JERRY BYRD

MAJOR INFLUENTIAL STYLIST, COMPOSER AND ARRANGER
"THE MASTER OF TOUCH AND TONE"

BORN: MARCH 9, 1920 LIMA, OHIO
DIED: APRIL 11, 2005
INDUCTED: 1978

LEON McAULIFFE

WESTERN SWING PIONEER BAND LEADER, COMPOSER OF THE MOST FAMOUS
INSTRUMENTAL "STEEL GUITAR RAG"

BORN: JANUARY 3, 1917 HOUSTON, TEXAS
DIED: AUGUST 20, 1988
INDUCTED: 1978

ALVINO REY

BIG BAND PIONEER. SOUND EFFECTS AND TUNING INNOVATOR, AND
FATHER OF THE PEDAL STEEL GUITAR

BORN: JULY 1, 1908 OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
DIED: February 24, 2004
INDUCTED: 1978

HERB REMINGTON

SWING STEEL PIONEER, MAJOR STYLIST, BLENDER OF THE HAWAIIAN SOUND WITH WESTERN MUSIC. RECORDING ARTIST, AND COMPOSER OF THE CLASSIC "REMINGTON RIDE"

BORN: JUNE 9, 1926 MISHAWAKA, INDIANA
INDUCTED: 1979

SOL HOOPII

MOTION PICTURE ADVISOR AND PERFORMER. TUNING AND STYLE INNOVATOR, COMPOSER, RECORDING ARTIST. "MUSIC EVANGELIST FOR HIS LORD", AND "HAWAIIAN MUSIC'S GREATEST STEEL GUITARIST"

BORN: 1902 HONOLULU, HAWAII
DIED: 1953
INDUCTED: 1979

JOAQUIN MURPHEY

INTRODUCED JAZZ IMPROVISATION TO WESTERN SWING, DEVELOPED SINGLE STRING RIFFS INTO AN ART FORM, AND STYLIZED THE SKILL OF CHORD EXPRESSION.

BORN: DECEMBER 30, 1923 HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
DIED: OCTOBER 25, 1999
INDUCTED: 1980

SPEEDY WEST

UNIQUELY IDENTIFIABLE STYLIST WHO SO COMBINED CHORDAL EXECUTIONS AND SINGLE-STRING RIFFS THAT PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF THE STEEL GUITAR AND HIS NAME WERE ACHIEVED. HE PIONEERED THE "CRASH-BAR" TECHNIQUE, COMPOSED INSTRUMENTALS THAT BECAME CLASSICS TO THE INSTRUMENT'S PLAYERS, AND IS "STEEL'S FOREMOST SHOWMAN."

BORN: JANUARY 25, 1924 SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI
DIED: NOVEMBER 15, 2003
INDUCTED: 1980

NOEL BOGGS

POP AND WESTERN SWING BAND RECORDING ARTIST WHO STYLIZED THE "MELLOW TONE" USING MULTIPLE, NON-PEDAL TUNINGS FOR HIS PATENTED "NECK-HOPPING" TECHNIQUE. HE ACHIEVED SMOOTH, COMPLEX, AND FULL CHORD EXPRESSION.

BORN: NOVEMBER 14, 1917 OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA
DIED: OCTOBER 1974
INDUCTED: 1981

BUDDY EMMONS

MAJOR STYLIST, TUNING INNOVATOR AND ORIGINATOR. CREATOR OF ENDURING LICKS, RIFFS AND UNIQUE JAZZ IMPROVISATIONS, COMPOSER, AND FOR A QUARTER CENTURY, "THE WORLDS FOREMOST STEEL GUITARIST."

BORN: JANUARY 27, 1937 MISHAWAKA, INDIANA
DIED: JULY 21, 2015
INDUCTED: 1981

JIMMY DAY

RECORDING ARTIST, COMPOSER, AND TRUE HONKY-TONK BACKUP MUSICIAN WHO ACHIEVED SUCH EXPRESSION ON THE E9th TUNING AS TO BE KNOWN AS "MR. COUNTRY SOUL." A ROBUST AND EARTHY ROAD PERFORMER WHO HAS INFLUENCED HUNDREDS OF ASPIRING PLAYERS FOR OVER THREE DECADES.

BORN: JANUARY 9, 1934 TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA
DIED: JANUARY 22, 1999
INDUCTED: 1982

DICK KAIHUE McINTIRE

MOTION PICTURE SOUND TRACK AND RECORDING ARTIST FROM THE 1930's TO 1950. BAND LEADER, COMPOSER, AND PROFOUND INSPIRATION TO SCORES OF STEEL GUITARISTS WHO FOLLOWED. THE MASTER OF PURITY, TASTE, AND EXPRESSION OF HIS DAY.

BORN: APRIL 6, 1902 HONOLULU, HAWAII
DIED: MAY 20, 1951
INDUCTED: 1982

EDDIE ALKIRE

MASTER TEACHER, MUSIC PUBLISHER, COMPOSER, PERFORMER, CREATOR OF THE ALKIRE EHARP AND PIONEER OF THE 10-STRING STEEL AND GUITAR OF AMPLIFICATION. HE DEVOTED A LIFETIME TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE HAWAIIAN GUITAR AND TO THE ENRICHMENT OF ITS PLAYERS.

BORN: DECEMBER 6, 1907 HACKER VALLEY, W. VIRGINIA
DIED: JANUARY 25, 1981
INDUCTED: 1983

RALPH MOONEY

COMPOSER, RECORDING SIDEMAN, ROAD MUSICIAN, AND TUNING INNOVATOR (HIGH G SHARP). CREATED "MOONEY" TAKE-OFF AND "CHICKEN PICKIN'" BEFORE SUCH STYLES HAD NAMES. SO UNIQUELY ORIGINAL THAT HE REMAINS UNDUPLICATED.

BORN: SEPTEMBER 16, 1928 DUNCAN, OKLAHOMA
DIED: MARCH 20, 2011
INDUCTED: 1983

DON HELMS

INDELIBLE STYLIST AND RECORDING ARTIST WHO BROUGHT THE UPPER OCTAVES INTO PROMINENT USE AND GAVE THE "HANK WILLIAMS" BACKUP IT'S ENDURING RECOGNITION. A "DRIFTING COWBOYS" ROAD MUSICIAN AND STEEL PIONEER FOR FOUR DECADES.

BORN: FEBRUARY 28, 1927 NEW BROCKTON, ALABAMA
DIED: AUGUST 11, 2008
INDUCTED: 1984

BUD ISAACS

RECORDING ARTIST, COMPOSER, ROAD MUSICIAN AND PIONEER WHO REVOLUTIONIZED THE SOUND OF THE STEEL GUITAR BY HIS INTRODUCTION OF THE PEDAL-GLISS., THEREAFTER ESTABLISHING THE "MOVING TONE" AS THE DOMINANT STEEL EXPRESSION IN COUNTRY MUSIC.

