Speedy West in Missouri?

Nate Hofer · Post by **Nate Hofer** » 6 Jun 2012 5:14 pm

I'm a big fan of Speedy West and am vacationing this week with my family near Lake of the Ozarks in southern Missouri. I've read he's from a farm near Springfield. Does anyone know if there's any official or unofficial historic things to see regarding his Missouri roots? The West farm? An old nightspot?

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 6 Jun 2012 7:17 pm

I grew up in Springfield. At 7 years old I took lap steel lessons from the old woman who taught Speedy steel guitar. Her name was Mrs.Crebbs, and she had a music store on St. Louis Street. Her store was loaded with Speedy West pictures. Speedy did grow up near Springfield, it was around either Strafford, Fair Grove, or Pleasent Hope. Wynn Stewart was from Pleasent Hope and is buried there. I am not aware of Speedy's family around Springfield. Speedy had a son who lived, and played music, in Oklahoma, City. Hope this information helps.

Scott Shipley · Post by **Scott Shipley** » 6 Jun 2012 7:23 pm

I think you're right Keith, Pleasant Hope sounds familiar. That same town also produced the great Dwayne Friend and Stan Hitchcock.

Nate Hofer · Post by **Nate Hofer** » 6 Jun 2012 7:33 pm

Strafford I bet. There's a live radio recording of Speedy being introduced as "The Pride of Strafford, Missouri." I didn't know how it was spelled until your post.

jay thompson · Post by **jay thompson** » 7 Jun 2012 2:25 am

Scott,
Dwayne Friend is from Mountain Grove, Mo. or more specifically, Dawson, an small community just North of Mountain Grove. During the 60's, Speedy West's mother lived in West Plains, MO. Speedy would visit her there occasionally.
Regards, Jay Thompson

Ransom Beers · Post by **Ransom Beers** » 7 Jun 2012 3:29 am

Speedy West Biography www.musicianguide.com/biographies/16080 ... -West.html

,here's a bio. on Speedy.If the link isn't clickabe just type the header in your search bar & it'll take you to the links.Hope that helps some.

Scott Shipley · Post by **Scott Shipley** » 7 Jun 2012 2:13 pm

Jay, I live in West Plains. Sixth generation. Not so sure about the "mother in West Plains" part. Dwayne told me he was born in Pleasant Hope. He currently lives in Mtn. Grove however.

Ray Harrison · Post by **Ray Harrison** » 7 Jun 2012 2:46 pm

So now we know what the www really stand for, Wesley Webb West. Maybe he invented the world wild WEBB.....

Scott Shipley · Post by **Scott Shipley** » 7 Jun 2012 3:03 pm

The "mother in West Plains" thing is likely in reference to Porter Wagoner.

Ransom Beers · Post by **Ransom Beers** » 7 Jun 2012 3:45 pm

I have an adopted daughter in West Plains.

jay thompson · Post by **jay thompson** » 7 Jun 2012 5:43 pm

Scott,
Guaranteed Speedy's mother lived in West Plains in the 60's, as she rented a house from my Aunt and Uncle. Porter Waggoner was a meat cutter for my Great Uncle Sid Vaughn, who had a grocery store on the Avenue. My Great Uncle also sponsored Porters first local radio show. Dewayne Friend and I grew up and attended school together. Knew all of his family. They were a very musical family. Yes our family goes very deep in the Ozarks also.

Louie Hallford · Post by **Louie Hallford** » 7 Jun 2012 7:51 pm

I hope I am mistaken,but I think I was told recently that Speedy's son died. Can anyone correct me or confirm this?

Bill Fisher · Post by **Bill Fisher** » 7 Jun 2012 9:12 pm

Yes. Speedy West's son did pass away about a year ago, I believe. He was living in Oklahoma City.

Bill

Bill Fisher · Post by **Bill Fisher** » 7 Jun 2012 9:14 pm

If I recall correctly, lung cancer was the cause.

Bill

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 7 Jun 2012 9:24 pm

I have posted this before. But, if you missed it, this is a picture of Speedy when he first arrived in So.Calif. with his two necked lap steel. I had left this Band (Ray Hahn and the Missouri Wranglers) and Speedy took my place. It was not too long before Speedy got his Bigsby and moved on, like myself, to bigger and better Bands.

Ransom Beers · Post by **Ransom Beers** » 8 Jun 2012 5:11 am

WOW!! So much history on this thread,whata group "O" people.The steel guitar family is "Da Greatest"!

Scott Shipley · Post by **Scott Shipley** » 8 Jun 2012 7:32 pm

Ok Jay, I defer to your obviously superior memory.

But, it's Wagoner (one G), and your great uncle's butcher shop wasn't on Washington Avenue in 1948 (the date he sponsored Porter on KWPM), it was located at #42 Court Square, currently the home of the Red Apple Grill. The 1948 D-18 that Porter played on that show belonged to a co-worker, which he purchased at the local music store which was at that time located about one block from where I live and is now called West Plains Music, and currently resides very close to me. The guitar, not the co-worker.
As for Dwayne, maybe I'm remembering that wrong too. Memory can fail on occasion.
Nice to see some Missouri Country stars being remembered on here!

jay thompson · Post by **jay thompson** » 9 Jun 2012 2:06 am

Scott,
But the grocery store did relocate to the Avenue. As far as the Waggoner spelling, I trust no one misunderstood who I was referring to. My cousin, who introduced Porter each morning at the start of his radio show, still lives in West Plains.
Another local to achieve some stature in Country Music is Jan Howard, whom I happened to have known, although not all that well, prior to the start of her career. Scott, I will be in Ozark County later this Month, care to get together?
Regards, Jay Thompson

Scott Shipley · Post by **Scott Shipley** » 9 Jun 2012 1:11 pm

Sounds good Jay! Holler at me, we'll go get a burger at Roy's Store. Best burgers in the county.

jay thompson · Post by **jay thompson** » 9 Jun 2012 1:31 pm

That will be great as Roy's Store is only 10 miles from our
place. We are located 3 miles SE of Hodgson's Mill.
Regards, Jay Thompson

Scott Shipley · Post by **Scott Shipley** » 9 Jun 2012 1:36 pm

We're just about neighbors then! My Grandparents had the farm directly across the road from the Ball. The original homestead is at Birdtown.

jay thompson · Post by **jay thompson** » 9 Jun 2012 1:48 pm

I knew your Grandparents and probably your Aunts and Uncles.
I was born at Birdtown not far from the original homested. Talk about old home folks.
Looking forward to lunch or dinner, your choice.
Best regards, Jay Thompson

Jack Wilson · Post by **Jack Wilson** » 15 Jun 2012 7:27 pm

Speedy's father owned a large parcel of land southeast of Strafford, MO. When I was very young my brother and I would deer hunt on his property.

Shannon Dario · Post by **Shannon Dario** » 2 Dec 2023 9:50 am

Hello-
My Uncle was Earl Smith and played with Speedy in the Ray Hahn Band. I assume they met in Missouri when he was teaching guitar lessons in St Joseph. It appears they left Missouri to California about the same time. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks you!
Shannon

Jim Hoke · Post by **Jim Hoke** » 3 Dec 2023 2:50 pm

Speedy's son Gary was a good guitar player, who played blues in the style of his idol Albert King. I was in a band with him on keys, sax and harmonica in the 70's in OKC that played 6 nights a week at one of the airpot row hotels that catered to drunk businessmen and the hookers they picked up. We were a cover band playing the hits of the day. Much later, he took up steel and was calling himself Speedy West Jr. I don't think that was too successful, and then he died young. Good player and nice guy.

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