Bobbe Seymour-Memories of My Visits With Bobbe

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 18 May 2014 5:42 pm

Bobbe Seymour was a friend of mine beginning in 2002 when I purchased a vintage 1936 Gibson lap steel from him. He enjoyed looking at and playing vintage lap steels. Often, he insisted on giving me CDs, Videos, and Instructional Materials.

Bobbe was an excellent lap steel and pedal steel player and Steel Guitar Hall of Fame Member. He will be missed by steel guitar players.

BOBBE SEYMOUR-MEMORIES OF MY VISITS WITH BOBBE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSjrgwBmdVM

Ken Campbell · Post by **Ken Campbell** » 18 May 2014 6:18 pm

Thanks for that....

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 19 May 2014 5:46 pm

Thanks Ken, glad you enjoyed it.

C. E.

LaVern Skarzenski · Post by **LaVern Skarzenski** » 20 May 2014 10:16 am

Mr. C.E. Jackson,
Thanks for the video. Great memories for sure. For everybody's information the bass player in the pictures with Bobbe, and Uncle Doug, is Shorty Luce. A friend and neighbor of Uncle Doug and Bobbe as they were growing up at Steadman N.Y. Shorty has passed on since that time. When we left on that trip, his wish for that weekend was only to get a chance to play Bass with Bobbe and "Uncle Doug".... and his wishes were granted. I do recall the vintage steels that you had and the joy that Bobbe had playing them. Thanks again for the great memories.

LaVern Skarzenski

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 20 May 2014 2:46 pm

Mr. Skarzenski, thanks for the comment and for the private email. I talked with Uncle Doug this afternoon. You and Uncle Doug are both very kind to give additional information, and for recalling Bobbe playing my vintage steels in the video.

Uncle Doug said that Jim "Shorty" Luce, the bass player, now deceased, was from Erie, PA. Also, that he and Shorty played together when he, Uncle Doug, got his first steel. That steel was an Airline from a mail order catalog. Uncle Doug stated the video was "Nice Memory".

Your email stated that you were "Cousin Vern" to Bobbe, and that you drove Uncle Doug and Shorty from NY to Bobbe's store in Hendersonville, TN. You also said Shorty's wishes were "At the very least a chance to play bass with Bobbe. He got his wish." You also stated that "In the video between time 2:14 and 2:42 you can get a glimpse of me sitting off to the side of Bobbe."

Thanks to you, Cousin Vern, and to Uncle Doug for the additional information. I am glad that I had saved the photos and could publish the YouTube video. You are both great guys.

Sincerely,

C. E.

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 21 May 2014 11:49 am

I just received this photo from Bobbe's Uncle Doug.

This photo is in 1947 after Uncle Doug had graduated and joined the band "SUNSET RAMBLERS" where he called the square dances and played steel. He said that he later converted this Epiphone to a triple neck and gave it to Bobbe when he purchased a MultiKord steel.

Bobbe certainly had a great inspirational example to follow as he grew up.

C. E.

LaVern Skarzenski · Post by **LaVern Skarzenski** » 21 May 2014 12:17 pm

Mr. C.E. Jackson, I'm sorry I got your name incorrect in the above reply.

LaVern

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 21 May 2014 3:56 pm

Received another email with history of Bobbe's early learning to play steel guitar from Uncle Doug. He would be posting himself, but he has lost his log in information so I am posting information for him. Here is a copy of his email:

"I gave Bobbe an 8 string lap steel, a Keisel, I think and then later gave him the home-made Epiphone triple neck I had when I got my MultiKord. I just got him started as a beginning teen.....he lived with me and my Mom & Dad while his Dad was in the Navy (WWll) so he was there when I got my Montgomery-Ward 6 string lap Airline. That was when I met "Shorty" as a senior the fall of 1946. I was calling square dances and had learned "Georgia Steel Guitar" enough to get through it. It was easier for me than "Steel Guitar Rag" which I eventually learned also. Shorty played muted trumpet and guitar and later played bass that winter when the leader went to Florida for a vacation. The bass player switched to fiddle & Shorty did the bass. Bobbe visited me at Xmas & New Years about 1967~ and showed me the 4 string grips he had learned in Texas. I worked on them (C6th) for 6 months or so before I got so I could use them well. He taught me much more than I ever taught him! I just helped him get started.....he was already interested! Uncle Doug"

Thanks Uncle Doug.
C. E.

Doug Seymour · Post by **Doug Seymour** » 22 May 2014 3:14 am

Dolores Lindsey Troutner, the girl vocalist in the picture was 14 at the time. I was 18 on the steel & Paul Raszmann, the bass player was also 18, I think. The three of us are still alive and Ollie Brown, guitar....Paul Packo, accordion & Dick Winans, fiddle have all joined the musicians up there with Bobbe and the others. Bobbe was 7 when I joined this band and he used to come to our dances & shows with my Mom & Dad.
He'd sit on the edge of the stage and tap his foot.
His Dad sent him a ukelele which he used to start the thumb picking he later did on his steels. He was born to make music!

The Steel Guitar Forum

Bobbe Seymour-Memories of My Visits With Bobbe

Bobbe Seymour-Memories of My Visits With Bobbe

Sorry about the incorrect name.

Sunset Ramblers