Ca. Steel Guitarist " Jerry Stevens " . Another one Gone.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 25 Oct 2014 12:59 pm

Our old friend Steel Guitarist " Jerry Stevens ' pass away. I enjoyed recording with Jerry on many records. Two great big songs was " I Don't Want To Have To Marry You " & " Everybody's Got Milk " that our old friends Phil Sweet & Don Imus wrote. RIP. Uncle Leo J Eiffert Jr.

Skeeter Stultz · Post by **Skeeter Stultz** » 25 Oct 2014 7:44 pm

Leo, Jim Bob told me of this earlier today. So sad. We have lost one of the more progressive steel players in So Cal. I had the pleasure of seeing Jerry play twice. Once at Georges and at the Hitching Post. Knocked me out both times. He came in the Auto Parts store where I was working and we had quite a chat. I wish I had known him better. RIP friend.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 26 Oct 2014 12:18 am

Sad to hear it. Like Rex Endicott, another under-recognized SoCal steel man passes from us.

I used to listen to Jerry play with Danny Michaels and the Rebel Playboys live on KFOX, from George's Roundup. I think it was around 1965 or so. I was too young to get into the clubs back then, and Long Beach was a ways from West Hollywood anyway.

I used to have Danny Michaels' album "Big Time Operator" that had Jerry all over it, but I lost it years ago in some move somewhere. I wish I had a copy again.

Jerry was a great player! Wasn't his real name Stevenson?

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 26 Oct 2014 12:35 am

Herb Steiner wrote:
I used to have Danny Michaels' album "Big Time Operator" that had Jerry all over it, but I lost it years ago in some move somewhere. I wish I had a copy again.

There's a copy of the album for sale here

http://www.gemm.com/artist/Danny%20Michaels

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 26 Oct 2014 12:45 am

Thanks, Mike!

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 26 Oct 2014 5:54 am

You're right Herb. I used to call him Jerry Stephens, son. He was a great guy, player and friend.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 26 Oct 2014 6:02 am

I'm really sorry to hear about Jerry's passing. I first met him in the sixties when I was living in Long Beach about a half mile from George's Roundup and Jerry was playing there with Danny M.. He was always a top notch player and person as well and always had time for the "little man".. Later on I'd see him at Blackie Taylor's store in Garden Grove and we'd shoot the breeze and talk steel guitar.. He showed me that pedal change where you just raise the 5th string a tone and the 6th a half and what you could do with it... Jim Bob, wasn't Jerry's tuning pretty close to Bobby Boydd's? I think they came up with their single neck concepts together. RIP Jerry you were a good 'un and a great link to the golden years in SoCal pickin' history.....JH in Va.

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 26 Oct 2014 6:20 am

Jerry, I remember Bobby Boydd told me that He, Jerry and Johnny Davis devised the tuning. It was basically a D-6th with the chromatic strings on top, and the A and B Pedals. It also had the basic C-6 pedals on knee levers and the floor. I guess you could call it a Universal 10 string tuning. This was prior to the development of the 12 string universal tuning.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 27 Oct 2014 8:17 am

Jim Bob, do you remember about what year(s) they came up with the tuning? Did Bobby use it when he played for Hank Thompson? Bobby came to the house one time and I had some old ShoBud parts and installed two more pedals on his old blond finish S-10 ShoBud..........JH in Va.

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 27 Oct 2014 11:06 am

Bobby used that tuning for at least 35 years that I know. I never knew him to use another tuning. He said the E-9 did not make sense to him. That blonde pro I was the first steel guitar I owned. Bobby had traded to Harley Morris for a Lloyd Green model. I purchased the Pro I from Harley. At that time, it was a 3 x 4 setup. Bobby played the blonde with Hank Thompson in the early 70's.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 28 Oct 2014 6:04 am

Jerry Stevenson. His stage name was Jerry Stevens while he was doing studio work.That's who he would go by. Now when I look at all your names from California School of Traditional Country Music neighborhood backyard education from all those night clubs we have worked together in at one point or another to the History of what all of you have commission in building the Academy Of Country & Western Music now the ACM here in 2014. And we can't get a Museum to house all of us, it makes me mad.To think all them outsiders came in and took it over (ACM) while those who was suppose to be our brothers & Sisters in our neighborhood sold us out out here Just like we're nothing. It makes me mad about this matter. May all our Brothers & Sisters who passed on in Country Music RIP. The Icon ,Uncle Leo J Eiffert Jr the God Father Of Southern California Country Music's History with you all.