Nashville to Pete Drake, “We still miss you!”
There are 24 fret markers on Pete Drake’s legendary steel guitar, known as “Goldie,” and it’s been 24 years since he left this world for the big jam session “up yonder.” He passed on July 29, 1988 at the age of 56 after a long battle with emphysema. Nashville, and the whole music community in general still miss Pete Drake and the effect he had on nearly every style of music.
In 1959, less than a decade after being inspired by Jerry Byrd learn to play the steel guitar during a visit to Nashville, Pete packed up the car and moved to music city. After about a year, he was noticed as a formidable talent and hit the road with Don Gibson, Marty Robbins and several other luminaries. It did not take long before Pete felt compelled to stay in Nashville and try his hand at session work. After a short time with The Grand Ole Opry, he was one of the most in-demand players in town.
Pete formed a publishing company in 1962, and throughout the decade continued to work with almost every major country artist. His skills as a producer and engineer were in high demand by the 1970’s. Not just country artists and labels sought Drake, but Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and many others relied upon his ears and talent. It is even rumored that John Lennon had planned to visit Nashville to record with Pete.
Sounds and “lines” and even gadgets that Pete Drake made during one of the most experimental eras of music still affect musicians, engineers, producers and the music industry as a whole, today. A shining example of that would be the “talkbox” guitar effect. Many would give another Pete (Frampton) the credit for making it famous, but it was actually Pete Drake who designed the unit as we know it today, giving Frampton his first. You’d be hard pressed to find a guitarist who has not been influenced by that sound!
Robert Rogers (steel guitar – Moe Bandy) called Drake one of the most influential players, “such an innovator,” citing that players young and old still follow Pete’s style. It’s true, just have a listen, then turn on a country station and pay attention.
“In 1964, he was voted “Instrumentalist of the Year” by Cash Box magazine and “Fastest Climbing Instrumentalists’ by Record World and “Instrumentalist of the Year” by the Country Music Association. In 1970, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame’s “Walkway of Stars.” In 1987, he was awarded the Nashville Entertainment Association’s “Master Award” and inducted into the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. Pete was also inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990 and Musicians Hall of Fame in 2007.” (petedrakemusic.com)
In 1977, Drake launched First Generation Records. The label’s first artist was none other than Ernest Tubb. Over the next two decades, Pete worked with an A list of country musicians such as Jean Sheppard, Cal Smith, Ferlin Husky and many many more. Mrs. Rose Drake, has continued running First Generation since Pete’s passing, and has even created a new label.
Saying how she missed the excitement of working directly with young talent and helping musicians to become all they could be, she began “Creative and Dreams Music Network,” which has taken off with a fantastic start. Artists on CDMN range from country to rock, pop to soul, and Americana. Rose says she is just “blown away” at the response the label has received, and that even with all the years of experience she has, it still boils down to the fact that the “artists are just great musicians!”
Yes, Nashville, the Middle Tennessee area, and Music professionals everywhere say to Pete Drake, “we still miss you, and thank you for all the wonder you brought to us.”
All photos property of First Generation Records and used by permission.
