Pedal-Steel-Wizard + Musician in Flint, MI

SEEKING

ABOUT

Mini-Bio:
My stage name is "Wiz" and I currently live in Flint, Michigan.
I've been playing Country-Western music professionally since January 1975, playing Pedal Steel guitar on literally thousands of gigs. I've played 6 and 7 nighters with house bands, backup bands, thrown together bands, and show bands, in bars, fairs, beer tents, members only clubs, dance clubs, nightclubs, casinos, radio stations, TV shows, recording studios, and revolving stages; you name it.

I have the "Nashville Sound," produced my genuine Emmons pedal steel guitar, all hot-rodded up for speed and sustain. It's got tone to the bone and is ready to go to work for your band, or recording project! I read Nashville number charts for originals and recording sessions.

I am a pro and am looking for paying work, in and around mid-Michigan, on recording sessions and with gigging bands. I can play most anything that has gotten airplay in major Country radio markets in the past 50 years. I do Classic, Traditional and New Country and Country Rock. I use various effects, including a convincing Dobro simulator pedal.

I have been playing with bands in Michigan since 1989. I previously worked with the Taylor Brothers Band for 7 years, from 1997 through 2004. I had a house gig in the #629 Flint Eagles, from Oct 2004 through June 2007. I returned again in Nov 2007 and continued playing there with various house bands, through mid-2014.

I began playing steel guitar for Joey Vee in 2014 and have been his steel player of record ever since. He plays major festivals and a few large clubs downstate in lower Michigan. I am also the steel player for the Family Tradition band, working on an as needed, as available basis since 2015.

I have a website with my complete bio and audio samples, at wiztunes . com - with a contact form, should you wish to get in touch about business matters. I can also be contacted via my profile:/wizcrafts (Wiz Feinberg).

Most recently, as of 2024, I have been playing steel with the Family Tradition Band and will be rejoining the Joey Vee Band when he starts up on May 31. I do occasional gigs in Flint with my traditional Country band: The Wiztones. I also backup Hardluck Pete and the Wrong Way Streets, Waylon Hanel, Glenbrooke Moretz, the Claim Jumpers, and the Classic Women Of Country Music show.

Despite having several bands and singles to work with, I am always open to new freelance gigs and recording sessions. Contact me if you are interested in hiring a mid-Michigan based pedal steel guitarist for a gig or recording session. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Screen name:

Pedal-Steel-Wizard

Member since:

Aug 28 2007

Active within 1 week

Level of commitment:

Very Committed

Years playing music:

50

Gigs played:

Over 100

Available to gig:

2-3 nights a week

Most available:

Nights

Influences

Steel guitar influences:

In the late 1960s, before I ever touched a pedal steel guitar, I raised the strings above the neck on a Fender Jazzmaster lead guitar and used a 3/4 x 3 inch steel bar to play lap steel, bending the bar as needed. Unsatisfied, I bought nickle tubing and silver solder and crafted two palm pedals to get changes like a pedal steel guitar has on its floor pedals. Back then I played California style, based on Tom Brumley, who played for Buck Owens, and Norm Hamlet, who played for Merle Haggard.

By the mid 1970s my influences were the dominant Nashville session players who played on charted Country Music. They include Buddy Emmons, Weldon Myrick, Hal Rugg, John Hughey, Lloyd Green, Paul Franklin Jr, Tommy White, Sonny Garrish and Bob Lucier.

Recording artist influences:
Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, George Jones, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Randy Travis, John Anderson, Ernest Tubb, Faron Young, Ray Price, Buck Owens, Mel Street, Mel Tillis, Pam Tillis, Billy Walker, Tommy Overstreet, Gene Watson, Ricky Van Shelton, Eddy Raven, Gary Stewart, John Conley, Michael Martin Murphy, Emmy Lou Harris, Bob Seger, Eddie Rabbit, Lefty Frizzell, Moe Bandy, Charlie Pride, Ed Bruce, The Wilburn Brothers, Bill Anderson, Johnny Cash, Dierks Bentley, Gary Allen, Garth Brooks, Tammy Wynette, Ricky Scaggs, Vince Gill, Jerry Douglas, Mike Auldrich ... Do you get the picture yet? I love Country Music and play it like the record!

I would categorize my playing style as "commercial." I try to play it like the record, to the best of my ability. When I am in the studio, making a record, I play as requested by the artist, or producer.

Instrument experience:

Steel guitar:

Expert

Dobro:

Moderate

EQUIPMENT

Emmons double neck and Emmons single neck pedal steel guitars, two Peavey Nashville amplifiers, A Beard Goldtone Dobro with a Fishman bridge pickup, various Boss effects pedals, a drop note pedal, Goodrich volume pedals, a DI output box, a sitar bar, graphite Dobro effect bar, and last, but not least, my hands (the best effect I own).

MUSIC

CALENDAR

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