San Antonio Rose, David Hartley on the pedal steel guitar

[Clipper]

I was browsing around looking for a recording of San Antonio Rose earlier, and it led me to many you tube videos featuring great steel guitar music. I am an old country boy at heart, and country is my favorite genre. The music that you guys played in the 50s and 60s is my second most favored. I spent many a night dancing to the local bands in the 60's. I don't care for most music recorded today, and keep my satellite radio tuned to the oldies and to country.



I love the pedal steel. I first became a fan of the pedal steel guitar while working in Oklahoma City, OK. There was a band that played at a country dance hall there with a singer that sounded exactly like Merle Haggard and Merle has always been one of my favorite singers. Just watching this man play makes me think that this has to be a very difficult instrument to master. I sure do love the sound, and San Antonio Rose is one of my favorite tunes. The original Hank Williams record with Don Helms playing steel guitar is my favorite recording of the song.

[Clipper]

Is this our own Dave, playing on the beach at Murrell's Inlet? Does Mrs Dave make him go to the beach to play because the new puppy howls when he plays the steel guitar. Mrs. Dave must have told him to put on his old fishing hat and take his steel guitar to the beach. Gee Dave, if ya throw the hat down in the sand, someone will probably start throwing dollar bills in it.

[Clipper]

I wonder what year this video was taken? Barbara Mandrell looks pretty young, but boy she can make pedal steel talk.

[Clipper]

Then there is Don Helms. He played with Hank Williams and the Drifting Cowboys from in the 40's and brought the signature steel guitar sound to over 100 of Hank Sr.'s records. He also played for Patsy Cline for several of her records, including Walking After Midnight and others. One of his last recording sessions was with Vince Gill when Vince recorded unfinished Hank Williams Senior tracks. Other legendary musicians he played with, were Lefty Frizzell, Loretta Lynn and others. He passed away in Nashville in 2008.

[Clipper]

Here is a steel guitar tune that we ALL remember dancing to in the 50's.