My greatest memory of him was this past January in Mesa, Arizona when everyone got him back on stage for the practical jokes he so loved to pull.

Please tell us your favorite Jeff Newman story???????

"Right Hand Alpha"

Rest in peace, Jeff.

When I released my second album, Texas Dance Time!, Jeff got a copy and told me " this stuff is great! You need to make this album into rhythm tracks and sell them to the steel community. Then, tab out your solos and sell the thing as a C6 course in western swing."

I told him I was a bandstand picker and that sounded too much like labor. He literally grabbed me by the shoulders, stared me right in the eye, and said "Listen to me. GET TO WORK!"

I finished that product and gave Jeff a copy. He wouldn't accept it, he chose to pay for it over my objections, even though he'd given me lots of stuff based on our friendship. He looked it over, approved, and said "I'll write a blurb about you in my next newsletter."

Well, I thought I'd get a mention, maybe a paragraph or two. Instead, Jeff wrote a lengthy review of my project, glowingly, that was 3/4 of a page of his newsletter. I know how much a page of a newsletter costs to print and mail out. Astounding, but totally Jeff. I sold 150 albums and courses from that newsletter.

I picked up the ball and ran with it. He showed me that an album isn't simply an album, it's a set of rhythm tracks, and its a steel guitar course if tab is included. He got me back into the problem-solving business I had left when I retired prematurely from the Austin Chronicle.

With Jeff's encouragement, I did the same treatment to my next album Rancho Rhythm Roundup, rhythm tracks and tab. I wrote a Gospel course for E9, a small essay on C6 pedals, and I began my series of rhythm tracks packages. I tabbed out a course for Johnny Bush solos.

Wow. I had a catalog.

At the Dallas show this year, Jeff preceded me onstage. He was magnificent, and his musical tribute to Jimmy Day was nothing short of poignant. I told him, "you didn't leave much for me up here, Jefe." He laughed at that and we hugged when he got offstage.

Later, when Buddy was playing with Bush, he hung out at my booth, listening to the master. He waved his hand at the crowded, packed hall and said "that man onstage, he's the reason for all this." I said that Jerry Byrd might have had something to do with it, and he said "No. I'm talking the E9 steel guitar. The reason for it is right up there onstage, and that's why we're all here." I thought to myself, "yeah Jeff, but you're a big part of why they're all here, too."

Someone came up to the table and said he'd seen me play with Bush, and I jokingly said "yeah, I've got the best steel guitar gig, don't I?" Jeff immediately said "Wrong. I have the best steel guitar gig." He was serious, though I was halfway joking. He LOVED what he did.

Jeff looked at my product table, went through all the stuff and said. "You have a catalog, my friend. Good work. Keep it up." High words indeed from the man who's most resposible for the medium of mail order country steel guitar instruction.

After the Jamboree on Sunday night, a bunch of us went out to Tony Roma's for dinner, as we generally always do. Jeff pulled me aside and told me some wonderful things that will remain between us, but let me know how much he valued my friendship and respect. When someone I've admired for years not only treats me like a colleague but also a close personal friend, he's touched my heart.

We served together on the Steel Guitar Convention Board and had some friendly but still opinionated debates. He believed in what he thought was right and stuck by his guns. He will be difficult to replace there, as well IMHO.

No man loved his wife more than Jeff. A week before the Jamboree, we spoke on the phone and he said "don't tell anyone yet, but I might not be able to come to Dallas. Fran has to go back into the hospital for a kidney treatment. If it's just a stent, I might get there. But if it's anything more than that, forget it for sure. If Fran's in the least bit in trouble, I'm staying home." I'm sure that's what any of us would do, but I wanted to tell the story anyway.

In the past 12 years, four men have affected my professional life and the way I've recreated myself as a full-time musician after 15 years in other businesses. Johnny Bush, Charlie Norris, DeWitt Scott, and Jeff Newman. Their wise counsel opened my eyes and showed me the way. The hard part, getting to work, is up to me.

Thanks, Jeff. You are the best.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 08 April 2004 at 09:26 AM.]

