Boomer Castleman

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 1 Sep 2015 8:02 pm

Legendary guitarist and inventor of the Bigsby Palm Pedal has passed...he was truly one of a kind...RIP, buddy...

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 1 Sep 2015 8:50 pm

John, I'm really sorry to hear this. Boomer was a nice guy and a really good guitarist. We spent some time together in St. Louis a few years back and he used to send me CD's of some of his projects. It's a terrible coincidence that Boomer passed so close to Al Bruno's death. I've been a fan of Bigsby Palm Pedals since they first came out and Al Bruno showed up at an after hours with Boomer's prototype of the BPP on his Gibson.. RIP Boomer.........JH in Va.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 1 Sep 2015 9:10 pm

My heart is heavy, my friends.

Boomer Castleman passed away at 6:23 on September 1, 2015, from heart failure. He was suffering with bladder, lung, and bone cancer at the time of his passing.

Boomer was one of my dearest and oldest friends. We started playing music together in 1966, which makes us musical partners for 50 years. We never lost touch and never failed to tell each other "love ya, bro!" each time we talked. One of the friendliest, most honest cats you'd ever want to know, a brilliant guitarist and producer, and one of the funniest men alive. And the inventor of the Bigbsy Palm Pedal.

Many condolences to his partner, Lois Hess. Love you, Lois.

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 1 Sep 2015 11:22 pm

I was sad to hear about the legendary guitarist Boomer Castleman passing away today. My condolences go out to his family and friends.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 2 Sep 2015 6:06 am

Sorry to hear. I've had a palm pedal since 1974. May those who knew him be comforted at this time.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 2 Sep 2015 7:31 am

It's was not to far back I was with(Boomer)him at Don Sessions Home in California. RIP my friend and have fun with Al Bruno & all the Boys and Girls in music Heaven.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 2 Sep 2015 10:18 am

That is sad news indeed. Boomer was a unique musician who led a significant life.

Herb: I'm sorry for your personal loss.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 2 Sep 2015 10:54 am

I've just listened to the Lewis And Clarke Expedition. Good stuff!
RIP Mr. Castleman.

Danny Hammers · Post by **Danny Hammers** » 2 Sep 2015 3:50 pm

My heart is heavy too Herb. I will miss him. A real great guy.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 2 Sep 2015 8:08 pm

Leon, and Boom-a-dip-dip, as Dad and I used to call him. What a terrible loss of a lifelong friend. I loved that man so much. He was a true gentleman and legend.

Bob Ricker · Post by **Bob Ricker** » 3 Sep 2015 11:01 am

Sorry to hear of Boomers passing. He was inventive and a natural comedian and all around good guy.

I still have to laugh when I think of him telling me the benefits of buying "as seen on TV" products.

Take Care Boomer.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 4 Sep 2015 6:09 am

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 4 Sep 2015 6:28 am

We had a band back in 1970. The tall drummer is J.D. Stone, who's now a gospel singer and has a ministry in Oregon.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 4 Sep 2015 9:21 am

Can someone verify this. He is credited for playing on Michael Murphy's album. I'm not familiar with the Bigsby sound. Is it him?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z0h9QD6UKY

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 4 Sep 2015 10:39 am

Joachim Kettner wrote:Can someone verify this. He is credited for playing on Michael Murphy's album. I'm not familiar with the Bigsby sound. Is it him?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z0h9QD6UKY

Michael wrote that song for the Monkees, when he was a songwriter for Screen Gems. He and Nesmith played together in the early 60's when Nessie auditioned for the boy band.

Boomer is playing the fingerstyle electric guitar with all the string bends.

When that photo was taken, Boom was playing a 50's Telecaster with an ingenious string bender on the 2nd string made from a coat hanger. He was going to patent it, and I had to inform him that I knew of a steel playing dentist in San Diego that had invented a device like that using a pedal steel pedal, but it was pretty bulky. The dentist was named Tony Zitnik.

Boomer and his lawyer drove down to San Diego and struck a deal on the patent, which I believe initially was issued to Zitnik and Castleman. It was then licensed to the Bigsby Company for manufacturing, at that time owned by Ted McCarty (who had recently left Gibson Inc. and bought out PA's volume pedal business),with Boom and Tony getting some bucks for each unit sold.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 4 Sep 2015 10:45 am

Great guitar playing by him! Thanks Mr.Steiner.