The sacred steel tradition of praise music has its roots in House of God worship services. It is distinctive in its use of the wah pedal and expressive single-note lead lines, wordlessly conveying the message of salvation.
The Lee Boys feature their pedal steel guitarist Emanuel Roosevelt Collier on this track from Say Yes!, released in 2005 on the Arhoolie label.
Hello fellow players,
As I stated in the last newsletter, I will be doing up close and personal stories on Steel Guitar Hall of Fame members. This newsletter will cover the magnificent Ron Elliott. Ron was just inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame about four years ago. Ron is one of the craziest, most wonderful, great players to be around. His personality says it all, a very intelligent person, will do about anything for a laugh.
He is from Salisbury, Maryland which is a small town on the outer banks of the Chesapeake Bay. Ron moved to Nashville and immediately started working the road with stars from the Grand Ole Opry. He was working with Stonewall Jackson when I met him with guitar player Reggie Alley of this small four piece band that was about as beautifully country as pure country music could be.
Ron always seemed to master the latest E9th licks and patterns. I remember seeing Ron once when I first moved to Nashville in the showroom at Sho-Bud. Stu Basore was with me and after looking at some fingertip model Sho-Bud guitars, we collectively decided to buy another brand, which may sound silly, but you know how kids are.
Ron and Stu helped me get one of the other guitars and set it up at Weldon’s house in Hendersonville one Sunday afternoon on his kitchen table. It wasn’t long until Ron made a move in his employment and started working with Jack Green. Some of the most beautiful country music I had ever heard come out of the Opry was from this man and band.
Ron worked with Jack for a good while, then subbed with several other bands, did sessions and finally expanded his repertoire and started doing a lot of steel guitar shows. Ron was a superb showman. Between his music and his humor he did one of the finest shows that a steel guitar player could do without having his own band and arrangements totally worked up.
Ron’s wife’s name is Leslie Elliott. About this time, both of these fine folks went to work for the Sho-Bud company in downtown Nashville. Ron was in charge of ordering material and Leslie worked in the office collecting money and running the rest of us out when we got in the way. An astounding marriage these two must have. They have a son named R.P. which probably stands for Ron Jr. I don’t know if R.P. plays anything or not but he sure has the right environment to learn.
Anytime you have a chance to hear Ron play, be sure not to miss it. Also be sure to go up and shake his hand because greatness is what this man is totally made of.
Remember we have a 20% off sale on 11/11/11. This is the biggest sale I’ve ever known anybody to have in the steel guitar business and this is a true sale that takes in prices that are already on sale. It only covers items we have on the floor, however we have a great stock of great steel guitars. Remember, we are a full line steel guitar store which means steel guitars, amplifiers, all accessories and anything related too.
Check out our monthly specials at www.steelguitar.net/monthlyspecials.html and we’ll try to save you a lot of money.
The friend to all bar holders,
Bobbe Seymour
www.steelguitar.net
sales@steelguitar.net
www.youtube.com/bobbeseymour
www.myspace.com/bobbeseymour
Listen To Steel Guitar Music Streaming 24 Hours A Day!
Steel Guitar Nashville
123 Mid Town Court
Hendersonville, TN. 37075
(615) 822-5555
Open 9AM – 4PM Monday – Friday
Closed Saturday and Sunday
I’ve installed a new interface for mobile browsers called WPtouch. It looks pretty nice on my little iPod screen. I’d appreciate comments or email (quasar@b0b.com) about how it looks on your phone or tablet. Thanks.