Later, when my Firebird Suite CD came out, He was really encouraging. He made it a point to tell me that he loved the CD and listened to it on a daily basis, and then he did something totally out of character. He offered to let me quote him in an ad.

Jeff rarely if ever endorsed anything. As a matter of policy, he did not allow his name to be associated with products other than his own. Knowing this, I did not ask him for an endorsement. He offered it to me.

With out this I might still be mostly ignoring the E9 neck in favor of C6

He was working on a music project with a California partner that he let me listen to. It was the most beautiful playing I have ever heard...period. I hope that it can be released in some way.

He touched a lot of people with his music, his character, and his humor. Sad news.

quote:

---

The hard part, getting to work, is up to me.

---

Herb, thank you.. and thru you, I thank Jeff.

This is about how Jeff would have helped me if I had had the sense to pay attention...

I met Jeff at a PSGA show I played on using MIDI rhythm tracks I had built myself , either reverse engineering a particular recording, or from scratch... After my set , which was moderately well received (A Way 2 Survive was NOT on my list) Jeff who's merch table was next to mine congratulated me on the quality of the tracks, and urged me to " do something " more with them.

I regret that until now I have yet to have done so; but Herb's story, and the memory of Jeff's compliment (and if anyone knew tracks it was he) is a kick start...

Life is too short, and so unpredictable, to waste time...

I was lucky, though, to hear him play several times on stage in St. Louis and that is a treasure I will always carry with me.

Thanks, Jeff, for being with us!

Kind Regards, Walter
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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Daniel J. Cormier
Carter D-108/5 , Peavey Sessions 400 Limited ,Nasville 1000,Evans FET 500 LV.
http://www.cajunsteelguitar.com

The week I spent at TopGunn school was not only the best possible training I could ever ask for on the steel guitar, it was one of the most relaxing weeks I've ever had in my adult life. Away from work, away from the wife and kids, away from everything but steel guitar and quiet reflection.

Before I took my week's TopGun course from Jeff Newman, my bandmates would quite frequently frown in my direction during a gig. After I got back and woodshedded a little on the material and the concepts, they don't frown all the time anymore, and sometimes they even give me a "Yeah!" after I play a phrase.

I remember clearly sitting down with him at the picnic table the afternoon after I got there. He'd heard me play a little, and said come on out here, we need to talk.

He told me directly and precisely where I was with the steel guitar. It was hard to listen to, but I knew it was the truth and that's what got me over to his place to begin with. Then we spent the rest of the week sorting out the stuff I needed to know and learn, and it was the best experience I could've asked for.

I fight this guitar more often than I play it, but Jeff Newman finally showed me how to play it correctly. When I think about it the way he taught me before I try to play something, I always play it better.

During that same week, Jeff and Fran had me to their house for a hickory smoked steak dinner on Wednesday night, and then we went out for fried fish dinner the Friday night before I left. I never felt more at home or more relaxed with anyone in the 48+ years I've been on this planet. He told me stories about the steel guitar world and how he got started, we talked about our families and friends, playing in bands, dancehalls, pretty much everything that was on my mind at that time.

For him to invite into his home and treat me the way he did made an impact on me that truly changed my perspective on life and how I look at playing the steel guitar. It's been almost 3 years now, and I am still going over the material, but with his encouraging words still ringing in my ears, I am determined to become the best player I can be.

I've been wanting to go back for another week, and had almost saved enough to do so this year.

My heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to Fran and the family.

May God bless his soul - he was truly a great, great man.

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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com

I called to order some picks. That's it. I got an answering machine when I called. Other times I'd called, I assume it was Fran who'd answered. I felt pretty bad leaving my phone number, that someone would maybe call me back and use a toll call to buy $12 worth of picks. But about 20 minutes later the phone rang, "Hello, this is Jeff Newman." (I'm thinking "Oh God!" at that point). Now I REALLY felt bad that Jeff himself called me about buying picks! However, he was totally gracious and sounded like this call for picks was just as important as if I'd called to sign up for Topgun (I didn't tell him, but which I hoped to do sometime possibly later this year). Well, when we got the pick purchase squared away, I pulled myself together and asked if I could ask him a few questions. He agreed. One was about how he talked in the video I had of him (maybe his first) negatively about pick-blocking. He's obviously changed his mind or maybe I'd misunderstood because he told me to play fast you had to use it. Then, I asked him about the rattling sound of the strings I get a lot from the bar when I play. He asked me what kind of bar I used. I told him. He said, "TAKE THAT THING AND THROW IT RIGHT IN THE TRASH CAN and get yourself a ___ bar". I laughed, I thanked him for the help, and that was it.

