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Post by Michael Messer on Jan 6, 2023 22:40:04 GMT
I am shocked and saddened to hear that old friend and master musician, Steve James, has died. Steve was 72. I first met Steve around thirty years ago. I will write something over the weekend when I have collected my thoughts. Steve James >RIP ———————- Shine On Michael
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Post by Michael Segui on Jan 6, 2023 23:17:56 GMT
Oh damn ☹️
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Jan 6, 2023 23:44:00 GMT
Hi everyone
I'm also deeply shocked and saddened by this.....no words
Al
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Post by ken1953clark on Jan 7, 2023 8:40:37 GMT
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Jan 7, 2023 9:16:36 GMT
Oh no! Not another one. ...and I was only perusing his Blues Mandolin DVD last night.
A happy memory is Mr. James pinching my chips outside The Acoustic Centre in Wapping and then proceeding to blow us all away with a masterclass in slide guitar.
Sleep well Steve and thank you for the fun and the music.
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Post by catsmiler on Jan 7, 2023 9:45:54 GMT
A great player, great performer and one of the best teachers!
God help you if you wore shorts, took a photo or ate a banana in his classes.
Never a dull moment with Steve. RIP
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Post by slide496 on Jan 7, 2023 10:25:46 GMT
Sad news. RIP.
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Post by leeophonic on Jan 7, 2023 10:55:25 GMT
With all these notifications sadness joy and reflection all compete for your attention, I had the luck/good fortune to see Steve up close and personal when he appeared at the legendary Dove, home of the Kennet Sheiks, another great night. Since that time I attended weekends where Steve was the slide tutor, and a really intimate workshop at the Reso centre in Denmark street where it was me and one other watching and learning what you could. A point is Steve had his own style which was recognizable with the way he slid in and out of notes so not something you can easily learn just admire. Steve was at times a firecracker and whilst at a guitar class in South Hill park a local Yobbo entered the room when we had broken for coffee and just me and Steve were in there with all the unattended guitars, when this Yobbo started picking them up Steve went from pussycat to Tiger and I had to mediate as Steve wanted a straitener there and then....Sorry to see you go Steve but we live greater for knowing you.
I will play some of your music this morning and enjoy the good times once more.
Regards
Lee
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Post by Ian McWee on Jan 7, 2023 12:13:39 GMT
Such sad news ~ Steve was indeed a character, and as Lee mentioned above could be a real firecracker!
Whenever Steve toured over here he'd always arrange a gig local to us so he could pop into Diamond Towers and take away a bunch of bottlenecks for stock ~ the last time he was here we went for breakfast at a local 'greasy spoon' - there was myself, a half a dozen foundry workers wearing overalls....and Steve in the full Bluesman regalia of suit, spats, trilby hat & bootlace tie ~ the look on their faces was priceless!!
Sleep well Steve & thanks for the memories and music......😌
Slide On!!
The Flaschenmeister.
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Post by pascal on Jan 7, 2023 13:01:08 GMT
... Shocked, Steve was a dear friend Farewell sweet friend.