BORN: MARCH 26, 1928 BEDFORD, INDIANA
INDUCTED: 1984

"LITTLE" ROY WIGGINS

MOST IDENTIFIABLE AND POPULAR RECORDING STEEL GUITARIST OF THE '40s AND '50s. WITH VOCALIST, EDDY ARNOLD, HIS "TING-A-LING" SOUND WAS HEARD ON 75 MILLION RECORDS SOLD. HE INSPIRED A GENERATION OF PLAYERS TO PURSUE THE BEAUTY OF THE SMOOTH, PURE MELODY LINE. A MAN OF CHARACTER AND QUIET DETERMINATION, HE VIEWED "ARTFUL SIMPLICITY" AS A PERFORMER'S FIRST VIRTUE FOR ADVANCING THE STEEL GUITAR.

BORN: JUNE 27, 1926 NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
DIED: AUGUST 3, 1999
INDUCTED: 1985

CURLY CHALKER

AN INDIVIDUALIST WHO ADVANCED THE STEEL INTO POP AND JAZZ, CREATED HIS OWN COUNTRY SWING GENRE AND MAINTAINED HIS MUSICAL INTEGRITY DURING THE POPULARIZATION OF THE STEEL'S COMMERCIAL SOUND. A TECHNICIAN WHO INVENTED BAR "QUAKING" AND INTRODUCED VOLUME "GUTTING." HIS CASCADING CHORDS, DELIVERED WITH THE SPEED OF SINGLE STRING RIFFS, IDENTIFY HIS UNIQUE STYLE AS THE "CHALKER SOUND."

BORN: OCTOBER 22, 1931 ENTERPRISE, ALABAMA
DIED: APRIL 30, 1998
INDUCTED: 1985

HAROLD "SHOT" JACKSON

DESIGNER, MANUFACTURER, RETAILER, PROMOTER AND RECORDING ENTERTAINER. HE PIONEERED SHO BUD GUITARS AS A DOMINANT SOUND IN COUNTRY MUSIC. BUT ABOVE ALL, TO SCORES OF STRUGGLING PLAYERS, THEIR COURAGE AND THEIR DETERMINATION TO ACHIEVE THEIR VERY BEST AND THEY DID!

BORN: SEPTEMBER 4, 1920 WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
DIED: JANUARY 24,1991
INDUCTED; 1986

PETE DRAKE

INNOVATOR OF THE "TALKING STEEL' SOUND INTO COUNTRY AND ROCK MUSIC, NOTABLE STYLIST, RECORDING ARTIST, SESSION PLAYER AND STUDIO OWNER WHO HAS ADVANCED THE STEEL SOUND INTO ALL FORMS OF MUSIC. PETE HAS BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF NUMEROUS MAJOR AWARDS FOR GOLD AND PLATINUM RECORDS HE PRODUCED, AND FOR THREE DECADES HAS BEEN A BENEFACTOR TO THE INSTRUMENT AND ALL STEEL GUITARISTS.

BORN: OCTOBER 8, 1932 AUGUSTA, GEORGIA
DIED: JULY 29, 1988
INDUCTED 1987

LLOYD GREEN

COMPOSER AND ARTIST WHO CREATED INNUMERABLE DRAMATIC RUNS. PEDAL EFFECTS AND RIFFS ("THE LAGGARD NOTE." "SPLINTED HARMONY." ETC.). DOMINATING SESSION RECORDING FOR OVER A QUARTER CENTURY. APPEARING ON THOUSANDS OF RECORD SIDES. WITH THE GREATEST VOCAL ARTISTS. HE ACHIEVED HIS UNIQUE MUSICAL INTEGRITY THROUGH TONE, TASTE AND STYLE. "MR. NASHVILLE SOUND"

BORN: OCTOBER 4, 1937 LEAF, MISSISSIPPI
INDUCTED: 1988

BILLY BOWMAN

THROUGH RADIO, TOURING AND RECORDING, THIS WESTERN SWING PIONEER BLENDED HIS UNIQUE MELLOW STEEL SOUND WITH BOB WILLS' TEXAS PLAYBOYS THRU THE 50'S. HE COMPOSED AND RECORDED SUCH CLASSIC INSTRUMENTALS AS "B BOWMAN HOP" AND "MIDNIGHT IN AMARILLO" AND DISTINGUISHED THE INSTRUMENT THROUGH A LIFE TIME OF PERFORMING.

BORN: OCTOBER 30, 1928 JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE
DIED: AUGUST 6, 1989
INDUCTED: 1989

HAL RUGG

HE TOOK THE COMMERCIAL SOUND FROM IT'S INFANCY TO COUNTRY JAZZ. HE EXPANDED IT'S MUSICAL DEPTH TO CREATE THE IDENTIFIABLE SOUND OF LORETTA LYNN, GORGE JONES AND THE OPRY STAFF BAND THROUGH TELEVISION, SESSION WORK AND ARRANGEMENTS. HE HAS BEEN STEELS MEDIA MAN THRU THREE DECADES.

BORN: JULY 21, 1936 NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
DIED: AUGUST 9, 2005
INDUCTED: 1989

BOB WHITE

BOB PIONEERED THE 10 STRING GUITAR, ORIGINATED SCORES OF ENDURING LICKS AND RIFFS, INTRODUCED THE MAJOR 7TH AND MAJOR 9TH PEDAL CHANGES AND BROUGHT A MODERN SOUND TO HANK THOMPSON'S BRAZOS VALLEY BOYS. WITH HANK, HE WAS THE FOREMOST SWING STEEL PLAYER OF THE 50'S DECADE.

BORN: JUNE 15, 1932 JENNY LIND, ARKANSAS
DIED: NOVEMBER 21, 2003
INDUCTED: 1990

DAVID KELII

THIS HAWAIIAN DEDICATED A LIFETIME TO THE STEEL GUITAR. PIONEERING MULTIPLE TUNINGS AND INSPIRING SCORES OF PLAYERS BY HIS STYLE. HE POPULARIZED THE INSTRUMENT THROUGH HIS RECORDINGS AND HIS MANY YEARS OF BROADCASTING WITH "HAWAII CALLS."

BORN: MAY 29, 1914 LAHAINA, MAUI, HAWAII
DIED: APRIL 3, 1983
INDUCTED: 1990

ZANE BECK

A FORMIDABLE PLAYER, TUNING INNOVATOR. MASTER BUILDER AND HONEST BUSINESSMAN. HE PIONEERED THE USE OF KNEE LEVERS, AND WAS THE FIRST TO INSTALL THEM ON PRODUCTION GUITARS. HIS ZB AND BMI STEELS SET A STANDARD FOR DESIGN, SOUND, AND EASE OF PLAYING. A HUMBLE MAN WHOSE DEPTH OF CHARACTER LIKEWISE SET A STANDARD TO MEASURE OTHERS.

