Slim Yamaguchi?

[Chris Templeton]

Does anyone know what Slim Yamaguchi is up to these days?

[Donny Hinson]

Isn't he still with Mark Chesnutt?

[Chris Templeton]

I'm thinking so, Donny. Brett Day, would you like to chime in and confirm?

[Brett Day]

Yes. Slim is still with Mark Chesnutt. In an interview in 2012 somebody asked Mark if Slim was still playing steel with him, and Mark's answer was, "We can't get rid of him".Slim, a Grand Junction steel player who comes from Japan, has been Mark's steel player now for 28 years. In 2012, he'd been in Mark's band for 22 years. In the early '90s, Slim played Mullen guitars, then switched to Excel a few years later. Slim joined Mark's band, "The New South" before 1990, before Mark had his first single on radio. Slim is actually the bandleader, in addition to being Mark's steel guitarist.

[Pete Burak]

I have also seen Slim with Lorrie Morgan. I think it was GOO Show a while back.

[Brett Day]

I have also seen Slim with Lorrie Morgan. I think it was GOO Show a while back.

Lorrie's steel player was Joshua Motohashi. He played an Emmons with Lorrie. and he's also from Japan. Slim has always been with Mark.

[Chris Templeton]

Thank you Brett!
My Japanese friend, Yoshio, was asking about Japanese steel players in the US. He mentioned those two and he also mentioned Katz Kobayashi who played with Marty Robbins, back in the day.
He said in his email about Slim: "Last night I happened to hear his play “Prism” on Steel Radio". He also was asking about how to get Slim's record. Does anyone know?

[Pete Burak]

Thanks, Brett!

[Chris Schlotzhauer]

I did a show last year opening for Chesnutt and I hung out with Slim for a couple of hours. Great guy.
He lives in a NW suburb of Dallas

[Marty Broussard]

All,
With the utmost respect I’d like to add some information to the previous posts. Please see the picture of the publishing rights I secured on behalf of Mark’s original New South Band that was started Circa May 1987. It is correct that Slim has been with Mark for 28 years, and Slim and I have kept in touch all these years. In fact Slim loaned me one of his Mullen guitars when I wanted to do a yearly holiday gathering locally back in the early 90’s so I could try one out.

Slim started with Mark around May/June of 1990. I feel strongly this is correct because I started my current day job in March of 1990 and in early May of 1990 Mark contacted me to rejoin the band and go on the road. I abstained to raise my family. Soon after Slim was hired. I’m pretty sure Slim was a friend of Mark’s then lead guitarist Glen Gordon and that’s how Slim snagged his spot. (Besides the fact that he’s always been a great player)

Prior to 1990 I was Mark’s original steeler and the certificate below came as a result of me taping our first gig together so we could critique ourselves. The cassette recorder was sitting on top of my NV400 but some of the songs have enough balance and quality that they could possibly be used for a Live album or for random use on other projects. I Copyrighted the material after I discovered the tapes in my safe. I sent Mark a copy of the Copyright and the recordings. All of the original members have rights to any royalties that may arise.

If my memory is completely correct I played for Mark until August of 1987 because our first child was born then and I didn’t want to continue commutting from Lake Charles to the Texas gigs. Mark then hired David Farenthall(sp?) who continued with Mark until he got his MCA recording contract. During that span I would work 2 weeks per summer with Mark while David went home on vacation. I don’t know why David didn’t go on the road but I know Mark tried a few steelers after getting the contract and then, as stated previously, offered me to rejoin and go on the road. The rest is history as stated above.

Btw, around 1993/94 my older brother, Tim, became Mark’s bass player and played some songs on the shows, videos, and recordings on his Cajun accordion. In particular the video of “It Sure is Monday” you can see him on accordion. (Mark loves Cajun accordion music). Tim worked for Mark for approximately eight years before coming back home.

I hope this clarifies the history of the band without being disrespectful.

Best regards,

[Patrick Huey]

[quote="Marty Broussard"]All,
With the utmost respect I’d like to add some information to the previous posts. Please see the picture of the publishing rights I secured on behalf of Mark’s original New South Band that was started Circa May 1987. It is correct that Slim has been with Mark for 28 years, and Slim and I have kept in touch all these years. In fact Slim loaned me one of his Mullen guitars when I wanted to do a yearly holiday gathering locally back in the early 90’s so I could try one out.

Slim started with Mark around May/June of 1990. I feel strongly this is correct because I started my current day job in March of 1990 and in early May of 1990 Mark contacted me to rejoin the band and go on the road. I abstained to raise my family. Soon after Slim was hired. I’m pretty sure Slim was a friend of Mark’s then lead guitarist Glen Gordon and that’s how Slim snagged his spot. (Besides the fact that he’s always been a great player)

Prior to 1990 I was Mark’s original steeler and the certificate below came as a result of me taping our first gig together so we could critique ourselves. The cassette recorder was sitting on top of my NV400 but some of the songs have enough balance and quality that they could possibly be used for a Live album or for random use on other projects. I Copyrighted the material after I discovered the tapes in my safe. I sent Mark a copy of the Copyright and the recordings. All of the original members have rights to any royalties that may arise.

If my memory is completely correct I played for Mark until August of 1987 because our first child was born then and I didn’t want to continue commutting from Lake Charles to the Texas gigs. Mark then hired David Farenthall(sp?) who continued with Mark until he got his MCA recording contract. During that span I would work 2 weeks per summer with Mark while David went home on vacation. I don’t know why David didn’t go on the road but I know Mark tried a few steelers after getting the contract and then, as stated previously, offered me to rejoin and go on the road. The rest is history as stated above.

Btw, around 1993/94 my older brother, Tim, became Mark’s bass player and played some songs on the shows, videos, and recordings on his Cajun accordion. In particular the video of “It Sure is Monday” you can see him on accordion. (Mark loves Cajun accordion music). Tim worked for Mark for approximately eight years before coming back home.

I hope this clarifies the history of the band without being disrespectful.




Best regards,[/quote
Wow! Thanks, Marty!

[Arty Passes]

That's me on the left with Slim and Omar Oyoque, a great young steel player and musician now playing bass with Mike and the Moonpies.
This was in July of last year, we were opening for Mark and this is during a frantic changover in between shows.
We've played a bunch of shows with those guys over the years and it's always nice to visit with Slim.

[Lee Baucum]

How about some updates on Slim?

[George Duncan Sypert]

Slim lived here or stayed in Colorado Springs in the late 80's before he went to work with Chestnut. He hung out at Mac's Steel Guitar Shop a lot back then and played on some of the shows of pedal steel teachers concerts after their week of teaching was over. Herby Wallace came here ever summer for several years. We hung out together quite a lot during those years. He was just barely speaking English. Slim is a great fellow and a great pedal steel player. Always enjoyed being with him in those years. Always enjoy seeing him in Dallas at the Conventions.
George

[Austin Tripp]

Mark opened for us (Cody Jinks) a few months ago outside of Austin TX at a festival. Slim is still kicking with Mark after all these years. We talked for a few hours and shared some of the worst catering in history together. I seen a little while after that show, Mark had to cancel a few due to an illness. Hopefully he has recovered and they are back at it now!