| Speedy West |
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Speedy West
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Birth name: |
Wesley Webb West |
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Born: |
January 25, 1924 |
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Origin: |
Springfield, MO |
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Years active: |
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Labels: |
Capitol |
217
Phoots comi...
Wesley Webb West (January 25, 1924 – November 15, 2003), better known as Speedy West, was an American pedal steel guitarist and record producer. He frequently played with Jimmy Bryant, both in their own duo and as part of the regular Capitol Records backing band for Tennessee Ernie Ford and many others. He also played on Loretta Lynn's first single
Born Wesley Webb West January 25, 1924 in Springfield, Missouri to parents, Finley G. and Sue Arthur West. Finley was a Linotype operator at a gospel publishing company, and in his spare time, played guitar and sang gospel songs.
At age nine, Wesley became interested in music because of his friends and neighbors, the Cline's boys, three brothers. One played steel guitar, another banjo and the other played guitar. The boys' parents suggested to Wesley's father, that he should buy him an inexpensive $12 Hawaiian guitar. Wesley spent all the time he could learning to play the instrument with the help of the Cline's as well as his father.
Wesley's interest in music continued to grow and he yearned for a more expensive instrument, namely, a National steel-bodied resonator model costing $125, which the West family could not afford. In order to give Wesley what he so desperately wanted, his father sold his own guitar in order to buy the National. In the 9th grade he won a prize in a school amateur contest. During a jam session sponsored by KWTO-AM, Slim Wilson introduced young Wesley as Speedy West and the name stuck.
West married Opal Mae at 17 and during World War II, West worked in a machine gun factory. Approximately 1942, Wesley and Opal moved to Strafford, Missouri, near Springfield, where they lived on a 200-acre (0.81 km2) farm owned by Wesley's father. Farming was vital to the war effort. One of their main crops was tomatoes. He also milked up to 33 cows daily. Since farming was a vital part of the war effort he was exempt from the draft. After the war ended, Wesley continued to farm but found more time to play music and develop his skills. Wesley began to play the steel locally on jam sessions that were broadcast over KWTO radio in Springfield, and played with friends and other local musicians at every opportunity that came along.
A major turning point occurred when a sailor, who was passing through town, told Wesley about the wonderful musical opportunities available in Southern California. He told him he could make as much as $25 a night, which sounded like a gold mine just waiting for him. On June 13, 1946, with only $150 in his pocket, West and his wife and their nearly 3-year-old son, Donnie, packed all they could into a 1936 Lincoln Zephyr and headed for Southern California. Following several breakdowns, they arrived in Los Angeles three days later.
Born Wesley Webb West January 25, 1924 in Springfield, Missouri to parents, Finley G. and Sue Arthur West. Finley was a Linotype operator at a gospel publishing company, and in his spare time, played guitar and sang gospel songs.
At age nine, Wesley became interested in music because of his friends and neighbors, the Cline's boys, three brothers. One played steel guitar, another banjo and the other played guitar. The boys' parents suggested to Wesley's father, that he should buy him an inexpensive $12 Hawaiian guitar. Wesley spent all the time he could learning to play the instrument with the help of the Cline's as well as his father.
Wesley's interest in music continued to grow and he yearned for a more expensive instrument, namely, a National steel-bodied resonator model costing $125, which the West family could not afford. In order to give Wesley what he so desperately wanted, his father sold his own guitar in order to buy the National. In the 9th grade he won a prize in a school amateur contest. During a jam session sponsored by KWTO-AM, Slim Wilson introduced young Wesley as Speedy West and the name stuck.
West married Opal Mae at 17 and during World War II, West worked in a machine gun factory. Approximately 1942, Wesley and Opal moved to Strafford, Missouri, near Springfield, where they lived on a 200-acre (0.81 km2) farm owned by Wesley's father. Farming was vital to the war effort. One of their main crops was tomatoes. He also milked up to 33 cows daily. Since farming was a vital part of the war effort he was exempt from the draft. After the war ended, Wesley continued to farm but found more time to play music and develop his skills. Wesley began to play the steel locally on jam sessions that were broadcast over KWTO radio in Springfield, and played with friends and other local musicians at every opportunity that came along.
A major turning point occurred when a sailor, who was passing through town, told Wesley about the wonderful musical opportunities available in Southern California. He told him he could make as much as $25 a night, which sounded like a gold mine just waiting for him. On June 13, 1946, with only $150 in his pocket, West and his wife and their nearly 3-year-old son, Donnie, packed all they could into a 1936 Lincoln Zephyr and headed for Southern California. Following several breakdowns, they arrived in Los Angeles three days later.