Alvino Rey Update

[Fred Shannon]

I just talked, by telephone, to Mr. Rey this AM. He is still in fairly good health, his mind is still sharp, but he has kind of a rough time speaking this early.

He, however, is still active and said he was working on re-recording some of the old 1940's songs he did with the King Sisters.
He said to me, "You know that's not bad for a guy that's past 90 years old." I certainly agreed with him.

He again expressed his love for the instrument and how much he admired people who play it. I don't know that he can talk for very long, but I manage to send him some type of correspondence monthly, a card or written memo.

If you would like I'm sure he would like to hear from anyone. His address is:
Mr. Alvino Rey, 10275 South 2505E, Sandy, Utah, 84092-4464.

Thought you players might like to know how a pioneer of our beloved instrument is doing.

------------------
The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real

[Dave Van Allen]

thank you for the update!

[Al Marcus]

Thanks Fred! I appreciate your post!

I haven't talked to "the Great Grandfather of the pedal steel guitar" in quite a while.

I'll just have to give him a call.

I met him when he was 29 and I was 16. He is 94 now and I am glad he is still planning on recording his old tunes.

He is the one that inspired me in those early days with his chord style playing.

You would be surprised at the chords he got on his Gibson Console Grande double neck, non pedal.

On one neck he got a maj, a 7th, a 9th, a dim, a min6th. The other neck was E6, he used both necks in every song. Remember this was 1939!!!!

Then he went on to the Gibson Electra-Harp with tunings comparable to the C6th of today, only in E6 as he also played a great classical guitar.

All those memories makes me want to call him and talk about those old times.
...................al

[chas smith R.I.P.]

He also was working on a solid body electric Spanish guitar in the '30s, years ahead of Les Paul.