Johnny Sibert

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 20 Oct 2002 11:37 am

Any one know the whereabouts of Johnny Sibert? He is another one that I went to school with and picked with a lot. I know he was recently inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and I have tried to get in touch with him so I could congratulate him If any body knows I would appreiciate any help.
Gere

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 20 Oct 2002 6:53 pm

If my memory serves me correctly, someone here on the Forum indicated he was working as a security guard at the Tennessean Newspaper facility in Nashville.
All of my attempts to get mail to him some six months ago went unanswered.
Oh well..........

I too, tho't he was an excellent steel guitarist.

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 20 Oct 2002 8:45 pm

I have seen and heard Johnny Sibert play for Carl Smith when I was a young boy. He is a very exciting player to watch, with the best Fender sound, "bar none". This man is a natural,___like Buddy Emmons.

Rick

George McLellan · Post by **George McLellan** » 21 Oct 2002 1:39 am

Why not try Scotty? The committee for the HOF inducted him, they must know where he is.

He is also one of my all time favorite steelers.

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SUAS U' PHIOB
Geo

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 21 Oct 2002 7:56 am

<SMALL>He is also one of my all time favorite steelers.</SMALL>

Yes George;___mine too. If you notice one thing about the hall of fame steel guitarist, each has a unique style of their own.

Johnny Sibert had this quality also. I've never heard anyone project the "Fender sound" as he did.

Rick

Leroy Riggs · Post by **Leroy Riggs** » 21 Oct 2002 8:06 am

Isn't Johnny married to Billy Jo Spears?

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 21 Oct 2002 8:22 am

Thanks all of you for the information on Johnny. I don't believe he is married to Billie Joe Spears thouh. I haven't seen him in a few years so I can't be sure. He was married but I am not sure to whom. At one time he was a lieutenant with Pinkerton I think. After he had not played for many years, I got him a job with a local band in Nashville. Since he never really got into playing with pedals while he was with Carl Smith, he was a little rusty so I got with him and showed him a few pedal licks and he started playing some with a guy named Arnie James. I sure would like to contact him and go over some old times with him. We both played some with Big Jeff Bess years ago on WLAC. That was before the Carl Smith deal. Maybe Scotty or someone else will read the forum and help me contact him. And yes, Johnny did have a very unique sound and style all his own and I hated it when he was sort of pushed out of the way. Certainly no disrespect for Curly Chalker, but when he started recording with Carl, it just sort of eased Johnny out of the picture. That is my own observation and not from Johnny himself. Anyway, I appreciate you guys trying to help.
Gere

George McLellan · Post by **George McLellan** » 21 Oct 2002 9:24 am

FWIW, a few years back my cousin taped a few artists off the "Outlaw Network" for me when it was still on. One of my favorite songs is Carl Smith with Johnny Siebert playing a D10 Emmons. You knew it was him without looking. I had the pleasure of being at the ISGC the year he was inducted. He had his Fender on display, it was too bad he didn't do a segment.

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SUAS U' PHIOB
Geo

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 21 Oct 2002 10:47 am

As I remember when I saw Johnny Sibert (I was about eight years old) he had the appearance of a movie star,___a very neat and handsome individual. He had his name on the front of his triple-neck.

Harold Morgan was a friend of our family (I was the youngest) who played steel guitar and was a friend of Johnny Sibert. I came to take note of Johnny's playing because of this.

Rick

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 21 Oct 2002 1:01 pm

Rick, Harold was also a friend of mine. Inspite of the fact he was cripple in the legs did not stop him a bit from playing steel. Last time I saw Harold he was working I think for Game and Fish or something like that. We too played on WLAC at the time. If you know where he is I would love to contact him. I have lost touch with all of my buddies that I use to pick with. Since I have not played in a while, seems like they are all hiding from me. By the way, our local band around Nashville and Gallatin etc was called "100 Proof Country". I am sure we were all known round the world, or at least Sumner County. Please keep me informed of any of these old pickers. And Johnny did have a kind of movie star look, with the dark hair. Kind of looked like Clark Gable. When we were seniors in high school, he beat me out by one vote for "Most Talented". Shows you how much they knew. Sibert could out pick me any day of the week and I would have been honored to carry his steel forhim.
Gere

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 21 Oct 2002 1:27 pm

Yes Gere;___that's the same Harold. This man, as I remember, had a personality and a pleasing nature that could not be duplicated. Although I know he would not remember me, his friendly nature is what I remember most about him.

You must have attended Hume Fogg High School, I know he did.

Rick

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 21 Oct 2002 3:02 pm

Yes Rick, I attended Hume-Fogg High School, with Johnny Sibert, Billy West, Floyd Robinson (Billy's brother)and maybe some others. I don't remember if Harold went there or not. ai have known him for so many years I don't recall. Dinah Shore did too but way before my time. All these folks went on and made a mark. Seems like every time I made a mark somebody came along painted the wall. But these guys were very good friends of mine (not Dinah) and it would be real good to be in touch with them again. Thanks for the replies.
Gere