Who's the steeler?

[Bobby Nelson]

Does anyone know who this is? Sounds like Hughey or Green to me.


https://youtu.be/FRXAP3Y78ns

[Greg Cutshaw]

From the comments below the song:

Recorded 20 November 1970 RCA Victor Studio, 800 17th Ave. South, Nashville, TN – Charley Pride (Charley Pride [vcl], Billy Grammer [gt], Billy Sanford [gt], Pete Wade [gt], Gene O‘ Neal [steel], Junior Huskey [bass], Willie Ackerman [drums], Buddy Spicher [fiddle], Tommy Williams [fiddle], Hargus Robbins [piano], William Irwin [organ], Beegi Cruser [vibes] + vocal chorus. Producer: Jack Clements)


Also interesting:

The song was written and recorded by Raymond Smith. It's on YouTube in REAL stereo with a few really cool Lloyd style licks near the beginning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1nfZGqnasQ

[Bobby Nelson]

Oh cool Greg.n Thanks. Never heard of Gene O'Neil

[Greg Cutshaw]

Gene was Charley Pride's steeler for many years.

Check out Funky Monkey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vroXlv9gXTI

[Rick Campbell]

A++++ to both players linked here for playing 15 Years Ago using their own licks and not trying to copy John Hughey. I loved John's playng, but I like the variety of hearing people playing their own stuff too.

RC

[Wayne Franco]

Gene was so inventive. He has always been one of my favorites.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Bill Ferguson has loaded an approx 25 min. youtube video of Gene's performance at the 1992 ISGC. https://youtu.be/SNZqFey9foM ...let it roll to about 2:10.

Worth watching again. The first song is called Tripp's to Win and smokes on the C6. The next one is Spitoon..an uptempo chickin' pickin' type tune. Some of the cuts from his cassette instrumental titled Funkey Monkey. b0b used to have it for sale in the forum store.

Gene was definitely a stylist going all the way back to 1965 with Judy Lynn and the instrumental When the Cowboy Sings, I think it is. Also on youtube. You can see his affinity with the low strings on the back neck then too.

A terrific steel player whose demise was premature.

[scott murray]

here's that instrumental Jerry mentioned, pretty cool. I recognize Bobby Hicks playing one of the fiddles too:
https://youtu.be/dWk3y8qdQkU