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Wesley Webb (“Speedy”)
West was born on January 25, 1924 in Springfield,
Missouri. He relocated to California in 1946, making his
musical debut in the bands of Tex Williams and Hank
Penny.
His artistic mastery of
the Steel Guitar soon made him the busiest steel guitar
player on the West Coast. Along with his partner,
legendary guitar player Jimmy Bryant they were the first
instrumentalists to get a recording contract with a
major label—Capitol Records—solely for the purpose of
recording instrumental tunes.
These recordings have a
virtuosity and fire that is still unequaled today. The
songs include classics like “Speedin’ West,” “Railroadin’”
and “Georgia Steel Guitar.”
It is almost impossible
to listen to music from the 1950’s without meeting
Speedy West. The artists he recorded with include names
like Cliffie Stone, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Jean Shepard,
Ferlin Husky and Sheb Wooley.
His musical virtuosity
was used by Jazz and Pop producers. He can be heard on
records by Bing Crosby, the Andrew Sisters, Ella Mae
Morse and even the weird Spike Jones!
In 1981 he suffered a
stroke, ending his musical career and leaving him unable
to play anymore, but he still continued to appear at
Steel Guitar Shows around the country, mostly as host
and emcee, keeping audiences spellbound with his dry
humor and his enormous knowledge about the history of
Country Music.
Speedy West passed away
on November 15, 2003.
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