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Author
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Topic: Katz Kobayashi Passes Away 02/08/04
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Sonny Curtis
Member From: Columbus, Ohio, USA
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posted 08 February 2004 11:01 AM
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Katz Kobayashi passed away this morning. Yesterday he had a seizure and went into a coma and was taken to the hospital. He passed away early this morning. Katz played for Marty Robbins and the early days with Alan Jackson. I will post more information as I receive it. There is a picture on my web site of Katz, myself, John Hughey,Scotty and Buddy Emmons. We became friends when Katz worked with Marty Robbins and I was with George Jones and Tammy Wynette.
We did a few package shows together and an overseas tour.
I will miss you my friend.
Sonny
www.sonnycurtis.net [This message was edited by Sonny Curtis on 08 February 2004 at 11:14 AM.] [This message was edited by Sonny Curtis on 08 February 2004 at 11:16 AM.]
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Danny Hullihen
Member From: Harrison, Michigan
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posted 08 February 2004 04:24 PM
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Sonny.This is indeed very sad news. I remember watching Katz playing on Marty's shows when I was just a young man, and I always enjoyed his style of playing. He indeed will be missed by many. |
KENNY KRUPNICK
Member From: Grove City,Ohio
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posted 08 February 2004 09:35 PM
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I remember seeing Katz on the opry several years ago with Marty. I also remember Marty [This message was edited by KENNY KRUPNICK on 08 February 2004 at 09:36 PM.] |
Sonny Curtis
Member From: Columbus, Ohio, USA
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posted 09 February 2004 06:09 AM
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This is an e-mail I received from Billy Rader:Sonny, I am Billy Rader with the Ocean Opry Show in Panama City Beach, Florida. I saw your post in the steel guitar forum about Katz Kobyashi passing away. I tried to post a reply but I guess I clicked on the wrong thing. Just wanted to let you know that we were with Katz along with his wife and family this morning at 3:30 am.when God called him home. Katz worked for us as our steel player for the last 6 years of his playing life. As you know he suffered a severe stroke and brain anuriesm Christmas of 2001. He never really recovered. Yesterday he would not wake up the entire day. So the ambulance took him the hospital at 5:00 last night. He was in very critical condition at that point. The family prayed and discussed their options. His quality of life was so bad these past two years. We all loved Katz as did thousands of other people. The funeral will be later this week at Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home here in Panama City, Florida. For further information please call our theatre at 850-234-5464 at the Ocean Opry. His family wishes to thank you all for your prayers. I hope you can pass this message along to the rest of the steel guitar community. God bless and thank you for your time.
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BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 09 February 2004 08:42 AM
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A wonderful friend, and was for many years. I had great respect for him as a person as well as a wonderful steel player.
Another of the greats has left us many nice menories.
bobbe |
b0b
Sysop From: Cloverdale, California, USA
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posted 09 February 2004 01:01 PM
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Sad news indeed. I never met him, but he was a marvelous player. Truly world class.
My sympathy goes out to his friends and family.
-b0b- |
BDBassett
Member From: Rimrock AZ
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posted 09 February 2004 07:50 PM
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I first met Katz when he had only recently come to the United States from Japan. In the early 1970s he lived in the Seattle area and worked for RC Bannon and later for Pat Roberts before accepting Marty Robbin's job offer. I took his place in Pat Roberts band and had some mighty big shoes to fill.
I was so fortunate to get several chances to pick with him, steels set up side by side, trading licks. I am saddened by his passing but also know that he had suffered for a long time. God bless him and his family. BD |
KENNY KRUPNICK
Member From: Grove City,Ohio
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posted 09 February 2004 11:18 PM
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I had a problem with my computer,but I started to post further previously,that I remember Marty going over to the opry clock on the stage,and turning the miniute hand back. A fond memory with Katz on stage. |
Bob Hempker
Member From: Hollister, Mo.
