Women of Steel
Why don't more women take up the steel guitar? One theory I've heard is that most working musicians -- that is to say, the vast majority eking out a living -- have to pack, unpack and carry their own equipment. The steel -- particularly the pedal steel -- is pretty cumbersome, and the theory suggests that most women aren't interested in lugging that "thing" from gig to gig.
True? Who knows. The reality is that there aren't many female steel players out there. But there are some, and here's a salute to them.
Cindy Cashdollar
She's the great steel player in the popular Western Swing band, Asleep at the Wheel. She's also played steel and dobro behind a number of top performers; she was a part of Bob Dylan's latest studio album, and she's a big part of the latest Rosie Flores release, "Dance Hall Dreams" (including a great picture in the booklet accompanying the CD). She also has done instructional videos for dobro and steel.
Sarah Jory
A British lass (left) who fronts her own band -- one that, alas, is seldom heard on this side of the Atlantic. She plays more country rock now, and has diversified to other instruments, but the pedal steel is still a key part of her shows and albums, most of which are available only in England (but can be ordered through Amazon UK). She's evidence that it pays to start early; she started playing lap steel at age 5 and graduated to pedal steel at age 9.
I first learned of her through an album she cut years ago on a trip to the U.S., "The Dallas Sessions." It's available through Tom Bradshaw's Pedal Steel Guitar products website.
Donna Hammitt
She was a member of the all-woman band "Wild Rose" that hit the country charts briefly in the early '90s, and later was a member of the house band of "Prime Time Country" on the Nashville Network -- that is, before TNN ditched the very attribute that put it in business in the first place, the music.
Barbara Mandrell
Call her the patron saint of female steel players. She got her start at 11 years old, playing steel on Joe Maphis' show in Las Vegas.The picture (right) of the pre-teen Barbara sitting at a quadruple-neck pedal steel -- personalized, no less -- is nothing short of amazing. And all through her performing career, the highlight of her live shows would be Barbara's solo turn on several instruments, ending up with some sizzling steel (above). Heavenly.
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