Steel Guitar Great Weldon Myrick • Interview, 2009
Nashville Cats • 1h 17m
Pedal steel guitar great Weldon Myrick visits the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for an in-depth interview, as part of the ongoing Nashville Cats series honoring influential musicians from Nashville’s early country music scene.
Myrick’s masterful musicianship can be heard on numerous country classics, from Connie Smith’s “Once a Day” to Reba McEntire’s “Little Rock” and Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee.”
During the 2009 interview, Myrick discusses his attraction to the steel guitar, pursuing a career in music, and finding his distinct sound. He shares many personal highlights, including meeting and working with Buddy Holly (he was a big fan of the steel guitar, and especially loved Jerry Byrd), becoming a member of Bill Anderson’s backing band the Po’ Boys, and joining Connie Smith’s Sundowners. A member of the Opry Band for thirty-two years, Myrick also delights in reliving the funny pranks he and others pulled on unsuspecting musicians.
Audio and video clips include: Anderson’s “Bright Lights and Country Music” and “Easy Come, Easy Go”; Johnny Bush’s “Whiskey River”; Moe Bandy’s “Bandy the Rodeo Clown”; Johnny Paycheck’s “The Only Hell (Momma Ever Raised)”; and Connie Smith’s “The Hurtin's All Over,” “Once a Day,” and “I’ll Come Runnin’”(Smith uses the lightning-fast opening run Myrick employed on the latter to audition new steel guitarists).
Myrick’s extensive and impressive resume includes country session work for Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Lee Greenwood, George Strait, Jessi Colter, and Trisha Yearwood, along with work for Dan Fogelberg, Linda Ronstadt, Elvis Presley, Cat Stevens, and many more.
At the close of the program, Myrick treats the audience to a heartfelt performance of the Floyd Tillman classic “I Love You So Much, It Hurts.”
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