That was a month ago.

Jeff and Fran are the reason Paul and I are together. Paul was teaching with Jeff at the time and they did a seminar in Houston at the hotel where I was working. Paul and I met and the rest is ancient history. How can you ever thank someone for bringing your soulmate to you?

He and Fran were also very kind to me when I moved to Nashville and knew no one. They offered to let me stay with them when Paul was on the road with Dire Straits.

Jeff was a truly good, honest and unselfish person who would help anyone who needed it. Paul and I will miss him dearly.

My favorite Jeff story:
At St. Louis one year Jeff was all decked out in a white tux. Jerry Byrd was playing. Jeff walked across in front of the stage. Jerry looked down and said, "Jeff, maybe one day when you get real good you can dress like the rest of us!"
It was VERY funny.

Of course the two successive years when Jeff played so hot that smoke rose from his hand, followed by the time when Bobby Caldwell sliced Jeff's "guitar" in half with a chainsaw.

After going to lots of steel shows and hearing lots of players I always came away thinking that I just LOVED the way he played. His musicality was just sooo tasteful.

We sure lost a good one.

Ernie Pollock

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

His patience and teaching capabilities are legendary! We played nothing but scales for three days from 8AM till 4PM. The other days were mostly spent in the sun drinking coffee and just chatting and laughing about facts of life itself.

I came back totally relaxed and with greatly improved playing skills and views about the instrument. Three years later I succesfully repeated that stint, and would have done it again if it weren't for this tragic accident.

My thoughts are with his lovely wife Fran.

Tom Ensink
Netherlands

In the mid 70's I did attend an E9th seminar in Long Island NY and what I learned from Jeff and came away with was that he was one of the most gentle folks you could ever come across. His manner and disposition was foremost in his ability to teach. His ability to communicate with the most proficient player and the novice at the same time was a true gift.

Back in Feb 04 I attended Jeffs seminar in Saluda SC and again found Jeff to be the same , no, even more gentle man I had first met back in the 70's.

Jeff to me was the definition of "The Most Unforgetable Character" that you hope to meet in your lifetime.

Thankfully I got to meet him several times..

When I play and look down at my Steel there is no way I will not see Jeff Newman.

I will never forget his humor.

It is sad that it took me until his passing to do the little research on the web I did yesterday, to realize that Jeff was as much an authority among pilots and model air craft buiders as he was to us as a musician: A commercial grade plilot, 3D stund pilot and seminartist. He had an exciting life.

Jeff's CD's have provided me with hundreds of hours of quality practice time.

Rest in Peace.

At the last workshop, about 14 years ago I think, he had a Zum U12 with him and told us it was for sale. I already had ordered for a brand new Emmons LeGrande III but I knew it would still take at least one year and a half before this was to be delivered. I also was interested in the universal tuning. So, after having a lot of discussions and advice from Jeff and other steel players that weekend I decide to buy the Zum from him. When I told him, he said that I would not regret it for one minute. He needed it the next day to play in Germany however and there I could pick it up.
So, that's what I did: I drove down to a little town near Frankfurt where he stayed with a German steel player and his family. I was invited for dinner and we had great fun and laughs. At the end of the evening we went to look at the Zum and Jeff explained to me why he had the Day set up and gave me some tips on adjusting the guitar. When I left, feeling very proud with my "new" Zum, it felt like leaving friends. Because that is the feeling he gave us with his direct, sincere and humerous approach.

I was shocked when I read about his death. I will definitely remember Jeff as a great player, teacher and inspiror. I wish Fran lots of strength in the very sad period.

We owe Jeff a lot for what he did for steel guitar!

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Zumsteel S12U

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[This message was edited by Ad Kersten on 10 April 2004 at 07:16 AM.]