olson
Member From: Tribes Hill, NY, USA along the Erie Canal in the beautiful Mohawk River Valley
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posted 15 November 2003 12:41 PM
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I met Speedy in 1977 when we both played a show at a theater in the Tulsa area. What a great moment that was for me. Of course, Speedy was a legend, but he was also one super guy.May God bless you and walk with you on your new journey Speedy. Chris "Tiny" Olson |
Al Marcus
Member From: Cedar Springs,MI USA
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posted 15 November 2003 12:48 PM
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WE lost a real Legend today. I feel like he was one of the rare steel players to bring excitment and originality to the recording world , when we really needed a boost.
God Bless his soul, Rest in peace.....al------------------
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/ |
Paul Graupp
Member From: Macon Ga USA
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posted 15 November 2003 12:52 PM
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I used to live near Moultrie , GA. My lead guitarist told me about a grave in that cemetery and I went to look for it. The tombstone was shaped like a guitar and it stood over Jimmy Bryant's resting place. Perhaps now, the most distinctive duet ever to grace electrical guitar music will be performing for another audience. I miss them more that I can say....Regards, Paul[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 15 November 2003 at 04:25 PM.] |
Richard Sinkler
Member From: Fremont, California
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posted 15 November 2003 12:56 PM
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While I never really was exposed to much of his music (I do have 2 albums) I feel I have lost a personal friend. Words can not express my sadness right now. May God bless Speedy and his family.In reading that Bob White is in bad shape also, it should remind us how precious life really is. I know it does for me. |
Joey Ace
Sysop From: Southern Ontario, Canada
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posted 15 November 2003 01:15 PM
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Speedy was always the good will ambasador at the ISGC. RIP Mr. West. |
C Dixon
Member From: Duluth, GA USA
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posted 15 November 2003 01:22 PM
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I am deeply saddened about this. Speedy, was truly one of the greatest of all time. I suppose Jerry Byrd put it best on the stage of the ISGC once when he said, "I have always said that Speedy was the most exciting player I ever heard."And indeed he was. NO other player ever was more creative in his own way than Speedy. He played like no body else. When you heard Speedy you heard "him". Truly a rare talent. This is a sad day in the world of the steel guitar. He may be gone but he will never be forgotten. May Jesus rest his soul, carl |
Carl West
Member From: La Habra, CA, USA
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posted 15 November 2003 01:37 PM
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My sincere sympathy to Mary and the family. No words can express my love and feelings for Speedy. God rest your soul my dear, dear friend.
He meant so much to so many.Carl West
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Craig A Davidson
Member From: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA
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posted 15 November 2003 01:59 PM
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My sympathy to the West family. I am so glad that I worked up the nerve a few years back in St. Louis to walk up and meet him. Speedy was and is still one of my heroes. I will miss seeing him as I did this year in St. Louis. God bless you Speedy, you were one of few.------------------
1985 Emmons push-pull,Evans SE200 |
Andy Volk
Member From: Boston, MA
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posted 15 November 2003 02:30 PM
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The phrase "When they made him they broke the mold" was never more true than in referring to Speedy West. Nobody else EVER sounded remotely like Speedy. Speedy was proud of his accomplishments but never forgot what it was like to idolize an artist (he was a Gene Autry fan) and therefore was always kind and generous to his many fans. A sad day indeed. |
Gary Walker
Member From: Morro Bay, CA
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posted 15 November 2003 02:36 PM
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As a young teen, I fell in love with the team of Bryant and West in the early fifties. Their instrumentals were the main stream on country stations for lead ins and stations breaks. Speedy's different approach to the steel took me through the roof. I was fortunate to meet him in '59 at the Ambassador Hotel in LA for a musical trade show. He and Roy Lanham were in the Fender room for the Fender 1000 and JazzMaster guitars. Once when Roy stepped out on break, he handed me his guitar. When a man and his young son came into the room, he asked Speedy to play "Steel Guitar Rag", it was my pleasure to play some rhythm for him. Needless to say, it was the thrill of a lifetime.
