Gary Speedy West, Jr

Dave Grothusen · Post by **Dave Grothusen** » 4 May 2011 10:16 am

I just found out from a friend in OKC that Speedy Jr. has died. He had throat cancer last I heard. What a loss. My prayers go out to his family. RIP my friend.

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 4 May 2011 12:21 pm

I remember Speedy Jr. playing at the 1997 St. Louis Convention. I think he had a BMI D-10 at the time.

Nick

bruce fischer · Post by **bruce fischer** » 4 May 2011 12:47 pm

prayers and condolences to the family. bruce & lynn

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 4 May 2011 1:18 pm

I met him in St. Louis back in the 1990's too. Real nice guy, and one heck of a good player. My condolences to his friends and family.

Dave Grothusen · Post by **Dave Grothusen** » 4 May 2011 1:27 pm

Nick,
Speedy still had that BMI the last time I saw him, about two years ago. It was a piece of junk. He knew it too. He never took very good care of it. I sat in with them one night and played it. He told me I had balls to set in with them and play that guitar. Well I had just enough to drink I would guess. Sure did enjoy his down to earth personality. I will mess seeing and listening to him.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 4 May 2011 1:55 pm

He wasn't that old, was he? Sorry for any loss. Our drummer just lost his wife due to COPD.

I remember the time he was at St Louis. Nick has a better memory than me on the date, I just remember when he picked at the ISGC.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 4 May 2011 7:44 pm

Gary was one of the good guys. May GOD bless, comfort, and keep the family always. Jody.

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 4 May 2011 8:12 pm

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-musicia ... tory_photo

I met him some years ago in my ancestral stomping grounds of Oklahoma City when a friend of mine wanted to find out if his Fender pedal steel had previously belonged to Speedy West Sr. I asked Speedy Jr. if he'd relay a question to his dad for me. Instead he gave me Sr.'s phone number in Tulsa and encouraged me to call, saying his dad would be happy to talk to me. (I did and it turned out the steel had not been his: he had Fender custom-make his with the volume knob on the endplate for pinky manipulation.)

I went out to see him occasionally and yeah, that BMI was all that Dave says. We talked about things like vintage instruments (including a custom-color Jazz Bass that eBay skeptics flamed him mercilessly about, not understanding or believing its special provenance) and videotapes (my line), particularly whatever might exist of Town Hall Party, etc.--shows that Speedy Sr. had been on.

Very sorry to hear the news--I've been holding my breath as it were since I first read the notice about his illness.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 5 May 2011 7:57 am

Aw, that's a shame. My condolences to his family as well.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 5 May 2011 11:20 am

Very sad news. I still have his LP.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 7 May 2011 11:10 pm

Our condolences to Speedy's family.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 10 May 2011 8:00 am

THE OKLAHOMAN TUESDAY,MAY 10,2011

"West, Gary Ernest "Speedy," 58, musician, died May 4, Services 3p.m. Wednesday, St Luke's United Methodist Church(Buchanan, Oklahoma City)"

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 10 May 2011 5:27 pm

Rats, what a shame.

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 1 Jun 2011 9:20 am

Sorry it took so long to find this...

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 9 Jun 2011 8:06 am

Sad to hear.

DeWitt Scott · Post by **DeWitt Scott** » 10 Jun 2011 11:30 am

I'm sorry to hear that Speedy Jr. has passed away. My condolences to his family. Scotty

Dale Bennett · Post by **Dale Bennett** » 10 Jun 2011 3:06 pm

I was born here in Ok and grew up in So.Ca. I had the pleasure of knowing both Dad and Son. They were so much alike, friendly and loved every one. I got to Visit with Sr. in Dallas not long before he passed and got to have a good visit with Jr. about a month before he passed. And all of us Okie's sure miss him aready. God Bless the Speedy West familys. db

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Gary Speedy West, Jr

Gary Speedy West, Jr

Speedy West, Jr.

Speedy West Jr.