RIP Ray Montee

Bob Muller · Post by **Bob Muller** » 29 Mar 2018 12:00 am

Just a few last photos, RIP Ray.

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 29 Mar 2018 2:35 am

I'm sorry to hear about Ray Montee passing away. He was an icon on the steel guitar forum and I will miss his input. We were lucky to have him as a member! May Ray RIP.

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 29 Mar 2018 4:50 am

Rest easy my friend, great player, dedicated to the cause of Non pedal steel guitar and a wonderful presence here on the forum, he shall be missed.

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 29 Mar 2018 5:11 am

Sad news... He was one of a kind

JERRY THURMOND · Post by **JERRY THURMOND** » 29 Mar 2018 5:51 am

When the Steel Forum started, Ray made many posts that was informative to the early history of the steel guitar, we will miss his stories.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 29 Mar 2018 6:08 am

This is so sad. I always enjoyd chatting with Ray.

Farewell, Skipper!

Walter Stettner
Vienna, Austria

Bob Littleton · Post by **Bob Littleton** » 29 Mar 2018 6:26 am

RIP Ray, we are grateful for your gifted playing that influenced the steel guitar community.

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 29 Mar 2018 7:08 am

sorry to here about ray i met ray in st louis 2010
great man great steel player
RIP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DFld8jgJqc

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 29 Mar 2018 8:11 am

I was glad to help Ray "make his connection", ...and I am super glad Sally and his daughter were there at the very end.
Wow Ray put up ALOT of videos on YouTube, just do a search for his name, ...of his playing back in his hayday (some with just audio from the bandstands, some with pics) as well as more recent convention vids.
Many with good pics of Ray back in his day.
Here's one with a good pic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_JXNY1Imlc

Here's Ray playing Java with the band... I know he liked when Jim Cohen played it at Conventions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rmkJcKFTdk

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 29 Mar 2018 8:41 am

Bummer!Condolences to Ray's family,He was a good guy!

Rick Schacter · Post by **Rick Schacter** » 29 Mar 2018 9:06 am

My condolences to Sally and family.
RIP, Ray and thank you for sharing your music with us.

Rick

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 29 Mar 2018 9:16 am

I don't know what's left to say that hasn't already been said. Ray was one of the last of the all-time greats of the steel guitar, a natural gentleman, and we shall not see his like again.

So long, Skipper.

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 29 Mar 2018 10:00 am

RIP Ray.
My condolences to Ray's family. I've never met Ray in person but I sent him a cd once. He was extremely nice and gentle. What a sad day

Mike Vallandigham · Post by **Mike Vallandigham** » 29 Mar 2018 10:31 am

So long, Ray.

When I first came here, Ray would post all the time, sharing his incredible wealth of info on all things steel guitar.

We were blessed to have him around.

Also, thanks for posting those photos.

Brandin · Post by **Brandin** » 29 Mar 2018 10:36 am

Sad news. RIP "Skipper".

GB

Len Ryder · Post by **Len Ryder** » 29 Mar 2018 11:05 am

Met Ray & Sally quite a number of years at the Steel Get-togethers in Spokane Wash. and stayed in touch till the last couple of years when the info and phone calls dried up. As stated earlier he was a barrel of info and a "Good Guy". He will be missed.------ SALLY--- CeCe and I are really saddened by your loss.

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 29 Mar 2018 12:41 pm

I'm sorry for your loss Sally, and I too enjoyed Ray's post on the forum.

Allen Hutchison · Post by **Allen Hutchison** » 29 Mar 2018 2:00 pm

R.I.P. Ray. My sincere sympathies to his family & friends. I'd also like to mirror exactly what Mr. C.E. Jackson said.

Paul Arntson · Post by **Paul Arntson** » 29 Mar 2018 3:46 pm

RIP Skipper.

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 29 Mar 2018 4:10 pm

Ray was very nice to me. He forgot more than I will ever know, yet he treated me as an equal. You are missed Skipper, RIP.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 29 Mar 2018 6:01 pm

God bless Ray.

Bill L. Wilson · Post by **Bill L. Wilson** » 29 Mar 2018 9:21 pm

Really sorry to hear this sad news. God rest his soul and bless his family....... Man, What a Player!!!!

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 30 Mar 2018 9:02 am

Ray was an excellent player who freely dispensed advice to those who asked for it.

Garry Vanderlinde · Post by **Garry Vanderlinde** » 30 Mar 2018 11:16 am

RIP Skipper, you will be missed!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41psnJFr0bI

Ry Cooder's "Steel Guitar Heaven":

I want to go to steel guitar Heaven
That's the only resting place for me
I want to go to steel guitar Heaven
There's a lot of swinging cats I been waiting to see
Like Joaquin Murphy and Jimmy Day
Shake hands with Speedy and shout hooray
That's steel guitar Heaven to me
I heard about steel guitar Heaven
I'm going when I die
I heard Paul Bigsby's been waiting
He's got something new he wants me to try
It turns itself on and tells you a joke
Lights you a drink and pours you a smoke
Paul I don't think it's ready!
That's steel guitar Heaven to me

(Recitation)
Well, folks, I think the good lord must love steel players, He's made so many of them.
Matter of fact, He's still trying.
But the good Lord knows that the steel player's life on Earth isn't often easy.
So He's set aside a little corner of Heaven, custom made, just for you.
First thing you'll notice, there's always plenty of courteous free parking
And don't it just seem like that old triple-neck ain't near as heavy as it used to be?
Step inside, and you'll find the walls are covered in real knotty pine.
And just take a gander at all that luxurious hi-lo shag, continuous filament,
Nylon-pile, wall-to-wall carpeting. Our Lord chose green-and-gold my personal favorite.
The tables and chairs are upholstered in genuine naugahyde, and here our Lord chose red, I thnk it's appropriate.
There's always a lot of cowboy carrying on up on the bandstand, and you're bound to hear some old familiar voices calling, man, look who's here, come on up and sit on in.
It's C6th day again.

You can't get fired up in Heaven
Your union card's all paid
There ain't no bosses up in Heaven
I heard Spade Cooley didn't make the grade
Everybody' got a story up in Heaven
Some we all know well
All steel players go to Heaven
Some just go through hell
But the Good Lord loves each and every one
When your ragtime cowboy days are done
Come up to steel guitar heaven with me
That's steel guitar Heaven to me.

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 30 Mar 2018 3:31 pm

Ray made such a postive contribution to the Steel Guitar Forum and always willing to share his music & expertise of the steel guitar, specifically Hawaiian and the contributions of Jerry Byrd. While I had never met him, we exchanged emails as he had been looking for some sheet music to a certain song, which I happen to have & mailed out to him. Suffering is over in this life Ray, we will cherish fond memories. My condolences to Ray’s family for their loss.