As I told Billy this morning, when we see our heros start leaving us, soon we'll be gone too, all too soon.[This message was edited by Gary Walker on 16 November 2003 at 09:11 PM.] [This message was edited by Gary Walker on 16 November 2003 at 09:14 PM.] |
Joan Cox
Member From: Eustace, TX USA
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posted 15 November 2003 02:37 PM
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I am very sad to hear about this. Speedy was always gracious and very nice to me. I was always afraid to speak over the microphone when playing at a show. He spoke with me after my set once and asked me why I didn't speak. I told him I was scared, and he said "Don't be afraid to speak to the people". He told me that was important to talk to the crowd because they want to hear you, and that's why they're out there". He helped me overcome my fear of a microphone. I'll miss him coming up and unplugging my guitar..he would do that to me during my sets at the shows..I'll really miss that 
Johnny and I will be saying a prayer for his family.
Joan |
Jerry Lee Newberry
Member From: Van Buren, AR, USA
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posted 15 November 2003 03:06 PM
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So sorry to hear about Speedy. He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers will be with the family. The Newberry's |
Lenny Stadler
New Member From: Weddington, North Carolina, USA
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posted 15 November 2003 03:52 PM
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I am so sorry to hear about Speedy West passing away today. He was a great steel guitar player, and a good friend to my father, Leonard Stadler, who custom built the Speedy West Pedal Steels. I can only imagine the heavenly music that Dad and Speedy are making for the Lord! May God bring comfort and peace to his family. |
Lefty Schrage
Member From: West Union, Iowa, USA
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posted 15 November 2003 04:33 PM
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My sympathies are extended to Mary and the rest of the West family on the loss of Speedy. I remember listening to Speedy and Jimmy during my boyhood days and how they influenced my interest in music and steel guitar. Speedy was a great guy, a legend, and left all of us a huge legacy. ...lefty |
Jason Odd
Member From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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posted 15 November 2003 05:21 PM
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We all loved Speedy, I can hardly believe that this fine gentleman is gone. My regards and condolences to all his friends and most of all his family. |
Smiley Roberts
Member From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075
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posted 15 November 2003 05:53 PM
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My steel guitar "formative years" were very highly influenced by 4 steelers: Jerry Byrd,Don Helms,Roy Wiggins,& Speedy West. Speedy was always congenial,& always had time to talk to everyone. We're sure gonna miss him at the shows.On behalf of the N.T.S.G.A.,I'd like to extend our deepest condolences to the West family. ------------------
~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com
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ray qualls
Member From: Baxter Springs, Kansas
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posted 15 November 2003 06:09 PM
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From myself & Elizabeth and the members of the Kansas Steel Guitar Association, we send our condolences to the family of Speedy West. He will never be forgotten in the world of the steel guitar. He has done so much to promote the sounds of the steel guitar and the world is a better place because of him. "Rest in Peace" our friend.Ray Qualls-President(KSGA) |
B. Greg Jones
Member From: London, KY USA
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posted 15 November 2003 07:15 PM
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This is truly a sad day. Speedy is one of my steel guitar "heroes". I got turned on to his playing by a mutual friend, Ron Scott who had known Speedy and played with him some years back. Ron had told Speedy about me and one day I received an autographed picture and letter from Speedy himself. Ron introduced me to him in 1992 at the ISGC. He was a wonderful human being, very down to earth and treated me like he had known me for years. I couldn't believe I was getting to spend some time with a legend.My condolences go out to the West family. I am sure right now Speedy is in a much better place, with no pain or illness, and pickin' a steel guitar. Greg |
Bob Hempker
Member From: Hollister, Mo.
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posted 15 November 2003 07:18 PM
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My deepest sympathy goes to Speedy's family. I met Speedy about 35 years ago, and I felt like I'd known him all my life the instant I met him. In a way, I had. Speedy, Jerry Byrd, and Juaqin Murphy were my ultimate heroes as a kid growing up in Ohio, trying to learn to play steel guitar. I am proud to have been a part to the tribute to Speedy West show we did in Branson about 10 or 11 years ago. He was always clowning and kidding around, even though he had to have been hurting due to the condition he was in. Again, I'm deeply saddend by this, and my condolences go out to the West family.------------------
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Ricky Davis
Moderator From: Spring, Texas USA
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posted 15 November 2003 08:49 PM
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Photo from:"Pedal Steel Guitar"by Winnie Winston.Photo taken by: Herb Wise.Speedy West playing:The Smithsonian Folk Festival, 1974. |
Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 15 November 2003 09:03 PM
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I can't put into words how much his playing meant to me. A few years back at the end of the ISGC, I finally worked up the courage to go talk to him for a few minutes and somehow ended up helping him take his luggage down to the lobby. I wish I could have been more eloquent or somehow gottent him to understand how much his music affected me.
He was a BIG influence on me from the time I first picked up "Two Guitars Country Style".
