Speedy West
Wesley Webb "Speedy" West ( born January 25, 1924 in Springfield, Missouri; † 15 November 2003 in Broken Bow, Oklahoma) was an American guitarist and country musician. He is considered one of the most virtuoso known steel guitar player.
Life
West came from a musical family, his father sang gospel songs in their free time. Growing up in Missouri, Speedy West in 1946 moved to California, where he made his musical debut in the Begleitbands by Tex Williams and Hank Penny. His musical abilities, especially his steel guitar playing, made him famous in the entire West Coast of the United States. With his partner, guitarist Jimmy Bryant, he was the first musician who was allowed to record purely instrumental pieces at the Capitol Records. In the following years he published such classics as Speedin ' West, Railroadin ' and Georgia Steel Guitar.
In addition to his own recordings West participated as accompanying musicians from other country singers such as Sheb Wooley, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Ferlin Husky, Cliffie Stone and Jean Shepard. West had risen to the most famous and successful steel players of the 1950s. Not only in the field of country music, but also jazz and pop it was used, among other things, he played with Bing Crosby and Spike Jones together.
1981 West suffered a stroke that ended his musical career; However, he entered yet still publicly as a presenter and guest. In 1980 he was accepted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.