Written In Memory Of Rob Parker

Bobby D. Reed · Post by **Bobby D. Reed** » 17 Nov 2010 8:14 am

He was tall as a mountain
yet a warm and gentle man
And you could feel his honesty
just by shaking hands
He was known across the land
as a singer and emcee
And the biggest fan of pedal steel guitar
there'll ever be

He traveled far and wide
doing all the shows
There was hardly a steel player
Rob Parker didn't know
He never asked for money
he did it all for love
Just being near the steel guitar
and the players was enough

All the players loved him
John Hughey & the rest
For singing songs they loved to play
Rob Parker was the best
To say how much we'll miss him,
I can't find the words
I know we can't replace that voice
we've always heard

Today a major part
of steel guitar is gone
But if Rob is listening somewhere
I know he'd say...."BOYS CARRY ON".....

Bobby D. Reed
In memory of Rob Parker 11/16/2010

DeWitt Scott · Post by **DeWitt Scott** » 17 Nov 2010 8:48 am

Your poem was well written and direct on target! Scotty

pdl20 · Post by **pdl20** » 17 Nov 2010 8:53 am

he would be honored if he had read this ,you painted an exact picture of the man.Such a loss to us all.

pdl20 · Post by **pdl20** » 17 Nov 2010 8:59 am

he would be honored if he had read this ,you painted an exact picture of the man.Such a loss to us all.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 17 Nov 2010 9:35 am

I need to check in with the Forum more often. I didn't know Rob has passed, he was an icon with the steel-guitar shows, and will be greatly missed.

JACK HEERN · Post by **JACK HEERN** » 17 Nov 2010 11:22 am

Bobby,
Well said and done. The picture you painted was perfect.
Rob's album "Sweet Dreams Amoung The Stars" Has became priceless to me. He gave me the honor of doing the title song on the album.
Thank you Bobby ..... Love you Rob
Jack

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 17 Nov 2010 11:37 am

That's Rob, for sure. Thanks, Bobby, for the fitting tribute.

Jerry Lee Newberry · Post by **Jerry Lee Newberry** » 17 Nov 2010 12:32 pm

VERY NICE!!!!!!!!!

Donna

Tony Rankin · Post by **Tony Rankin** » 17 Nov 2010 1:20 pm

Bobby,

An excellent tribute to an outstanding person!

Tony

Stoney Stonecipher · Post by **Stoney Stonecipher** » 17 Nov 2010 1:37 pm

Bobby, I thank you so much for saying just the words that we all feel but didn't have the words to say it.
Rob knew we all loved him,but you had the words to tell him so!!

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 17 Nov 2010 3:29 pm

Bobby Reed, I join the rest of this great Forum in thanking you for the great tribute you wrote for our great friend Rob Parker. We will all miss him greatly. Thank you Bobby, Larry and Jean

Jeremiah Hanley · Post by **Jeremiah Hanley** » 17 Nov 2010 5:33 pm

My, oh my, what a poem!!!! Even though I don't know you, I know you're a super poem writer, maybe a song writer, but you certainly described Rob to the fullest!
I'm sure some steel guitar publications would like to repeat that in their publications! Would you give us your permission to put it in our Ozark Steel Guitar Association's newsletter?

Bobby D. Reed · Post by **Bobby D. Reed** » 17 Nov 2010 5:50 pm

Thank you all for your wonderful comments. Jack I wish you the best as I'm told you've been having problems of your own.
Anyone wishing to use this tribute to Rob Parker is more than welcome. It can only make more and more people see how we feel about losing such a wonderful friend and fan of the pedal steel guitar.I'll hear and see him in every intro, solo and song at Mt Vernon this year.
There's a heart found in steel guitar players and it's fans that don't exist anywhere else. Thank you again....Bobby

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 17 Nov 2010 6:30 pm

Very nice Bobby. I am numb. I had talked with Rob at Baxter Springs. He said he wasn't feeling well then. Having trouble getting around. He told me he was going in for a check up when he got home.
As most of you who new him, he was a friend. When I had my show he was one of the first to volunteer to come.
He was always there when we needed him. He helped me out so many times, taking the edge off when I was nervious about playing. I really don't know how I can play without him.

Bobby DeMoss · Post by **Bobby DeMoss** » 17 Nov 2010 7:36 pm

I met Rob in Baxter Springs and knew him from the Route 66 shows and I can say that is exactly the man I met there. Beautifully written and right on.

Roy Rosetta · Post by **Roy Rosetta** » 17 Nov 2010 8:27 pm

Excellent Bobby. Your description certainly fit the friend I've known for many, many years. I, as we all, will miss him very much.
Rest in peace dear friend,
...Roy

Debbie Johnley Glaub · Post by **Debbie Johnley Glaub** » 17 Nov 2010 9:25 pm

Bobby...your penning of Rob of his character and the "Gentleman" he was couldn't be more precise. He was the voice behind the "Steel Guitar".
Thank you for sharing your unfolding talent with all of us. God Bless you real BIG! Rob would be shedding a tear over your tribute to him...

Donna Dodd · Post by **Donna Dodd** » 18 Nov 2010 2:59 am

Beautiful tribute, Bobby - and so true.

Don Sulesky · Post by **Don Sulesky** » 18 Nov 2010 3:38 am

Very nicely said Bobby and fine tribute to a great man.
Don

Carl Kilmer · Post by **Carl Kilmer** » 18 Nov 2010 6:06 am

Bobby, that sure is beautiful. You always find the right words to say.
You and Rob were the ones that finally gave me the confidence to
get on stage again, after my accident. When he sang "Sweet Dreams"
with me at Mt. Vernon, and you both gave me such nice complements,
I felt like I was one of "Big Boys". What an inspiration that was for me.
Like all others, I have all those "Sweet Memories" and thoughts of Rob.

Carl "Lucky" Kilmer

Ron Elliott · Post by **Ron Elliott** » 18 Nov 2010 6:22 am

Absolutely from the heart, Well done Bobby,well done.
Ron

Junior Knight · Post by **Junior Knight** » 18 Nov 2010 7:37 am

perfect!

Bob Hempker · Post by **Bob Hempker** » 18 Nov 2010 11:48 am

Nicely done, Bobby. Rob will be dearly missed.

Bob Callaway · Post by **Bob Callaway** » 18 Nov 2010 1:17 pm

Great work Bobby. You described Rob perfectly in your poem. Thank you for putting into words what I could only feel.

Bob.

Ray Harrison · Post by **Ray Harrison** » 18 Nov 2010 3:36 pm

Bobby, such a great job of depicting our friend Rob.
He had a heart to fit his frame and he's left a lasting impression on so many of the steel guitar fans around the world.
He is certainly being missed here in Arizona, I've known Rob for 35-40 years.

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Written In Memory Of Rob Parker

Written In Memory Of Rob Parker

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