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Post by Michael Messer on Jan 7, 2023 14:03:18 GMT
Dobrofest - Trnava Station Slovakia 1998 While doing my Saturday morning chores around the house I have been thinking about our late friend, Steve James. I have many memories of spending time around Steve, but one that keeps on coming into my mind was the week we all went to Dobrofest in Slovakia in 1998, and in particular the early morning Dobro train ride to Dolna Krupa (birthplace of John Dopyera) that we were invited to be a part of. None of us had any idea where we were going or why we had been summoned to Trnava rail station at 8am, especially after a night of playing and drinking until the wee hours. So we all met up at the station and were pretty impressed to be met by a beautiful old steam engine pulling a few carriages that we all boarded. Some of us had our guitars with us and we all gathered in a carriage desperately trying to wake ourselves up, when a guy came into the carriage carrying a 5 litre plastic container full of a clear liquid and a bag full of plastic drinking glasses. He insisted we all had a shot of what I can only describe as a cross between methylated spirits and diesel fuel with some sugar added. Well after the first swig it tasted better and we all had more. Of course by the time I had sipped my way through a couple of these, Steve had consumed more than his fair share! It was all very friendly and we were steaming along the track when we pulled into a station, where on the platform there was a band doing Johnny Cash songs and people jumping on board with more plastic containers full of the Dobro juice. Steve leapt off the train with his guitar and joined the band for a song or two, then the whistle blew and we all got back on board to continue our journey, which by then consisted of us all jamming and shouting and generally having fun. The day continued in this way for quite a few hours. We got to Dolna Krupa and drank more Dobro juice, well not all of us did. I remember emptying mine in a plant pot that was conveniently next to me, and needless to say the plant immediately wilted and then burst into life singing I Walk The Line! From there we were taken to a restaurant for a banquet style lunch that included many toasts with various types of wines and Dobro juices. Then we all got on a bus to go back to Trnava and were all somewhat merrier than we should have been. I was sitting with Steve and John Dopyera Junior when the festival organiser, Peter, came over to us and said that when we get back to town we are going to be filmed for Slovakian TV doing a Q & A! All I remember is that Steve had more Dobro juice while John, Ed Genis and I poured gallons of strong black coffee down our necks! It was quite a day and Steve just kept on and did a great Q & A with the Slovakian TV journalists. John, Ed and I did okay too, and much to my surprise, many years later it all turned up on Youtube, well not all, but some. That morning at Trnava station I took a photo of Steve leaning against the steam engine that he used as a publicity image for a while. I can't find it right now, but when I do I will add it and others of that wild week in Slovakia to this thread. The last time I saw Steve was when he was our guest tutor at my Pocklington weekend in 2014. By this time Steve had given up drinking and was as always a masterful musician and wonderful company. The years of constantly burning the candle at both ends took their toll, but I don't believe Steve would have wanted it any other way. We will all miss our friend and are thankful and grateful that we knew this special and wonderful soul. Steve James >RIP This photo of Steve at Pocklington in 2014 was taken by Chris Martin. --------------------- Shine On Michael
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Post by pascal on Jan 7, 2023 14:56:18 GMT
Steve demonstrating his vintage guitars for "acousticguitar": ... And playing my "Fine-Resophonic" tricone at Paris in 2000: With Mike Lewis (Fine-Resophonic" luthier) at a Del Rey and Steve tour, years later, Paris :
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Post by gordon on Jan 8, 2023 17:03:12 GMT
His passion for country blues, his enthusiasm and encouragement really made a mark on me after spending time in classes with him in Northampton back in the day.
What a character, a great player and great songwriter.
Thank you Steve James, RIP
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Post by Michael Messer on Jan 8, 2023 17:26:39 GMT
Here's one that has just been sent to me by bluegrass booking agent and all round friend to the bluegrass scene, Lilly Pavlak. Left to right >>Steve James, Jana Dolakova Mougin, Yours truly with some hair, John Dopyera, Margaret Dopyera. Photo by Lilly Pavlak© from Dobrofest, Trnava, Slovakia 1998. John appears to be injecting himself with Dobro juice while Steve, Jana and Margaret look on 💙 Shine On Michael
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Post by twang1 on Jan 8, 2023 19:00:46 GMT
Oh no, that's sad! I met Steve in '97 on a train in Mississippi goin' to Memphis. He entered the carriage where I was sitting and noticed I had a guitar and asked about it. I showed him the metal Dobro I had just bought and we started chatting. I didn't know who he was. he just introduced himself as Steve... We ended up playin' one song to each other before the train arrived and then we split. He was a very energetic guy! Years later in 2004 a german girl friend of mine opened for him and Del Ray in the States, and told him she had an italian friend who was a reso player and he asked her if he was named Frank (!!!). She showed him my photo on my website and he confirmed it! After years he remembered our brief meeting on that train...He gave my friend a CD of himself with Del with a nice note for me...! What a gentleman!!! I've listened to that CD so many times. It's called "Tonight" and it is fantastic! Frank
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