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Pete, the Session Musician
Pete was the go-to guy in Nashville and beyond. The mellow tone of his steel guitar was used to strengthen recording sessions with countless country artists such as Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Marty Robbins, Bobby Bare, Johnny Cash, The Louvin Brothers, Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, Jerry Lee Lewis, Reba McEntire and Charley Pride.
When rock artists began to record in Nashville, Pete Drake was the natural choice. He pioneered the use of the steel guitar in rock and pop, performing on recordings by Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Joan Baez and Perry Como. He played on Bob Dylan’s albums “John Wesley Harding,” “Nashville Skyline,” and “Self Portrait.”
Charlie Daniels gave Pete’s number to George Harrison. Pete went to England to record on the “All Things Music Pass” album. Later George Harrison remixed and re-recorded some of the songs on this album, but left Pete’s steel parts on all the new versions.
Links
Throwback Thursday: Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash Sing ‘Girl from the North Country,’ 1969