Speedy West

Billy Easton · Post by **Billy Easton** » 16 Nov 2009 10:24 pm

Yesterday, November 15th, was the 6th anniversary of Speedy's passing. He was my hero, and the reason I ever got involved with the steel guitar. We became good friends in his later years, and I miss my old pal. Wish I could just pick up the phone and call him like I used to. Just thinking about him and wanted to share it with those of you who knew him and loved his music.

Billy Easton
Las Vegas, NV

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 17 Nov 2009 12:25 am

Billy,

You're very lucky to have known an icon like him.

It's always very hard when we lose the good ones.

Peace to you

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 17 Nov 2009 6:22 am

Billy, I only knew Speedy through the ISGC and subsequently through his music with Jimmy Bryant and his steel albums, but I miss him too. He always seemed to be having such a large time and was a unique stylist and individual. Thanks for the reminder. I'll raise a toast to his memory.

Red Kilby · Post by **Red Kilby** » 20 Nov 2009 6:56 pm

I miss you my friend!!!!

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 20 Nov 2009 10:29 pm

a true legend. . . . .

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 21 Nov 2009 4:10 am

I never knew Speedy on a personal basis but I did enjoy his playing. One thing that stands out to me about him is that he was a prankster and loved to tell jokes. I have some good memories of some of the pranks he pulled at the steel shows.

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 21 Nov 2009 8:05 am

I miss my friend Speedy! He was truly one of a kind.

GOD bless!

Terry Wood

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 21 Nov 2009 11:22 am

I miss Speedy, too! A great musician and a great person.

Kind Regards, Walter

DeWitt Scott · Post by **DeWitt Scott** » 21 Nov 2009 2:12 pm

I visited with Speedy at his home in Broken Arrow, OK several times and was always treated with much kindness. I keep thinking of all the vidoes that were made of Speedy at the International Steel Guitar Convention and I haven't looked at any of them except one. I made a DVD of it and it was recorded both at the Moose Lodge in St. Charles, MO and at one his performances at the Convention. I do look at it from time to time. It is still available to anyone wanting a copy. After all this time Speedy is still missed by so many people. Especially me as he played many tricks on me during the times he attended the Convention. Scotty

Chuck S. Lettes · Post by **Chuck S. Lettes** » 21 Nov 2009 2:24 pm

Speedy was quite the musician and character. I will always cherish visiting with him at the various shows. It is so wonderful to see and hear his continuing influence and humor. Scotty, I remember you telling me about an incident with you, Speedy, and Mary at an airport. He didn't just save his tricks for the stage at the Convention.
Chuck

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 22 Nov 2009 2:02 pm

I knew Speedy from the time he arrived in So. Calif. from Missouri with his homemade double necked non-pedal Steel. He knocked on my door one day wanting to discuss tunings. We became good friends while he was on the West Coast. He was a real go-getter and had a great personality. When he left So.Calif. I pretty much lost contact with him which in later years I regretted. I always wished I could have met with him and kick around those great early years.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 22 Nov 2009 4:58 pm

I had known Speedy for about 30 years when he passed from us. He was such a dear friend. Always smiling, and you had to watch him, or he would get you good. Learned so much about steel guitar and his stories of his early days, were priceless. I sure miss Speedy. Jody.

Robbie Bossert · Post by **Robbie Bossert** » 23 Nov 2009 3:18 pm

He sure knocked out some jaw dropping solos! Even to this day those tunes catch your ear and reel you right in. One of my faves as well.

Robbie Bossert

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 25 Nov 2009 2:58 pm

The Speedy West video that Scotty is referring to is fabulous!

I highly recommend anyone wanting to see and hear Speedy to order it from Scotty. It is a treasure and it features the Great Bobby Caldwell on it too!

Perfect for your collection of Steel Guitar stuff!

GOD bless and Happy Thanksgiving!

Terry Wood

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 25 Nov 2009 6:07 pm

I never met the man, but I feel like everything I need to know about Speedy is right there in his music. He is one of my all-time heroes and I'm thankful for the day I bought my first SW record, Guitar Spectacular. To this day, it remains one of my favorites.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 9 Dec 2009 7:12 pm

I had much fun with Speedy before he worked for Fender as Manager for Fender in Tulsa at the Fender warehouse on West Skelley Drive. Don Randall loved him as all the Fender reps did,I spoke with him moments before he passed, he called me at home and spoke to my wife Marilyn...he told her not to let me know he was calling.He always used that This is Howard..and I would say, Howard? Howard who and he'd say Howard ya like to jump in the lake..well he used some really funny comments :)you know what I mean that can't be posted here..He said Jody, I'm tired, I think I'll throw a saddle on a star, meaning he was tired and was going to sleep...

He passed that night, I called his wife Mary and she told me and emailed me that I was the last one he spoke with before he passed..attached is a photo I cherish, he was a fun guy..I miss him..he passed away one year before my wife Marilyn passed,Speed passed on November 15th 2003, Marilyn passed on November 15th 2004
I was playing Flippin the lid and copying his style and he put his hand around my neck and tried to stop me..he was having fun as much as I was, Scotty was there watching and grinnin.....
Here's something I got a kick out of...regardless I miss him as much as anyone. I'll remember him always.

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 10 Dec 2009 3:57 am

Great photo, Jody; in what year was that taken? Sure illustrates the notion of music as pure joy. Or, as some old timer Chinese dude once said: “Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without” That dude would be Confucius. steve t

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 10 Dec 2009 6:42 am

Hi Steve, sorry for the delay in replying to your question, it was 1988 that this picture was taken by my late wife Marilyn.
I beleive it was 1990..I'm not certain, Scotty would remember I'm sure.
Merry Christmas,

Jody-

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 10 Dec 2009 1:06 pm

Well, my first dallas show to play, and Speedy came on stager and if things weren't bad enough, Here come Speedy..... I was more scared than anything!!!... He was a hand full!!!!!
I might add, JR Knight was laying guitar, and Maurice was playing bass....ummmmmmm...the things I can get myself in to

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 14 Dec 2009 9:22 am

Here are some video and audio of his playing:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... type=&aq=f

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 14 Dec 2009 12:27 pm

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=

There's a pic link to a shot in this thread. 3rd row, 2nd from left. Speedy playing Bobby's guitar neck for a bar. I've seen them do this several times. What great memories of these 2 icons. With Bobby's passing, it's the end of an era FAIAC.

Earl Hensley · Post by **Earl Hensley** » 20 Jan 2010 11:07 am

I really miss the phone conversations with Speedy, where we would talk for hours. First met Speedy back in 1959 at a Fender guitar show in Chicago. What a great friend he turned out to be. One of most cherished things is his 2000 badge from the HOF in St. Louis. Speedy sent it to me in 2001. Also his autograph on my steel. I really miss the God Father of steel guitar.

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