Thanks Herb Stiener

[Mike Sweeney]

I want to thank Herb for what he said about Jack Greene.
I had the privaledge and pleasure of being Doug Jernigan's sub for 4 years on that job. The last time I went on a road trip was the weekend Doug was put in the S.G.H.O.F. in '94. We played a fair near Boston,Mass. and a fair in Dover,Pa. But I had done a bunch of jobs prior to that. I see Jack at least once a week at the Nashville Palace where I work and every time he comes in he gets up and sings with us.
That being said as to the fact I know what I'm talking about let me say this. Anyone who could be so rude as to call somebody names like that apparently has no upbringing. Just because your hero didn't get to play as much as you think they should you want to draw conclusions and throw a fit.
Let me tell you some of the factors that could have led up to why the song could have been played the way it was.1. Jack just out of the blue might have called the song just prior to going on stage and the band just winged it. [he never did this song when I subbed the gig]and he never made a record of it that I know of. 2. His bandleader Penn Pennington who plays guitar AND steel might have told Tommy where to play.
You can rest assure that the Opry is controlled chaos and you never can expect the expected.
As much as I respect Tommy White and Weldon who had the job before him it is not the convention it's the Opry. Tommy and I are the same age and we were 7 years old when Jack was made a member of the Opry so I'll bet you Tommy shows the respect the man is due. It doesn't matter if Tommy plays 4 bars on one Opry spot or 400 bars he makes the same money he's not paid by the note and after all that is his livelyhood.
If you want to nitpick about that song in particular I'll give you a better example of how things change.
In May of '98 Danny Mohammed got me to go out with Ray Price for a while and he does Night Life in his show and like most everyone I learned the 1963 cut of it and when I got out there I had to learn it again real quick splitting the blues bridge with the guitar player and also he cut out the solo. I smiled and said it's great to be here because I knew that's how he wanted it.
Be thankfull for guys like Jack who are staying true to thier roots and useing steel and for the great music he's given us all these years. Anyone who wants to call Jack big ears has a big mouth and needs to learn how to show some respect.
Thanks again Herb, I know Jack would appriciate it too. I might make some enemies here but I consider Jack a friend of mine and I'll stand up for any of my friends when they aren't able to for themselves. And since Jack's not on the forum he can't. If it does piss somebody off I don't care I've got every right to say my piece.
Mike Sweeney

[Paul Graupp]

Mike: May I say the same thing to you that I said to Herb:

Well spoken, Sir !!

Regards, Paul

[Herb Steiner]

Thanks Mike, you're very welcome.

I just wish the topic hadn't come up. I generally avoid writing stuff negatively here, even when I read some stuff written by a... well, never mind who wrote the stuff. I wanna be "Mr. Nice Guy," ya know? But when I see someone call one of my heroes "Jerk" Greene, THAT gets my dander up.

I'm sure that person would not have the nerve to call Jack a "jerk" to his face.

Anyway Mike, when I get to Nashville I'll check you out at the Palace. Bush is gonna play with Buddy on a Midnite Jambo in October, and I think I'm gonna go up for that one.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

[Reggie Duncan]

I was upset at the inference that Mr. Greene was less than a Legend. Nothing about him gives any indication that he is less than one. However, this thread has given us wannabees an insight into the minds of the great steelers of our time, and into how the GOO works. Thanks for this kind of forum!