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posted 10 February 2004 03:19 PM
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A true friend and great friend to steel guitar. Katz is and will be sadly missed.------------------
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Miguel e Smith
Member From: Phoenix, AZ
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posted 10 February 2004 06:48 PM
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I also met Katz when he worked with Marty many years ago. Later, when he was working the Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach and I was working part-time at the Gatlin's Theater, he would call and try to get me to play golf. He always cracked me up referring to himself in the third party (i.e.; "Hello Mike, this is the Katz" or "The Katz wants to play golf"). He was a wonderful player and a really good cat (Kat). He'll be missed by many.Let the adventure begin again my friend. Mike[This message was edited by Miguel e Smith on 10 February 2004 at 06:49 PM.] |
Tommy White
Member From: Hendersonville,Tn., U.S.A.
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posted 11 February 2004 11:44 AM
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I'm glad to have known Katz. Great guy and steel player. I'll miss him. |
CrowBear Schmitt
Member From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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posted 12 February 2004 02:41 AM
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it is sad to hear of Katz's passing away.
i never had the occasion of hearing him or even meeting him.
my sincere condoleances to his family
Rest in Peace Katz and may the Lord Bless you |
Sonny Curtis
Member From: Columbus, Ohio, USA
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posted 12 February 2004 06:16 AM
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This email from Ron & Leslie Elliott:Hello Sonny,
Thanks for letting us know about Katz's passing. Sure am very sorry to learn of it. I met him many years ago at Sho-Bud when he came to Nashville. He was always so nice and I enjoyed his visits. On one of his trips to Australia, he brought me back a koala bear, which I still have and treasure very much. He said it was for always taking care of his problems when he needed something done on his steel. Of course, Ron worked many shows with him on the road and we loved it when they got to work the Opry on the same nights. I will always remember him playing the Orange Blossom Special for me on his steel. He surely was a great talent and a wonderful person and will be sadly missed. On behalf of Ron and myself, if you see or talk to any of his family, please pass on our condolences to them. We will keep them in our thoughts and prayers. We are fine and hope this finds everything okay with you. Take care and will talk with you later.
Musically yours,
Leslie |
Reggie Duncan
Member From: Mississippi
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posted 12 February 2004 06:16 AM
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The Kobayashi family is in my prayers.
We corresponded quite a few years ago while he was promoting his instrumental recording.
I believe that several of the "major" pedal steelers appeared on this recording. I'm going to see if I can find it.....
He will be missed. |
Gene H. Brown
Member From: Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada
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posted 13 February 2004 02:47 PM
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This is very sad news, Katz and I were very close friends in 1971/72 in Seattle and he was a wonderful man and so very polite all the time. He will be surely missed in the music world and as a very good friend.
Gene |
Wayne Cox
Member From: Chatham, Louisiana, USA
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posted 14 February 2004 07:55 AM
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Katz was small in stature but great in the eyes of his friends. We will all miss him.
~~W.C.~~ |
Sonny Curtis
Member From: Columbus, Ohio, USA
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posted 16 February 2004 03:49 PM
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For anyone who would like to pay tribute to Katz, the following e-mail was sent to me by the Rader Family of the Ocean Opry in Panama City, Fla. Katz was a member of the Opry for many years. Message as follows:Sonny, thank you so very much for all you have done to help with getting the word out about Katz passing away. Please let all know that a trust fund has been set up for his family through the Ocean Opry Show in Panama City Beach, Fl. For information please have folks call 850-234-5464 We took up donations last night at the Mel Tillis show at our theatre and people responded wonderfully with a lot of love and concern. As I told you Katz had no life insurance policy whatsoever on himself. His two daughters ages 23 and 21 went to borrow money just to have his funeral. They are devastated. We hope to have a special benefit show for their family in the future. God bless…
Billy Rader, Ocean Opry Show. Sonny Curtis www.sonnycurtis.net
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Sonny Curtis
Member From: Columbus, Ohio, USA
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posted 17 February 2004 01:37 PM
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bump... |
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