My sincere condolences to his family.
------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
Smiley Roberts
Member From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075
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posted 15 November 2003 09:30 PM
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http://www.rockabillyhall.com/SpeedyWest.html ------------------
~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com
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Al Udeen
Member From: maple grove mn usa
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posted 15 November 2003 10:27 PM
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In 1952 I was living in El Monte Ca. & working at a gas station located 1/2 a block from the El Monte Legion Stadium, little did I know that Speedy West was playing there, one night I went there & saw this guy playing a Bigsby steel with a leather cover over the entire front of the guitar, Also on the show, was Tennesee Ernie Ford, Molly Bee, Joanie O'Brian, Cliffie Stone, & many others, That was my first exposure to Steel Guitar, & 5yrs later I took it up & I'm still at it, In 98 at St.Louis, my wife & I took Speedy to breakfast & when I told him this story, his eyes lit up & he was amazed that I recalled that night. I owe a lot to Speedy for my becoming a Steel Player & I offer my Prayers & Gratitude to Speedy & May God comfort & Bless his Family! Al Udeen |
Jody Sanders
Member From: Magnolia,Texas
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posted 16 November 2003 01:08 AM
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An era has ended. There will never be anyone to replace SPEEDY WEST. Those of us who new him and loved him will never forget his talent, sense of humor, and his kindness. Goodbye SPEEDY, see you later. Jody. |
Winnie Winston
Member From: Tawa, Wellington, NZ
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posted 16 November 2003 01:15 AM
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Sad news indeed.
He was one of the first people I met when I came to Scotty's so many years ago. I feel blessed that I was able to hear him play.
The second year I played at St. Louis I brought along my producer, Ken Bloom. We played a bunch of very odd tunes-- duets of steel and pennywhistle, steel and zither, and steel and balilika-- we played Mussgorsky piece for piano and balilika, with me doing the piano part.
Well, it sure wasn't jazz, and it SURE wasn't country. There was polite applause, but most of the audience didn't know how to deal with such foreign stuff.
I brought my steel offstage and Speedy came up, put his arm around me, and said, "Now that's the most refreshing stuff I've heard in over 20 years."
THAT was worth a lot to me.JW |
CrowBear Schmitt
Member From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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posted 16 November 2003 03:00 AM
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God Bless Speedy West
May his Soul and Musik will live on |
Jerry Overstreet
Member From: Louisville Ky
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posted 16 November 2003 08:13 AM
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My condolences to Speedy's family and friends.
I must confess that when I went to my first ISGC in '78, I did not know who many of the Artists were...but I remember being blown away by Speedy and subsequently learning more about the man
and his music...I was saddened when he had the stroke and not able to play anymore, however his prescence at the Convention was always one of the hightlights of the trip for me.
If you met him in the hallways, he would
always acknowledge your prescence and make you feel you good just by his smiling face and attitude..sometimes my cousin, not a musician, would accompany me on these trips and Speedy would poke him in the belly, as a good-natured comment on his slightly pudgy "Beer Belly". He, like everyone else loved Speedy, the Man as much or more as the Musician. I did not know Speedy, but I feel sad for his loss.
I suppose we are to be celebrating his Life as well as mourning his Passing.
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Mike Black
Member From: New Mexico, USA
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posted 16 November 2003 09:17 AM
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Sad News. I hope he and Jimmy are playing 2 Guitars Country Style. |
David Decker
Member From: Canton, Ohio, USA
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posted 16 November 2003 10:01 AM
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On behave of Rick Troyer,Hummingbird Music Studio and 2004 Steel Guitar Celebration. We would like to extend our deepest condolence to the Family and friends. The Steel guitar community has lost a truly great asset. |
George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 16 November 2003 10:04 AM
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I doubt there was anyone who didn't love the great music Speedy and Jimmy played in those early days. I wore out my lp trying to catch his licks...never succeeded! He was a great inspiration to so many, and not only steel guitarists....he demonstrated to one and all the steel guitar could swing and swing it did in his hands! We're fast approaching the era of losing so many fine musicians such as Speedy. Appreciate each and every one while we can. Just an aside, we all knew him as "Speedy", but I must confess, I never learned his real name. He will be missed. |
Barbara Martin
Member From: Austin, TX.
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posted 16 November 2003 10:29 AM
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Does anyone have info on services for Speedy? Where and when? I don't want to bother the family unnecessarily. I would like to get this info out so folks can attend or send flowers.