BORN: DECEMBER 24, 1927 CLARKSVILLE, ARKANSAS
DIED: MAY 26, 1985
INDUCTED: 1991

TOM BRUMLEY

WITH HIS IMPACT ON "TOGETHER AGAIN" TOM'S "PURE" STEEL SOUND INFLUENCED ALL STYLES FROM THE '60'S FORWARD. TOURING, COMPOSING AND RECORDING, HE GAVE THE BUCKAROOS AND STONE CANYON BANDS AN IDENTITY WITH HIS ZB. HE BUILT ZB STEELS FOR A TIME BUT CONTINUED PERFORMING. TOM BROADLY INFLUENCED COUNTRY AND ROCK PLAYERS AND CREATED A 30-YEAR LEGACY OF "THE BRUMLEY TOUCH."

BORN: DECEMBER 11, 1935 STELLA, MISSOURI
DIED: FEBRUARY 3, 2009
INDUCTED: 1992

DeWITT SCOTT

"SCOTTY'S" LIFETIME ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGH INSTRUCTING, PRODUCING AND RECORDING, ATTEST TO HIS OBSESSION WITH THE STEEL, IT'S PLAYERS AND IT'S CULTURE. HIS WRITINGS AND CONVENTION PRODUCTIONS HAVE MADE HIM SYNONYMOUS WITH THE INSTRUMENT, IT'S ADVANCEMENT AND IT'S PLAYERS. SUPPORTED BY HIS FAMILY, IF NOT EVERY PLAYER IN THE WORLD, HE IS TRULY,
"THE AMBASSADOR OF THE STEEL GUITAR."

BORN: APRIL 10, 1932 AMARILLO, TEXAS
DIED: SEPTEMBER 23, 2015
INDUCTED: 1992

BOB DUNN

PREMIER WESTERN SWING MUSICIAN, STRONG INFLUENCE ON PLAYERS OF HIS ERA, PIONEER USING ELECTRIC STEEL SOUNDS ON RECORDINGS. THE FIRST STEEL GUITARIST TO INTRODUCE JAZZ LICKS INTO COUNTRY AND WESTERN MUSIC.

BORN: FEBRUARY 8, 1908 BRAGGS, OKLAHOMA
DIED: MAY 27, 1971
INDUCTED: 1992

JOSEPH KEKUKU

CONSIDERED BY HISTORIANS AS THE INVENTOR OF THE HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITAR. EXPERIMENTED WITH THE DESIGN OF THE COMPONENTS NEEDED TO GIVE BIRTH TO THE "STEEL GUITAR" THAT ARE STILL USED TODAY.

BORN: 1874 LA'IE, HAWAII
DIED: JANUARY 16, 1932
INDUCTED: 1993

BUDDY CHARLETON

RECORDING ARTIST AND STYLIST IN COUNTRY JAZZ, TOURED FROM 1961 TO 1973 WITH THE TEXAS TROUBADOR BAND, "RETIRED" AFTER TWO DECADES OF CLUB AND SESSION WORK TO SHARE HIS MASTERY BY TEACHING-FOR HIM, HIS GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR US, HIS LEGACY.

BORN: MARCH 6, 1938 NEW MARKET, VIRGINIA
DIED: JANUARY 25, 2011
INDUCTED: 1993

DOUG JERNIGAN

CONCERT, SESSION AND MAJOR RECORDING ARTIST, HE HAS SHARED HIS KNOWLEDGE AND ADVANCED THE STEEL AND DOBRO INTO COUNTRY JAZZ. HE ACHIEVED SINGLE STRING DELIVERY BEYOND MERE RIFFS, BUT FOR COMPLETE TUNES, WITH FLOWING, SCORCHING SPEED.

BORN: JANUARY 5, 1946 PENSACOLA, FLORIDA
INDUCTED: 1994

FREDDIE TAVARES

EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN HAWAIIAN MUSIC: MOVIE SOUND TRACKS; RECORDINGS; RADIO; TV. A CONSUMMATE MUSICIAN. ADVANCED THE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY OF PEDAL STEEL GUITAR DURING HIS TENURE WITH THE FENDER CO. - 1953-1980.

BORN: FEBRUARY 18, 1913 PAIA, MAUI, HAWAII
DIED: JULY 24, 1990
INDUCTED: 1995

BOBBY GARRETT

WITH JIM REEVES, HANK THOMPSON AND MANY OTHERS, GARRETT ADVANCED THE STEEL GUITAR THROUGH RECORDING AND TOURING SINCE 1949. WHEN HE COMPOSED AND RECORDED THE CLASSIC "ROSE CITY CHIMES" IN 1958. HE HAD BEGUN PERFECTING THE TECHNIQUE THAT WOULD LEAD TO HIS TITLE OF "THE KING OF THUMB STYLE".

BORN: MARCH 22, 1935 DALLAS, TEXAS
DIED: APRIL 24, 1999
INDUCTED: 1995

BILLY ROBINSON

THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE GRAND OLE OPRY IN 1948. HE ENHANCED THE HIT RECORDINGS OF RED FOLEY, GEORGE MORGAN, WEBB PIERCE, CARL SMITH AND MANY OTHERS ON RADIO, RECORDS AND TOURS. HE ADVANCED THE INSTRUMENT AND HONORED OTHERS WITH HIS TALENT FOR DUPLICATING STEEL STYLES. HIS SKILL PROVIDED VOCALISTS WITH SHREWD AND ARTFUL ACCOMPANIMENT, A STEEL GUITAR PIONEER

BORN: AUGUST 6, 1931 NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
INDUCTED: 1996

JOHN HUGHEY

A TOURING, RECORDING, AND PERFORMING ARTIST FOR OVER FOUR DECADES. HIS PURE SOUND STRENGTHENED THE SUCCESS OF RECORDINGS BY CONWAY TWITTY, VINCE GILL AND MANY OTHERS. THE UNDISPUTED MASTER OF BAR SHIVER AND PRECISE UPPER-REGISTRY INTONATION. HE CREATED MUSICAL EMOTION AND DREW ATTENTION TO THE INSTRUMENT THROUGH HIS FLAWLESS DELIVERY. FLAVORED WITH HAUNTING ELOQUENCE.

BORN: DECEMBER 27, 1933 ELAINE, ARKANSAS
DIED: November 18, 2007
INDUCTED: 1996

WELDON MYRICK

THIS RADIO, TELEVISION AD SESSION MUSICIAN BECAME A MEMBER OF THE GRAND OLE OPRY STAFF BAND IN 1966, IN THE FOLLOWING DECADES, HE PERFORMED AND RECORDED WITH HUNDREDS OF MAJOR ARTISTS. WELDON'S PLAYING EXCELLENCE CONTRIBUTED TO OVER 2 DOZEN GOLD RECORDS AND ALBUMS THAT SOLD IN THE MILLIONS. THIS PIONEER ADVANCED THE STEEL BY THE SKILL AND SENSITIVITY OF HIS ARTFUL DELIVERY.

