Will be watching Lloyd on Sunday 3rd Sept

[Danny Mitchell]

Wow - what an incredible day. Lloyd Green is 79 years of age and played for almost 2 hours bless him. He played lots of his hits, including I Can See Clearly Now, Halfway To Paradise, Venus Moon and many others. I have corresponded with Lloyd in the past but never had the pleasure of being in his company. He was absolutely swamped with well wishers, but gave his time freely for all who wanted a bit of time with him or a photo opportunity. A gem of a man. My friends Mike & Joanie Johnson and Buck Reid turned up too which was nice.

Performers in addition to Lloyd were Rusty Danmyer, Robbie Turner who was brilliant and Russ Pahl who played rhythm guitar for Lloyd on a couple of numbers. In the audience were Doug Jernigan, Steve Hinson, Ronnie Miller, Jerry Fessenden and some others who I have forgotten.

Some pics of the event. Danny Mitchell - I am having breakfast with Mikey Johnson in the morning (Monday), and I will ask him your question then.

What a joy that must've been, Ken Great pics, and what an audience

Thanks for keeping us abreast with your trip and, doubly, thanks for remembering that question

[Nick Bidmade]

The days of wanting to play like Lloyd Green are well passed. Now I'd be happy just to look as well as he does at 79. Must be the clean living!
Brilliant pics and posts Ken, as per your previous trip. Did you get up and play?

[Ken Byng]

The days of wanting to play like Lloyd Green are well passed. Now I'd be happy just to look as well as he does at 79. Must be the clean living!
Brilliant pics and posts Ken, as per your previous trip. Did you get up and play?

That would have been a dream come true Nick, but sadly no.

Danny M - Mike Johnson and Joanie joined Manfred Schall and I for breakfast at Shoney's yesterday morning. I asked him your question and it made him think long and hard. He finally gave the joint players as John Hughey and Hal Rugg who had the most profound effect on him in his formative years on E9, and Buddy Emmons in more recent years for his sublime C6 work.

I spent the day with a friend of mine from the same village as me just outside Southampton, and who is now based in La Verne, Nashville. He is living the dream.

Last night I couldn't get to see the Time Jumpers as they are now ticket only and were sold out, so I went to the Station Inn instead and this gent was in the steel seat with a very nice band.

[Ken Byng]

An added bonus last night was the appearance of Hall of Fam'er Jesse McReynolds, one-half of the famed Jim & Jesse bluegrass duo, and who is a legend in the world of bluegrass music. Jesse is known as “Mr. Mandolin,” Jesse joked that he had be paid a visit by Mr Arthur Itis in recent years, but he still play really well at 88 years of age.

[Ken Byng]

I will be meeting up with another pal from Mount Juliet on Thursday by the name of Buck Reid. I will find out the rationale behind his decision to go over to the Mullen G2 following his previous joy at owning the Infinity. The G2 is undoubtedly a great guitar as so many players of it will testify, but so too is the Infinity which might well have the edge over the Mullen on the mechanical side.

[Danny Mitchell]

Thank you very much for doing that, Ken
Mike Johnson seems to have all those influences and more in his arsenal. I've seen an exceptional clip where he played Nightlife, with Buddy Emmons sitting in the audience Needless to say, it was incredible.

Pardon my ignorance, but who is the steeler at the Station Inn ?

AND...Mr.Mandolin 88!, and still picking them out I've always enjoyed Jim & Jesse. That sounds like a good night to me.

This is some trip you're having AND you've still to hook up with Buck Reid. Didn't Buck play a guitar that he and his father built?

Great posts, Ken. Thanks for taking the trouble.

[Ken Byng]

.....................Pardon my ignorance, but who is the steeler at the Station Inn ?..................

Danny - that person is Malcolm McMiser in his dreams, who dreams of being a millionth as good as the one and only Doug Jernigan. On second thoughts, he couldn't cope with that Mullen - much too good for him.

[Ken Byng]

Here is a guy with many friends at the different steel guitar shows across the world. The one and only Mr Manfred Schall. One of life's nice people.

[Ken Byng]

I came across a real bargain of an Emmons LG3 over here yesterday in Nashville, Tn. It is a beauty in black mica and is in as new nick. The guy who has it is the original owner and needs to offload it asap as he needs cash to pay an unexpected medical bill. He wants next to nothing for it (1000 US dollars), and it includes an Emmons vol pedal and a Peterson StroboPlus HD tuner. I spent a few hours with him yesterday at his home in Franklin, just outside of Nashville. As I am coming up for 70, the attraction of lugging a heavy suitcase AND a twin 10 psg back to Blighty waned a few years ago. Oh to be 20 years younger