I grew up with parents who loved music but had never been able to play an instrument. Many good memories remain from times sitting around the family radio listening to the Grand Ole Opry. Early influences included Don Helms (Hank Sr.’s steel player), Jerry Byrd and Herb Remington, who at one time played with the Bob Wills band. Herb now manufactures steel guitars and I have two triple necks that he custom made for me. “Black Beauty” stays on stage at Annie’s Country Jubilee and “Blondie” is my traveling steel.

I took my first lesson in 1950. My Dad was a stickler for practice and made sure I never skipped. Dad refused to accept the fact that a 6 year old couldn’t sound like Don Helms did on the radio. After many hours of practice he proved to me that he was correct — I could hit those Don Helms and Jerry Byrd licks. During grade school I played all over town with the HillTop Trio and my parents took us from place to place. High school turned to country swing and a little rock and roll with a band call the Shadowmen.

Donna and I married in 1965, and the guitar went into the closet for about 10 years. Later, when my employer (TWA) was on strike, Donna found me a job playing steel guitar with a local group and I never closeted the guitar again. I have played all over the KC Metro area and done a number of recording sessions as well. The last 10 years at Annie’s Country Jubilee have been the best, mostly because of the great musicians I get to perform with on a weekly basis. Without a doubt, we are family. I began playing the dobro in 1996 and added the mandolin in 2004. I still need a lot of practice on the mando but love the high lonely sounds.

I am grateful to my Father for getting me started and making me practice so hard. I am also grateful to Donna, my wife of 40 years, who supports my love of music and has foregone many a night on the town so I could go play a gig or work a recording session. Lastly I am thankful to all the friends and fans I have gotten to know through my musical associations over the years. I look forward to visiting with all of them on a weekly basis at Annie’s, and I miss them when they take a night off.