BORN: APRIL 10, 1938 JAYTON, TEXAS
DIED: JUNE 2, 2004
INDUCTED: 1997

JOHNNY SIBERT

THIS SESSION AND ROAD PLAYER WAS THE INFLUENTIAL STYLIST AND CORE MEMBER OF CARL SMITH'S "TUNESMITHS" BAND FOR 2 DECADES, BUT RECORDED WITH MANY OTHER ARTISTS INCLUDING LEFTY FRIZZELL, LITTLE JIMMIE DICKINS, GENE AUTRY, JOHNNY BOND AND THE EVERLY BROTHERS. A TRUE STEEL PIONEER OF RADIO, TELEVISION AND RECORDING DURING THE '50S AND '60S.

BORN: NOVEMBER 24, 1933 INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
DIED: DECEMBER 23, 2013
INDUCTED: 1998

BARNEY ALVIN KALANIKAU ISAACS, JR.

THIS HAWAIIAN WAS THE ISLAND'S PREMIER PLAYER DURING 6 DECADES PERFORMING REGULARLY AT ALL THE ISLAND'S MAJOR HOTELS. HE TOURED THE MAINLAND, CANADA AND JAPAN. AND WAS THE FEATURED INSTRUMENTALIST ON HUNDREDS OF RECORD SIDES AND NUMEROUS ALBUMS AND FOR 25 YEARS, HE WAS THE STEEL GUITARIST OF THE “HAWAII CALLS” RADIO

BORN: JULY 18, 1926  HONOLULU, HAWAII
DIED: FEBRUARY 12, 1996
INDUCTED: 1999

JEFF NEWMAN

A SKILLFUL PLAYER BY AGE 20 AND TEACHER BY AGE 26. HE PRODUCED HIS FIRST ALBUM COURSE IN 1969. THIS FIRST TOURING PEDAL STEEL TEACHER (1971) ALSO ESTABLISHED THE FIRST RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL IN 1976. HIS TABLATURE SYSTEM AND VOLUMES OF STUDY COURSES HAVE BECOME INSTRUCTIONAL STANDARDS FOR 3 DECADES. HIS EDUCATED APPROACH AND HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR HIS STUDENTS HAVE MADE HIM…

“STEELS FOREMOST INSTRUCTOR”

BORN: JANUARY 7, 1942 ARKANSAS CITY, KANSAS
DIED: APRIL 7, 2004
INDUCTED: 1999

JIMMIE CRAWFORD

RECORDING ARTIST, TOURING SIDEMAN,  PRODUCER, INSTRUCTOR, AND INVENTOR OF “MU-SYM TAB.” HE COMPOSED  INSTRUMENTALS FOR DOUG JERNIGAN, LLOYD GREEN AND CHET ATKINS. HE CREATED THE “CRAWFORD CLUSTER” KNEE LEVER CONCEPT, AND WITH JOHN HUGHEY, PRODUCED JCH PEDAL STEEL GUITARS. A PLAYER WHO ADVANCED THE INSTRUMENT DURING FIVE DECADES., SHARING HIS KNOWLEDGE WITH ALL.

PAUL FRANKLIN

WITH INNOVATED ARTISTRY, HE ADVANCED THE STEEL GUITAR FOR 3 DECADES. IDENTIFIABLY UNIQUE, HIS INNOVATIVE PICK BLOCKING AND PRECISE EXECUTION EFFECTIVELY STYLED A MUSICAL GENRE. RECORDING WITH NEARLY EVERY MAJOR COUNTRY VOCALIST HIS CREATIVE MASTERY ELEVATED MANY OF THEIR TUNES TO HIT STATUS.

“STEEL’S PREEMINENT SESSION ARTIST.”

  BORN: MAY 31, 1954 DETROIT, MICHIGAN
INDUCTED: 2000

TOM MORRELL

FOR OVER 50 YEARS THIS TOURING SIDEMAN AND SESSION PLAYER DELIVERED WESTERN SWING, JAZZ AND COUNTRY WITH ARTFUL SKILL ON MOTION PICTURE  SOUND TRACKS AND ON THE RECORDINGS OF INNUMERABLE ARTISTS, INCLUDING BOB WILLS' TEXAS PLAYBOYS. LATER AS A BANDLEADER, HE ARRANGED AND PRODUCED DOZENS OF ALBUMS. DURING THE 1990s HE PROVED TO BE A MAJOR FORCE IN THE RESURGENCE OF NON-PEDAL STEEL THROUGH TOURING, ARRANGING AND RECORDING  BESIDES HIS BRANDS OF MORRELL AND THE MORRELL-SHIELDS STEELS. HE WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS AND DESIGNERS OF MSA PEDAL GUITARS.

BORN: OCTOBER 31, 1938 DALLAS, TEXAS
DIED: JANUARY 29, 2007
INDUCTED: 2001

HERBY WALLACE

A BEGINNING PLAYER AT AGE 9, HE WAS PERFORMING ON LOCAL TELEVISION SHOWS AND PLAYING CLUBS SIX NIGHTS A WEEK BY 16. HE WOULD THEN TOUR FOR THE NEXT 14 YEARS WITH MORE THAN 2000 SESSIONS, AND APPEAR ON MANY MAJOR TV SHOWS. A MASTERFUL PERFORMER WITH EQUAL FACILITY IN BOTH POPULAR TUNINGS. HIS 12 INSTRUMENTAL ALBUMS, DOZENS OF INSTRUMENTAL COURSES, CONCERTS AND SEMINARS CONTINUE TO ADD TO HIS GROWING LEGACY.

 BORN: JUNE 5, 1947 CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE
DIED: APRIL 7, 2012
INDUCTED: 2001

"PEE WEE" WHITEWING

ARRIVING IN CALIFORNIA IN 1942, HE WAS PERFORMING BY AGE 12 WITH ALL SAN JOSE AREA BANDS.  A PREMIER PLAYER BY 17, HE  TOURED WITH BLACKIE CRAWFORD’S CHEROKEES, LEFTY FRIZZELL, AND RAY PRICE.  FROM  ’51 TO ’59, HE ILLUMINATED THE SOUNDS OF HANK THOMPSON’S BRAZOS VALLEY BOYS, WITH HIS INTRICATE TWIN STEEL AND GUITAR ARRANGEMENTS SCORES OF RECORD SIDES ATTEST TO HIS BRILLIANCE FOR COUNTRY JAZZ. A TRUE WESTERN PIONEER WHO DISTINGUISHED THE INSTRUMENT.

BORN: FEBRUARY 11, 1934  REICHERT, OKLAHOMA
INDUCTED: 2002

SANTO & JOHNNY FARINA

IN 1959 THIS DUO RECORDED STEEL’S ONLY GOLD RECORD, WHILE INTRODUCING THE INSTRUMENT TO THE ROCK “N” ROLL GENRE.  HEARD IN COUNTLESS MOVIES AND COMMERCIALS, IT HAS BEEN STEEL’S ONLY GRAMMY WINNER (1999), THE MOST RECORDED, AND THE ALL-TIME MOST POPULAR INSTRUMENTAL, “SLEEP WALK”. THE BROTHERS ACHIEVED INTERNATIONAL STARDOM, RELEASED OVER 40 ALBUMS, AND HAD #1 HITS IN MEXICO AND ITALY.  THEIR MUSIC EXPANDED THE APPRECIATION FOR THE STEEL GUITAR.