Barbara Martin
Western Swing Monthly |
Don Walters
Member From: Regina, SK, Canada
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posted 16 November 2003 10:35 AM
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One of my first LP purchases many years ago was Two Guitars Country Style. That was before I had ever tried to play an instrument. I used to think "how many guys are playing all that stuff?"Some of the music he played is still ahead of its time! Condolences to the family.
[This message was edited by Don Walters on 16 November 2003 at 10:36 AM.]
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Earnest Bovine
Member From: Los Angeles CA USA
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posted 16 November 2003 10:57 AM
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The sad news about Speedy crept across the bottom of the TV screen on CNN this morning. |
Michael Johnstone
Member From: Sylmar,Ca. USA
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posted 16 November 2003 11:34 AM
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I met and chatted with Speedy a few times at the conventions I would attend over the years in St Louis,but when Joaquin Murphey was ill and I became his defacto caretaker Speedy started calling me - mainly to talk about Murph but also he would yak on and on about his days in California and all the bands he played in etc. Some of our conversations would go on for an hour or more and I started feeling like I had found a new buddy.I last saw him a year or two ago again at Scottys and we had several nice conversations over the weekend. Back when Joaquin died in 1999,I called Speedy to ask him to contribute to the eulogy I was preparing and he was glad to oblige.His short paragraph talked about his early days in L.A. and how he was blown away by Murph etc and ends thusly: "I am so pleased he called me friend - he will always have a place in my heart". I guess I can now say the same thing about Speedy. Godspeed Mr.West -MJ- |
Paul Polish
Member From: Kemp,Texas,Usa
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posted 16 November 2003 11:46 AM
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OUR HEARTFELT SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS TO THE WEST FAMILY. THE MUSIC WORLD HAS LOST A GREAT TALENT, BUT GOD'S KINGDOM IS NOW RICHER WITH SPEEDY'S PRESENCE.
WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE KNOWN SPEEDY AND AMAZED AT HIS EVER PRESENT SMILE AND GREAT ATTTITUDE.
MARY WAS JUST AS AMAZING AT HIS SIDE WITH THE SAME SMILE AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
OUR HEARTS ARE FILLED WITH SADNESS AND HE WILL BE MISSED. MAY GOD'S PRESENCE COMFORT MARY AND ALL OF THE WEST FAMILY.PAUL & DEE
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Jody Carver
Member From: The Knight Of Fender Tweed~ Dodger Blue Forever
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posted 16 November 2003 11:55 AM
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Quote Keoki Lake..
we all knew him as "Speedy", but I must confess, I never learned his real name. He will be missed unquote. Keoki Speedy's birth name was Wesley West.[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 16 November 2003 at 09:24 PM.] |
Jon Light
Member From: Brooklyn, NY
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posted 16 November 2003 12:00 PM
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All I know of Speedy is what I've heard(music). This thread is contributing tremendously to my sense of the man and his standing amongst his many, many friends and admirers. Thank you, everyone, who is contributing to this monument in his honor. |
Barbara Martin
Member From: Austin, TX.
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posted 16 November 2003 01:10 PM
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These words are hard to say, nevertheless, arrangements are complete for the final resting of our dear friend Speedy West.
Services will be Tuesday November 18 at 10AM at the Riverview Baptist Church in Bixby, OK. 13201 So Memorial Dr. 918-369-2055. Burial will follow in Broken Arrow, OK. Handling the arrangements is the Bixby Funeral Service - 918-369-1700. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to St. Francis Hospice c/o St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa.
Speedy's musicianship is legendary, he set the standard for steel players to follow. And he was a kind soul, a sweet, funny man, generous, who will be remembered and loved always.
Rest in peace. |
Bill Stafford
Member From: Gulfport,Ms. USA
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posted 16 November 2003 03:37 PM
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Another of our LEGENDS has gone home and is now in that heavenly band. Thanks for the memories, Speedy. You gave us music that no other individual on this earth was capable of doing. I treasure your friendship above all and will miss you until I try to find you again in heaven. And like that great Eddy Arnold song "IF I Never Get To Heaven", I won't really have to, as I have already heard Speedy West. Go with GOD my dear friend, and Mary, you and the family have our prayers for strength.Bill & Betty Stafford |
Rick McDuffie
Member From: Smithfield, North Carolina, USA
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posted 16 November 2003 03:38 PM
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I was never able to meet Speedy, but I deeply appreciate the impact he had on his instrument, and music in general. Play on, Speedy!Rick |
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