The GOAT Pedal Steeler ???

[Gary Hoetker]

For me, I find it comes down to the mood I'm in. Do you know what I mean? Somedays it's Mooney....somedays it's Emmons, Green, Drake, Day, Overby etc. They're all unique and great in their own way. Of late it's been Charleton, especially the emotion he in displays in his fills. It's genius. He and ET were simply meant to be. "Ahhh Buddy now". I could listen to him all night.

My heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all of them. There aren't many left. We'll never see their like again, in my opinion.

[Fred Treece]

Buddy Emmons.
Everybody has their list of favorites. Today you need to hear some Charleton, tomorrow it will Lloyd, the next day it might be Paul or Jimmy or Maurice or JayDee or Buck. There would be a lot of very similar Top 10 or 20 lists among players and fans. But BE is the one name that would most likely be on everybody’s list.

[Brett Day]

I feel the same way-some days it's guys like Paul Franklin, Randle Currie, Gary Morse, and Sonny Garrish, other days it's John Hughey, Dan Dugmore, Steve Hinson, Buddy Emmons, Bruce Bouton, "Cowboy" Eddie Long, Teddy Carr, Jim Bob Gairrett, Mike Johnson, Norm Hamlet or Don Helms. A lot of times when playing steel, I always ask myself which one of my heroes played a certain song or songs I would like to try out or which record comes to mind, thinking of musical heroes. There are a lot of steel players who are the greatest of all-time. They're the greatest of all-time because they've contributed so much to country music and steel guitar

[Fred Treece]

Of course there are no absolutes, and of course this is just like any other completely subjective GOAT question.
But…..This thread will be a lot more fun if you actually pick one.

[David Farrell]

The Big E & it's not even close.
Although, Jay Dee Maness & Steve Hinson are some of my favorite players.

[Douglas Schuch]

I agree with most others - Buddy E is still the GOAT. I personally think Paul Franklin has done a lot that is very original, but I think he is the first to say that, if he is seeing further, it is because he is standing on the "shoulders" of Buddy's achievements. I don't know how many times I've heard a song by someone and thing, wow, that's a great song! Only to realize later that Buddy was the first to play it on steel. Add in all his contributions to the mechanics and configuration of the instrument, and yep - absolutely the GOAT.

[Erv Niehaus]

What is GOAT?

[Bill McCloskey]

What is GOAT?

It stands for Greatest Of All Time.

[Erv Niehaus]

Thanks, Bill:

[Marco Schouten]

For me it's Lloyd Green. I know, many would say Buddy Emmons, and sure, his tone, timing, technique are outstanding, but after listening to a few songs, the music fades into the background and I lose attention. Listening to Llyd grabs my attention, and I want to hear more and more and more.

[Jack Stoner]

GOAT: Emmons

There are Outstanding pickers and I don't want to slight anyone but the GOAT is Emmons.

[D Schubert]

How do you measure greatness? There are so many different criteria. Most record sales as a sideman? Or as a soloist? Most technically proficient? The one that played solos that make you cry the most?

[Fred Treece]

How do you measure greatness? There are so many different criteria. Most record sales as a sideman? Or as a soloist? Most technically proficient? The one that played solos that make you cry the most?

The one that all others are compared to. The Willie Mays of pedal steel. The MVP.

The one you would want if there were no other steel players on Earth.

If God played pedal steel, he/she would sound like ____. With a smile.

[Richard Sinkler]

No such thing.

[Larry Baker]

A lot of great steelers listed, but my favorate lately is Mike Johnson

[Brendan Mitchell]

Ralph Mooney, he plays on the music I love.

[Bob Carlucci]

Jerry Garcia

[Darrell Criswell]

I have heard many of the old greats (Emmons, Hughey, Mooney, Franklin, Green, Day,). However Joe Wright is overall the greatest, I don't think anyone can cover as many styles as he can. I have talked with the musicians who play with him and they all say his timing is the best they have played with. Emmons in his day was phenomenal, I heard him play in a club environment with a stereo setup. I really like Mooney's style but he is not particularly versatile in terms of musical styles genres.

[Larry Toliver]

I've been playing steel for about 40 years, and I went to Jeff Newmans school when I was 21.
The highlight of that whole week back then was Buddy Emmons, ....literally phenomenal!
Jeff said I have all the local steelers schedules for each night, I stood up and said...Jeff, we
all agree that we want to see Buddy every night...no one said a word, and that's what we did.
Every evening, and on Saturday morning we walked up and He would say "back for more punishment?"
We'd say yes...one more time. The best I've ever heard, and I teach steel, and have taught at the
Phoenix Show, and Dallas show for over 10 years. I have studied Buddy's stuff, and it is the best!
Sure, I love LLoyd's playing, and Paul's too, but Buddy just has that something the is flat out Wow!
That's my 2 cents worth.
Larry T

[Charley Hill]

This guy. Still in tip top shape

[Charley Hill]

Maybe it’s in the pudding?

[kevin ryan]

Tommy White with lots of honorable mentions.

[John Larson]

Buddy Emmons.
Everybody has their list of favorites. Today you need to hear some Charleton, tomorrow it will Lloyd, the next day it might be Paul or Jimmy or Maurice or JayDee or Buck. There would be a lot of very similar Top 10 or 20 lists among players and fans. But BE is the one name that would most likely be on everybody’s list.

There really is no other answer.
Sure the likes of Lloyd Green, Pete Drake, and Paul Franklin might be more prolifically recorded but Buddy's contributions to the development of the instrument put him at the top.
Sometimes I think this really is the finest recorded E9 song ever.
Judy Collins - Someday Soon

[Jon Voth]

Recently watched "Amadeus" again with the family. To me, Buddy would be the Mozart. Lloyd and John Hughey and others as contemporaries. Franklin and others like Beethoven-influenced by and great as well. Emmons, like Mozart-pioneers-not just chops-it was something in their mind that made them great.