 SANTO                            JOHNNY
BORN: OCT. 24, 1937      BORN: APRIL 30, 1941
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
INDUCTED: 2002

WALTER HAYNES

TOURING WITH JIMMY DICKENS, WEBB PIERCE AND FERLIN HUSKY, HE WOULD ALSO RECORD SCORES OF RECORD SIDES WITH THE FOREMOST ARTISTS OF HIS DAY. AFTER 13 YEARS AS AN OPRY STAFF PLAYER, HE BECAME A MAJOR RECORD LABEL EXECUTIVE, PRODUCING OVER 300 ALBUMS AND COMPOSING OVER 25 SONGS DURING HIS 55 YEAR MUSICAL CAREER. FROM BACKING PATSY CLINE’S “CRAZY”, TO PRODUCING 1974’S SONG OF THE YEAR, “COUNTRY BUMPKIN”, HE IS TRULY A STEEL GUITAR PIONEER.

BORN: DECEMBER 14, 1928  KINGSPORT, TENNESSEE
INDUCTED: 2003

JAYDEE MANESS

GARNERING 18 ACM TOP PLAYER AWARDS OVER HIS 43 YEARS OF PERFORMING AND RECORDING,  HE DISTINGUISHED THE STEEL GUITAR IN MOTION PICTURES, TV’S “DUKES OF HAZZARD”, RAY STEVENS’ “MISTY”, ERIC CLAPTON’S “TEARS IN HEAVEN”, AND WITH THE DESERT ROSE BAND. WITH HIS AGGRESSIVE, DRIVING AND STYLIZED DELIVERY, HE ATTACKED THE INSTRUMENT’S PRESUMED BOUNDARIES, ADVANCING ITS PERFORMANCE THROUGH VERSATILE CREATIVITY.

BORN: JANUARY 4, 1945 LOMA LINDA, CALIFORNIA
INDUCTED: 2003

BOBBY KOEFER

THIS SELF-TAUGHT WESTERN SWING PIONEER AMAZED CROWDS AND HIS PEERS WITH HIS CHIMES AND JAZZ IMPROVISATIONS, WHILE USING ONLY A THUMB PICK AND A FLAT BAR. TOURING AND RECORDING  WITH BOB WILLS, BILLY GRAY AND PEE WEE KING, HE ACCENTED HIS UNIQUE STYLE WITH SHOWMANSHIP AND  AN ASSERTIVE STAGE PRESENCE.  EXTRAORDINARY IN EVERY WAY, MR. “4/9” MATCHED HIS MUSICAL SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE WITH THE LIFE HE PURSUED.

BORN: AUGUST 18, 1928 CLAY CENTER, KANSAS
INDUCTED: 2004

JODY CARVER

POP RADIO AND TELEVISION’S MARQUEE PLAYER DURING THE 50’S. AS A STAFF MUSICIAN AT CBS HE RECORDED AND PERFORMED WITH ALL THE ARTISTS AND THE MAJOR SHOWMEN OF NEW YORK’S “GREAT WHITE WAY”.  WITH GODFREY, COMO, GLEASON, BERLE, GRIFFIN, SULLIVAN AND A HOST OF OTHERS. HIS RECORDING AND PERFORMING BROUGHT THE STEEL NATIONAL RECOGNITION DURING TV’S INFANCY.

BORN: APRIL 19, 1929 BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
INDUCTED: 2004

BOBBY BLACK

FOR OVER 50 YEARS HE INSPIRED DIVERSE AUDIENCES WITH HIS PROFICIENCY IN COUNTRY, SWING, ROCK, POP AND HAWAIIAN MUSIC.  WITH THOUSANDS OF APPEARANCES, BACKING OVER 100 MAJOR ARTISTS AT CONVERTS, ON RADIO, IN TELEVISION, MOTION PICTURES, STAGE PRODUCTIONS AND ON HIS OWN RECORDINGS HE EARNED HIS TITLE OF “MR. VERSATILITY”.

BORN: MAY 11, 1934 PRESCOTT, ARIZONA
INDUCTED: 2004

ORVILLE  “RED” RHODES

RECORDING ARTIST, BANDLEADER, PERFORMER AND L.A.’S  MOST PROLIFIC SESSION PLAYER DURING THE ‘60S AND ‘70S.  HE CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO STEEL’S EXPOSURE AND INTEGRATION INTO THE ROCK AND POP MUSIC OF HIS PERIOD. AN INVENTIVE DESIGNER OF PICKUPS, AMPLIFIER CIRCUITRY, AS WELL AS STEEL’S CABINETRY (THE RHODES’ STRUT), HE WAS FOREMOST, A GENEROUS MENTOR TO THREE GENERATIONS OF FUTURE PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS.

LEONARD T. ZINN

`BEGINNING WITH THE SMOOTH SOUND OF HAWAIIAN MUSIC, HE BECAME A PIONEER COUNTRY-WESTERN STEEL GUITARIST. AS A MEMBER OF THE “101 RANCH BOYS”, HE PERFORMED ON THE ABC RADIO NETWORK, BACKING SCORES OF THE BIGGEST STARS OF HIS ERA. RECORDING ARTIST, SESSION PLAYER, INSTRUCTOR, MUSIC ARRANGER AND PUBLISHER, HIS CAREER HAS SPANNED SEVEN DECADES. AN INSPIRATION AND TEACHER TO THREE GENERATIONS OF BUDDING PLAYERS

RICO TURCHETTI

AN INNOVATIVE STEEL GUITARIST OF THE 1940s AND 50’s.  HE PERFECTED  EXQUISITE CHORD VOICING ON HIS SELF-BUILT PEDAL STEEL STEEL. AS A CONTESTANT ON ARTHUR GODFREY’S CBS TALENT SCOUTS SHOW HE WAS PROMPTLY HIRED BY GODFREY AND BECAME AN INTERNATIONAL STAR. INFLUENCING STEEL GUITARISTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. AN RCA VICTOR RECORDING ARTIST AND A FEATURED ACT AT MAJOR EAST COAST NIGHTCLUBS.

 BORN: JANUARY 22, 1917   PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
DIED: JANUARY 24, 2005
INDUCTED: 2006

TOM BRADSHAW

 DURING FIVE DECADES, TOM PRODUCED NUMEROUS ALBUMS, SEMINARS AND CONCERTS.  AS AN ENTREPRENEUR, HE PROMOTED AN UNTOLD NUMBER OF PLAYERS’ PRODUCTS, GAVE US THE WORD “COPEDENT”, AND BECAME A NOTED GUITAR CRAFTSMAN.  AS PUBLISHER OF STEEL GUITARIST MAGAZINE AND COLUMNIST AND WRITER FOR GUITAR PLAYER, HE WAS STEEL’S FOREMOST JOURNALIST OF HIS TIME, DOCUMENTING PLAYER’S HISTORIES AND THE INSTRUMENT’S EVOLUTION.

