One of the greatest, if not the greatest, steel guitar player in the history of country music, Weldon Myrick passed away earlier today after suffering a stroke. Weldon was a member of the Grand Ole Opry Staff Band for 32 years, beginning in 1966. While he retired from the Staff Band in 1998, he remained active in the music business.
He was a former member of Bill Anderson's Po' Folks Band from 1963 until 1965, after which he joined Connie Smith's band for several years. He also toured with Jean Shepard, Bobby Lord, Billy Walker, Norma Jean, Loretta Lynn, and a host of others. He was also a songwriter and performed movie soundtracks.
He was also featured on a number of television shows including those hosted by Johnny Cash, Jim & Jesse, Stu Phillips, Bill Anderson, Jimmy Dean, Hee Haw, and more recently, Marty Stuart. Many associated his work with Connie Smith and he performed on a number of her recordings, along with recordings by Bill Anderson, Billy Walker, Jeanne Pruett, Skeeter Davis, Elvis Presley, Roy Clark, and just about anyone else associated with country music.
Weldon was a member of the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. He was a ROPE Award winner and had received the Texas Music Pioneer Award.
When the Country Music Hall of Fame started the rotating Musicians category several years ago, may felt that Myrick would be one of the first to be elected in that category, but sadly that did not happen.
Prayers and thoughts go to the family of Weldon Myrick.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteOne of the greats, indeed. He was the steel man on Grandpa Jones' OLD TIME COUNTRY MUSIC COLLECTION, one of Grandpa's great double LPs for CMH, and I have never heard anything more sublime.
R.I.P.
ReplyDeleteSaw the LONG list of artists that he played on on the ET Record Shops Facebook. I wonder if his year for the Hall of Fame will be next year since the Musicians category is up.
A.B.
I will miss him greatly, He was always so encouraging......
ReplyDeletehe was inducted !
ReplyDeleteAn incredible musician and, from all I've read, an incredibly nice guy. RIP.
ReplyDeleteJust to clarify, Weldon received many awards in his life and was elected to several Hall of Fames, but he was not a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
ReplyDeleteAnyone remember the album he did in the late 70's(I think) with Hal Rugg and Sonny Burnett? Seems like it was titled Steel Guitars of the Opry.
ReplyDeleteNot taking anything from others but some of the performances on the Opry were never the same after he left. Danny Boy with Hank Locklin and many of Charlie Walker's performances come to mind. That thing he did with Hank on Danny Boy was both eerie and beautiful. I do think Gary Carter is doing a nice job with Connie Smith these days on songs that Weldon created the sound on.
It is a shame that so many of the great musicians that helped create the sound of artist in the days gone by are only recognized by specific organizations and their halls of fame or honor and not the CMA Hall of Fame. How can a Billy Byrd, Pete Drake, Bashful Brother Oswald, Weldon Myrick, Tommy Jackson, Chubby Wise and many others, who were just as much a part of the sound of those great records as the star, not be recognized in the CMA Hall of Fame? I'll show how much I wear blinders these days but can anyone name a musician from the last twenty years synonymous with a particular sound or artist? Of course most of it sounds the same! John Hughey with Vince maybe, but he goes back a generation to Conway and established his sound more than that of Vince.
Weldon Myrick was another figure that gave me so much pleasure during my favorite years of listening to the Opry live in the 1980's. Thanks Weldon!
Jim
Knightsville, IN