According to sources close to Ted's family, he passed yesterday. Ted was from the Lebanon county Pennsylvania area and spent the second half of his career in the DFW Texas area, before heading to Montana for his retirement years. He was a super clean, fast and innovative player who would help anyone requesting help learning the pedal steel guitar. Ted sold me my first professional guitar, a new ZB back in 1973. He used Evans amps ZB, BMI and finally Carter guitars. If and when more details are available we'll post them. Due to the #19 there are no services at this time.
These days my ears are hearing that old Vern Gosdin tune, "Is it Raining at Your House". Ted was a long time friend to me from the initial days of my steel guitar efforts. He was in the Tommy Vollmer, Wayne Wallet, Jimmy Landis and Henry Cassel circle of Pennsylvania steel players. Initially, his uncle Al Fulton inspired Ted to play at a very early age, before the guitars went to the pedal era. When Ted was 18 years old and playing a summer gig with a local band, Buck Owens heard him and asked Ted to sign up with the Buckeroos; however, Ted's mom intervened and Ted went on to obtain his education. May God speed Ted on his final journey and his soul rest in peace forever. Later today we'll post a picture or two. Left to right in the photo from 1996, Tommy Vollmer, me, and Teddy Solesky. Please listen to Ted's great sound and taste in the Paul's post below mine.
Bruce W
Last edited by Bruce Heffner on 8 Apr 2020 8:37 am, edited 5 times in total.
Sad news, I got to know Ted through snail mail during the late 90’s, he sent me some tapes of his very fine live work, and those jazzy lines are wowza, what a player....Thanks Ted, R.I.P friend.
In the early 80s, I was in a band called Blazing Saddles. I remember meeting Ted at a club we were playing at in Robesonia, PA. We had conversations there, and I remember that he was very easy to get along with. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to hear him play. Rest in peace, Ted.
The "guess" guitar was a Carter Fred. Ted loved Bud Carter and their guitars but he liked to kid around and put guess on there to mess with people.
I believe Ted sold both his Carters to Mickey Byrne in the UK.
Ted and I go way back in the early days around the D/FW club scene. He moved in with me after one of his divorces and spent a lot of time showing me the way he approached playing various phrases.
Ted related many stories of women,the days he worked Las Vegas and the road days.
I had the chance to become friends with Ted when he was in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. He subbed for me a few times and likewise I subbed for him. He was the only other ZB player I knew of in the area so we would talk a lot. He was a good player and had a unique sound. Rest in Peace Brother!
I have known Ted from the early 60's. He sold me a new ZB back then and showed me many links and techniques on the steel. We went to a couple of DJ conventions back in the late 60's, that was before he went to Texas. He was always willing to help anyone that ask,how did you do that? He will be great-ly missed. Rest in peace.