 BORN: FEBRUARY 14, 1935   SKIATOOK, OKLAHOMA
INDUCTED: 2006

MAURICE ANDERSON

EARLY IN HIS CAREER, REECE GAINED NATIONAL PROMINENCE WITH BOB WILLS, THEN DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF WITH REMARKABLE TALENT AND FACILITY IN MANY MUSICAL GENRES.  HE RECORDED AND PERFORMED INTERNATIONALLY WITH MAJOR ARTISTS ON RADIO, TELEVISION AND MOTION PICTURES. CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF MSA GUITARS.  HE IS A LEGENDARY PLAYER KNOWN  WORLDWIDE AS A TEACHER, INNOVATOR, WRITER AND RECORDING ARTIST AND IS REFERENCED AS THE “MASTER OF CHORDS”.

 BORN: DECEMBER 12, 1934  DALLAS, TEXAS
DIED: JULY 4, 2013
INDUCTED: 2006

“SNEAKY” PETE KLEINOW

INSTRUMENTAL IN INTRODUCING THE STEEL GUITAR TO COUNTRY ROCK MUSIC,  FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS. PERFORMED WITH THE BYRDS,  AND COUNTLESS OTHER  TOP NAME BANDS & SINGERS DURING HIS LONG CAREER. HE INFLUENCED MANY OTHER PLAYERS AND IS AN ICON IN ROCK & ROLL MUSIC.

BORN: AUGUST 20, 1934 SOUTH BEND, INDIANA
DIED: JANUARY 6, 2007
INDUCTED: 2007

ROY AYRES

A PIONEER AND GRAND OLE OPRY MUSICIAN KNOWN FOR FULL CHORDS AND SMOOTH TONE.  HE PLAYED STEEL ON ALL OF PEE WEE KING'S MAJOR  HITS, INCLUDING "TENNESSEE WALTZ," THE THIRD LARGEST SELLER OF ALL TIME. HE RECORDED WITH SCORES OF KING RECORD COMPANY ARTISTS AND PLAYED STEEL IN A "DURANGO KID" WESTERN MOVIE. HE HAS A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PHYSICS AND WAS DIRECTOR OF STRING INSTRUMENT DEVELOPMENT AT FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

 BORN: DECEMBER 10, 1929 COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI
DIED: JUNE 9, 2012
INDUCTED: 2007

Julian Tharpe

SOLO ARTIST, RECORD PRODUCER, SONGWRITER, BAND LEADER, AND A MASTER OF THE FOURTEEN STRING STEEL GUITAR COVERING A FULL 3 OCTAVES IN THE OPEN POSITION. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PLAYERS TO PERFECT THE "SPEED PICKING" STYLE WITH EXTREME DEXTERITY AND EXECUTING THE MOST DIFFICULT OF PASSAGES WITH EASE - WHICH STILL REMAINS UNEQUALED TO THIS DAY.

BORN: MARCH 28, 1937 SKIPPERVILLE, ALABAMA
DIED: NOV. 1994
INDUCTED 2008

NORM HAMLET

IN HIS EARLY CAREER NORM PLAYED WITH VARIOUS WESTERN SWING BANDS INCLUDING BOB WILLS  AND THE TEXAS PLAYBOYS. DURING HIS CAREER HE BECAME A SONGWRITER, TEACHER, AND  BANDLEADER. AMONG HIS CREDITS ARE NUMEROUS AWARDS. INDUCTION TO THE WESTERN SWING SOCIETY HALL OF FAME IN SACRAMENTO, CA. NORM TEAMED UP WITH MERLE HAGGARD, PLAYING ON  FIVE OF HIS ALBUMS AND HAS REMAINED WITH MERLE FOR 39 YEARS AND IS STILL ACTIVE.

BORN: FEBRUARY 27, 1935 WOODVILLE, CALIFORNIA
INDUCTED 2008

DON WARDEN

EARLY PIONEER IN RADIO AND TV - HE PLAYED WITH VARIOUS ARTISTS IN 1950 AT THE LOUISIANA HAYRIDE AND IN 1954 JOINED THE PORTER WAGONER SHOW AT THE OZARK JUBILEE HELD IN SPRINGFIELD, MO. DON PLAYED WITH  DOLLY PARTON AND PORTER ON THE ROAD INFLUENCING THE STEEL GUITAR INDUSTRY  WORLDWIDE. DON ALSO PERFORMED WITH THE WILBURN BROTHERS AND RED SOVINE ON HIS RECORDINGS BY MANY OTHER ARTISTS.

BORN: MARCH 27, 1929 MOUNTAIN GROVE, MISSOURI
INDUCTED 2008

BUD CARTER

A RECORDING, CLUB AND CONCERT PERFORMER FOR OVER SIX DECADES. IN 1967 BUD CREATED  “THE CARTER CHANGER”. THE ALL-PULL MECHANISM THAT BECAME THE INDUSTRY STANDARD. HIS DESIGN WAS REPLICATED IN PRINCIPLE AND IN FACT ON NEARLY EVERY PEDAL STEEL PRODUCED THERE AFTER. BUD WAS THE PRIMARY DESIGNER OF THE MSA, THE MCI AND THE CARTER BRANDS. AS A BUILDER, WRITER AND SPEAKER, HE SHARED HIS MECHANICAL INNOVATIONS WITH THE WORLD OF PLAYERS AND BUILDERS.  HE REMAINS STEEL’S FOREMOST ENGINEER OF HIS TIME.

 BORN: MAY 31, 1931 SULLIVAN, MISSOURI
DIED: MARCH 12, 2015
INDUCTED: 2009

BARBARA MANDRELL

MULTI-TALENTED SUPERSTAR PERFORMER WITH STRONG INTEREST IN PLAYING THE STEEL GUITAR BY AGE 10. STARTED HER PROFESSIONAL CAREER AT AGE 11, A REGULAR ON THE WEEKLY “TOWN HALL PARTY” TV SHOW IN LOS ANGELES - TOURED WITH MANY FAMOUS ARTISTS AND SOON HAD HER OWN NATIONALLY BROADCAST TV SHOW, BARBARA FEATURED THE STEEL GUITAR ON ALL HER SHOWS WHICH HELPED TO FURTHER THE POPULARITY OF THE INSTRUMENT

 BORN: DECEMBER 25, 1948 HOUSTON, TEXAS
INDUCTED: 2009

RON ELLIOTT

BEGAN HIS CAREER IN 1953 WITH HAWKSHAW HAWKINS.  PLAYED THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 25 YEARS WITH MANY GREAT ARTISTS. CREATED INNOVATIVE  CHANGES FOR THE STEEL GUITAR AND AMP. TOURED AND RECORDED MANY MEMORABLE RIFFS WITH JACK GREENE AND OTHER ARTISTS. CAPTIVATES HIS AUDIENCES WITH HIS SMOOTH AND DISTINCTIVE PLAYING  STYLE AND HIS GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR BOTH ON AND OFF STAGE! PROUDLY EXHIBITS HIS PATRIOTISM AT EVERY PERFORMANCE

