Billy Robinson

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 29 Sep 2002 3:04 pm

I got a tape from Billy Robinson, and as everyone knows he don't play pedals, and I must warn everyone. Under no circumstances should you play it in your car. I made that mistake and as I was driving and listening and trying to figure out how in the world he was hitting some of those pedal licks. I know he does slants and finger pulls, but some of the licks are just hard to believe. I just wanted to warn everyone.Oh and I have know him for many years.

Les Green · Post by **Les Green** » 29 Sep 2002 4:07 pm

I know exactly what you mean. I have a couple of Billy's tapes and the first time I heard them I was amazed, amazed and amazed!
Makes you want to take a cutting torch to your pedal rig............

Les Green

Jerry Brightman · Post by **Jerry Brightman** » 29 Sep 2002 4:21 pm

If you get the chance, go see him live at a steel show..Aside from being a Hall of Fame member, an amaizing player, he's a fine gentleman....

Here's a picture in St. Louis..I don't know who the other guys are

http://www.slidestation.com/Shows1.htm

Jerry http://www.slidestation.com

Earl Yarbro · Post by **Earl Yarbro** » 30 Sep 2002 5:26 am

Billy is always one of my favorites in St Louis or Dallas. I can listen to him for hours. Probably the best non peddler in the country.

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 30 Sep 2002 7:14 am

I know what you all mean. He has always been a gentleman in every way. I haven't seen him play in many years but would love to. Maybe I will get lucky and run into him in person sometime around here. Maybe Jerry Byrd picked up a few licks from Billy.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 30 Sep 2002 9:13 am

Billy Robinson.......a really fine person. He's one of those people that really cares about those with whom he chooses to interact.
His fabulous playing back on the Opry with Red Foley and Grady Martin.......did more to teach me the finess' of steel guitar playing than just about anyone.

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 30 Sep 2002 12:44 pm

I go back with Billy even further.Back in Hume Fogg high school I was playing with another group and Billy was playing with Floyd (brother) Jack Boles, Jerry Rivers and Ann Savage. I was listening to Billy and told someone he could do everything but make that thing talk. About that time they started playing th Mama Blues and my mouth about hit the floor when he made that steel say "mamaaaaaaa, mamaaaa, I want my mamma".i could not believe what he was doing. It wasn't untill sometie later that he started with Red Foley and those biggies..He is a great guy and an awesome musician.

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 30 Sep 2002 1:23 pm

Yes, Billy is a great player. Back in those days we didn't have pedals and had to do the best we could with chords and licks, etc. That was a good Gimmick song that went over real well with the public. We used the tone control from bass to high and swell with the volume pedal to get that "I want my mama" Momma blues. I first heard Alvino Rey do it, before he had pedals.
Why oh why don't these builders put a big fat tone control , where you can work it with your little finger, right while picking. I'd like to see them bring that back. The foot tone/volume pedal doesn't cut it.....al

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Al Marcus on 30 September 2002 at 02:24 PM.]</p></FONT>

Eddie Lange · Post by **Eddie Lange** » 30 Sep 2002 8:40 pm

I got a chance to finally meet Billy and jam with him at Scotty's. I was absolutely flabbergasted at all the stuff he was doin that I barely do with pedals!! An absoulute master and a wonderful man.

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 30 Sep 2002 9:30 pm

What is his tuning?

Chuck S. Lettes · Post by **Chuck S. Lettes** » 1 Oct 2002 4:34 am

Billy is not only an amazing steel guitarist, but he is also a fine artist. I remember talking with Billy and Charlie Norris in St. Louis a few years ago. Billy passed around some slides of his recent art projects, and they were beautiful. His use of colors is as impressive as his bar slants.
Chuck

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 1 Oct 2002 1:01 pm

Billy's tuning is on the insert of his #2 tape. I don't have it with me right now but can get if you like.

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 1 Oct 2002 5:09 pm

That would be nice, Gere. Thanks in advance.

Earl Yarbro · Post by **Earl Yarbro** » 2 Oct 2002 10:26 am

His tuning is regular C6 w/D on top. As he told me in St. Louis. Earl

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 2 Oct 2002 4:34 pm

Chuck, here is Billy's tuning right from the insert of his tape Lap Steel Guitar Instrumentals #2: from the top: D-G-E-C-A-G-E-C-A-F. He played his Derby on this album
Gere

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 2 Oct 2002 4:35 pm

Sorry Andy for addressing this to Chuck. My apologies.
Gere

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 2 Oct 2002 4:46 pm

Gere, I'm not offended in the least. I was after the tuning , and you supplied it.
Again, I thank you.

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 3 Oct 2002 3:17 pm

Andy I am goad I was able to help.I am not good for much but do enjoy doing for others. And Earl, I sure did not mean to try to overide your advice when you gave Billy's C6 tuning. It has been so long since I played C6 I forgot what the strings were tuned to. I sure hope I didn't come off as a smart alec know it all. Man, I don't know anything compared to all these other guys here. And thanks for tolerating me.
Gere