BOBBY BLACK - Pedal Steel Guitar Hall of Fame | New Riders - Commander Cody | Asleep the Wheel

#pedalsteelguitar #asleepatthewheel #commandercody #hankwilliams
Bobby Black is a pedal steel guitarist inducted into the California Western Swing Society Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2004. He was named California Country Music Association's "Steel Guitarist of the Year on four separate occasions, with the last two years being 1986 and 1994. In 2021, Black received the Arhoolie Foundation's Arhoolie Award celebrating America's roots music. He has backed more than 100 major artists in concerts, recordings, radio, television, and stage productions.
As one of the first generation of pedal steel guitar players, Bobby Black is a major contributor to the musical styles of the instrument and one of its primary innovators, expanding the traditional Hawaiian and Western genres in which pedal steel was used to include jazz and rock and roll. During the years he spent playing with Asleep At The Wheel, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, and New Riders of the Purple Sage.
www.markhummel.com

[@raywayne]

Thanks Mark for handling Bobby just right. He's an old dear friend of mine. We talk regularly on the phone until we're both hoarse with sore ears. I wish I'd have been there to prompt some of the stories he's told me. He really does have a million of them...Merle Haggard carrying his equipment to his car at San Quentin, George Jones walks in and sits at the bar in a little club on Post St. in SF and got up and sang with them, etc...Bravo for your interview. John Rewind

[@SUZANNESHEAMusicComedy]

Mark H. GREAT INTERVIEW !!! Classy!!! BOBBY BLACK! WE LOVE YOUUUUU! Suzanne Shea in San Diego here! Debbie and Diana and I still talk bout you guys, DANG you are amazing buddy! NO idea if you ever will read these comments, . but just saying what an honor so many of us got to be bands with you ! For me it was during about the 19 yr Chapter I had in life up there in San Jose 1980-1994. And so glad it worked out I got to be in the Don Cox Cowtown Band. 1981-'84. What an honor! At that time you and your bro were playing other gigs and on the road with known bands etc.. but also filling in if in San Jose. When Don needed to call in players for some gigs he was always so happy to have you guys in town! First time I heard you guys I was blown away. I was so lucky to get to know you ... both you and your bro so talented!// ( We all were sorry when you and the music world lost Larry. may he rest in peace.) We are thrilled that you are getting to live such a long fantastic life Bobby! SO many of us who got to have those incredible years in outstanding CW bands in San Jose . When you and Larry were there ...we were all so honored to have had those chances to have you guys in the band! On top of it all Bobby you are the kindest of hearts out there! PS.. i'm still gigging too! . Just solo gigs or duos.. (keepin it simple!) I'll be 75 soon and toting PAs around is not easy but I love to sing and play and .... pay bills. LOL. But you are the true Energy Bunny... . Anyway.. keep on keeping on! Keep truckin Lare! LOVE YOU! Suzanne Carpe Diem!

[@crchuckh6852]

hell of an interview, thank you for sharing.

[@JonathanBurdenSongs]

Outstanding interview and interviewee. Bobby has a wealth of stories . Also, hats off to Mark for having guests on from other genre's of music. It's great to hear the old stories from the Western swing and country realm as well as the blues.

[@NickRatnieks]

Great interview. I think Spade Cooley may have had a sort of look like Jimmy Cagney in his gangster roles. I saw Bobby with Commander Cody in August 1973- the Reading Festival in England.

[@dannymuhammad8321]

Bobby is a nice guy and an excellent player.. Tried to get him to take my place with the Ray Price band.. About 1991.. Hopefully I get to run into him.. Bobby if you ever get to Nashville look me up

[@craigventresco734]

Great interview!

[@markpolinsky5560]

I had no idea who replaced Buddy Cage in NRPS until now. Thanks Mark & Buddy.