  BORN: APRIL 12, 1936 SALISBURY,  MARYLAND
INDUCTED: 2009

WINNIE WINSTON

MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, MUSICIAN. AT AGE 15, DESIGNER, BUILDER, TEACHER, RECORDING ARTIST, AUTHOR OF “A MANUAL OF STYLE” AND “JUST PEDAL STEEL GUITAR” IS CONSIDERED HIS MOST INFLUENTIAL INSTRUCTION BOOK FOR THE PEDAL STEEL GUITAR

BORN MAY 31, 1941 NEW YORK CITY, NY
DIED: JUNE 12, 2005
INDUCTED 2010

BOBBY CALDWELL

A VIRTUOSO ON THE LEAD GUITAR WITH A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL CAREER, HE WAS THE STAFF GUITAR PLAYER AT THE INTERNATIONAL STEEL GUITAR CONVENTION AS WELL AS MANY OTHER SHOWS THAT PRECEDED THE ISGC FROM 1968 THROUGH 2008. STEEL PLAYERS WORLDWIDE HAVE ADMIRED AND CHERISHED BOBBY’S GIFT OF ADAPTING TO THE UNIQUE STYLE OF EACH INDIVIDUAL ARTIST

BORN JUNE 28, 1941 ST. LOUIS, MO
DIED: NOVEMBER 8, 2009
INDUCTED 2010

DICKY OVERBEY

STYLIST, SONGWRITER, SESSION AND ROAD MUSICIAN. PLAYED ON RECORDINGS WITH MANY TOP NAMES ARTISTS. HIS “I’LL BE THERE” TURN-AROUND BEHIND JOHNNY BUSH IS CONSIDERED A CLASSIC. A VERY INFLUENTIAL PLAYER WITH HIS OWN STYLE, HE HAS GAINED THE RESPECT OF THE TOP STEEL PLAYERS

BORN MAY 11, 1942 DETROIT, MICHIGAN
DIED: OCTOBER 4, 2014
INDUCTED 2010

BOBBE SEYMOUR

SPANNING 3 DECADES BOBBE TOURED WITH MORE THAN 30 MAJOR ARTISTS AND RECORDED 38 ALBUMS UNDER HIS OWN NAME. AS AN ARRANGER AND COMPOSER, HIS CREATIVITY WAS HEARD ON 2000+ ALBUM SIDES, INNUMERABLE TV COMMERCIALS AND JINGLES AS WELL AS 7 MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS.  AN ENTREPRENEUR AND CRAFTSMAN HE CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTUER OF DERBY, EDGE, MCI, JACKSON, MSA, SEYMOUR AND GRETCH/SHOBUD BRANDS OF STEELS. HIS PROLIFIC INTERNET "TIPS" POSTS HAVE MADE BOBBE "STEELS FOREMOST WRITER/AUTHOR/PUBLISHER".

BORN: DECEMBER 21, 1939 DUNKIRK, NEW YORK
DIED: MARCH 21, 2014
INDUCTED 2011

LARRY SASSER

PLAYED ON CONCERTS, RADIO SHOWS, RECORD SESSIONS, THE GRAND OLE OPRY, MOVIE AND TV SOUND TRACKS, BACKED COUNTRY STARS. HE HAD A TREMENDOUS INFLUENCE ON THE WORLD OF STEEL GUITAR DUE TO HIS EXTENSIVE ROAD WORK, AS WELL AS 11 YEARS AS A BAND MEMBER ON THE TNN SYNDICATED TV SHOW "NASHVILLE NOW." 

BORN: AUGUST 19, 1947 GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA
INDUCTED 2011

RUSS HICKS

MULTI TALENTED INSTRUMENTALIST, MEMBER OF THE HEE HAW TV SHOW BAND FOR 11 YEARS. RECORDED AND TOURED WITH MANY TOP COUNTRY ARTISTS, PARTICIPATED ON MOVIE SOUND TRACKS AND WAS AN INTEGRAL MEMBER OF THE BAREFOOT JERRY BAND, AS WELL AS THE NASHVILLE SUPER PICKERS. HIS EXPERT STEEL PLAYING HAS EARNED HIM MANY AWARDS AND WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION.

BORN: 1942 CRAB ORCHARD, W. VIRGINIA
INDUCTED 2011

TERRY BETHEL

IN ADDITION TO OVER 30 YEARS OF TOURING WITH MEL TILLIS AND  RECORDING ON NUMBEOUS #1 HITS, HE HAS TOURED AS A (FERLIN HUSKY) HUSHPUPPY AND A (LORETTA LYNN) COALMINOR. HE IS THE CO-AUTHOR OF PEDAL STEEL GUITAR, A MANUAL OF STYLE AND HAS DEVELOPED AND MANUFACTURED HIS OWN CUSTOM STEEL GUITARS. A FRIEND TO NOVICE GUITARISTS, TERRY HAS HELPED MANY PLAYERS THROUGH HIS INNOVATIVE TEACHING METHODS AND HIS LOVE FOR THE INSTRUMENT, WITH A MUSICAL CAREER SPANNING 60 YEARS: AUTHOR, TEACHER, TERRY BETHEL HAS DONE IT ALL.

BORN JULY 14, 1938 MONETTE, ARKANSAS
 INDUCTED: 2012

KAYTON ROBERTS

AS A MEMBER OF THE RAINBOW RANCH BOYS, KAYTON ROBERTS HELPED TO SHAPE HANK SNOW’S SOUND DURING THEIR 31 YEARS TOGETHER.  SMOOTH BAR SLANTS, SINGING, HARMONICS AND HAWAIIAN BIRD CALLS CREATED KAYTON’S SIGNATURE SOUNDS.  HIS UNIQUE BLEND OF COUNTRY AND HAWAIIAN SOUNDS CAN ALSO BE HEARD ON SEVERAL INSTRUMENTAL RECORDINGS, ALWAYS DELIVERING HIS OWN DISTINCTIVE STYLE OF PLAYING.  COMFORTABLY SEATED BEHIND HIS 1951 FENDER CUSTOM, HE HAS GRACED THE RECORDINGS AND PERFORMANCES FOR MANY WILL-KNOWN PERFORMERS IN THE STUDIO AND THE GRAND OLE OPRY.

