The British Steelies Society

Just heard the sad news that pedal steel player Jimmy Martin has passed away.

I had the pleasure of playing with him in a band in the early 90s and also a few other times over the years. His playing was always amazing and tasteful and he was one of the nicest guys you could hope to meet.

Maybe a few others on this furum knew him too.

Yes, I knew Jimmy (Watford) Martin. First met Jim in the early seventies when we played the London country scene.The band he was with was called 'Rainbow Country', the singer was into Roy Orbison and Jim could nail those solos to the wall,especially Blue Bayou,(my hair would stand up on the back of my neck) pedal steel can do that,I sometimes get it even when I play he,hee. A couple years or so back I spent a lovely day over at Jims home in Watford shooting the breeze and remembering those long gone days. He showed me some nice little pieces on the steel. We had my Emmons and Jims Magnam set up in his music room. The best bit was the that fiddly bit in 'Orange Blossom Special' which I'm still try to nail down Jimmy Martin,a friend of mine, a very gentleman in every sense, a positive happy guy. play on Jim, Baz.

If you go onto Bob Adams excellent site http://www.pedalsteel.co.uk/UK-Player-Newsboard/Jim-Martin you will find a tribute to Jim Martin. He used to make the hair on the back of my neck stand on end especially when he played the Fiddle.
Terry Smith (Hemel Hempstead)

well its been a year today that i held my dads hand and said goodbye for the last time, still so much missed cant believe that ive had a couple of emails from dads fellow musicians/friends that have only just heard!!, his funeral was like you say a quite one just what he wanted but we did play some of his solos on both steel & fiddle.. he had a humanist funeral and is buried out at wrabness in what will one day be a woodland [dads decision]...
cant believe how highly my dad was thought of as he always told me he was just an average steel player yeah right dad i heard you play for most of my life and you didnt sound average to me!!!
till we meet again.
your dearest daughter Debbie xxx

Far more than average Debbie!