BORN: November 25, 1933, ONA, FLORIDA
 INDUCTED: 2012

Rusty Young

RUSTY YOUNG GREW UP PLAYING STEEL GUITAR IN COUNTRY BARS AROUND DENVER, COLORADO, NEVER DREAMING THAT SOMEDAY HE WOULD BE PLAYING STEEL AT CARNEGIE HALL IN NEW YORK CITY OR THE OLYMPIA MUSIC HALL IN PARIS, FRANCE.  RUSTY WAS THE FIRST PEDAL STEEL PLAYER TO WIN A PLACE IN GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE’S COVETED ‘GALLERY OF THE GREATS’. HE’S BEEN NOMINATED FOR A GRAMMY, RECEIVED A PLATINUM RECORD AWARD AND SCORED A NUMBER ONE HIT ON THE BILLBOARD MUSIC CHARTS. HIS INNOVATIVE STYLE INFLUENCED MANY YOUNG MUSICIANS TO LEARN AND LOVE THE STEEL GUITAR.

BORN: FEBRUARY 23, 1946 LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA
INDUCTED: 2013

Tommy White

THE SON OF A STEEL GUITARIST CONSIDERED A PRODIGY BY AGE 10. HE EXPANDED ON THE STYLES AND TECHNIQUES OF THE MASTERS BEFORE HIM, LEADING TO BLAZING SINGLE NOTE PLAYING, UNIQUE CHORD STRUCTURES, SOUL, TASTE AND TONE. AT HOME ON THE E9TH AND C6TH, TOMMY HAS RECORDED AND PERFORMED AS A SESSION AND TOURING MUSICIAN WITH MANY MAJOR ARTISTS IN ALL GENRES, AS WELL AS BEING STAFF STEEL GUITARIST FOR MANY NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO SHOWS, INCLUDING THE GRAND OLE OPRY.

BORN JANUARY 9, 1960 LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
INDUCTED: 2013

Lynn Owsley

LYNN OWSLEY, LEGENDARY ROAD MUSICIAN ARRIVING IN NASHVILLE IN 1969. HE WORKED WITH ACTS LIKE STONEWALL JACKSON, BILLY WALKER, WEBB PIERCE AND LEFTY FRIZZELL BEFORE BECOMING A MEMBER OF ERNEST TUBB’S TEXAS TROUBADOURS IN 1974. LIVE PERFORMANCES, NUMEROUS RECORDINGS, RADIO AND TV SHOWS, AS WELL AS APPEARING IN THE OSCAR-AWARDED MOTION PICTURE “COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER.”  RECORDING SEVERAL SOLO ALBUMS, KEEPING TRADITIONAL COUNTRY MUSIC ALIVE.

BORN: JANUARY 19, 1949 WEST POINT, GEORGIA
INDUCTED: 2013

WITH HIS UNIQUE APPROACH, SINGER, STEEL GUITARIST AND ENTERTAINER JOE WRIGHT HAS BECOME WELL KNOWN FOR HIS LIVE SHOWS AND HIS COMEDY, SPLICED WITH CLASSIC COUNTRY STEEL GUITAR SOUNDS AND WITH ELEMENTS OF OTHER MUSICAL GENRES. IN ADDITION, JOE WRIGHT IS AN EXPERIENCED TEACHER WHO INSTRUCTS MANY PLAYERS OF ALL LEVELS IN SEMINARS OR WITH HIS BOOKS AND COURSES.

BORN: OCTOBER 10, 1955  JACKSON, MICHIGAN
INDUCTED: 2014

STARTING AS A MEMBER OF BILL ANDERSON’S FAMOUS PO BOYS IN 1966, SONNY GARRISH BECAME A PROMINENT STUDIO MUSICIAN IN NASHVILLE. SONNY’S VERSATILITY AND MUSICAL SKILLS SOON CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF PRODUCERS AS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE RECORDING INDUSTRY.  HIS LIST OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO RECORDING PROJECTS MAKES HIM ONE OF THE TOP STUDIO MUSICIANS OF HIS DAY.

BORN: MAY 14, 1943 FAIR PLAY, MARYLAND
INDUCTED: 2014

JIM VEST HAS BEEN A MAINSTAY OF THE NASHVILLE MUSIC SCENE AS A STEEL GUITARIST, PRODUCER, SONGWRITER AND PUBLISHER, AS WELL AS BEING AN ACTOR, SINGER AND BANDLEADER. TOURING WITH TOP NAME ARTISTS BEFORE BEGINNING A SUCCESSFUL RECORDING CAREER, JIM IS THE RECIPIENT OF MANY AWARDS FOR HIS PLAYING AND PRODUCING. THE IDEA FOR A STEEL GUITAR HALL OF FAME ORIGINATED WITH JIM VEST.

BORN:  FEBRUARY 15, L941 GUNTERSVILLE, ALABAMA
INDUCTED: 2014

A LEGENDARY BUILDER AND DESIGNER OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, GENE ALSO PLAYED STEEL GUITAR ON STAGE, RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR OVER 50 YEARS.  HE BUILT HIS FIRST PEDAL STEEL IN 1956, AND AMONG HIS MANY INNOVATIVE CREATIONS WERE THE FENDER PS 210, FENDER STARCASTER, AND THE GFI BRAND OF PEDAL STEEL GUITARS.

BORN NOVEMBER 11, 1929  DETROIT, MICHIGAN
DIED: NOVEMBER 26, 2014
INDUCTED 2015

A DJ ON RADIO, HOSTED TWO TV SHOWS, SEVEN USO TOURS, FORMED THE FIRST STEEL GUITAR CLUB IN '59, RECORDED FOR KING RECORDS, MIDWESTERN HAYRIDE, TWO ALBUMS WITH SHOT JACKSON, FINAL SHOW AT THE RYMAN (1974) WITH CONNIE SMITH, RENFRO VALLEY, IN BUCK OWENS' FIRST BAND, BOXCAR WILLIE'S FEATURED MUSICIAN, AND CONTINUES TODAY! 

BORN: JUNE 5, 1926  GOOSEROCK, KENTUCKY
INDUCTED: 2015

Del Mullens

PROFESSIONAL STEEL GUITAR BUILDER AND PLAYER, DEL HAS BACKED MANY COUNTRY MUSIC LEGENDS. HE CREATED AND PRODUCED THE WORLD FAMOUS MULLEN GUITAR, CHERISHED BY MANY. HE RECORDED THE FIRST PEDAL STEEL GUITAR CD PLAYED IN SPACE. DEL CONTINUES TO PLAY AND TO BUILD THE MULLEN STEEL GUITAR

 BORN: JANUARY 31, 1940 KIT CARSON, COLORADO

INDUCTED: 2016

MOVED TO NASHVILLE IN 1969 WHERE HE PLAYED WITH CHARLIE LOUVIN, JOE SUN, AND MANY OTHER GRAND OLE OPRY ARTISTS. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO OFFER INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL FOR THE PEDAL STEEL, AND HIS TWO CANADIAN STEEL INSTRUMENTAL ALBUMS INFLUENCED MANY MUSICIANS.  HE TOURED AND RECORDED LIVE WITH GRAM PARSONS/EMMYLOU HARRIS & THE FALLEN ANGELS AND CONTINUES TO PLAY AND TEACH

 BORN: JUNE 22, 1938 MONTREAL, CANADA

INDUCTED: 2016