Published: October 11, 2008 09:23 pm         

Kansas boy highlighting steel guitar concert

The Oklahoma Steel Guitar Association’s third annual country and gospel show and concert Oct. 19 will include a 14-year-old boy from Kansas who “can play with anybody,” said member Allen Cain, Stillwater.

“He can play better than any steel guitar player in the country,” Cain said of Mulberry, Kan., resident Austin Stewart, one of 18 steel guitar players scheduled for the show.

The show will be Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Payne County Expo Center. Admission is free.

Most of the players are from Oklahoma, but a couple are from Kansas and one is from Arkansas. They include Jerry Horner, who played with Merl Lindsay’s band and with Lefty Frizzell, and Gene and Gayla Crain. He played with Roy Clark, and she has had 10 No. 1 hits on the gospel charts, Cain said.

“I could have a lot more, but I don’t have time for them,” he added.

Three steel guitar players will take the stage at a time. Each will play for 25 minutes, and then they’ll move off their steel guitars, and three more players will move their instruments onto the stage and take their turn.

“It goes on all day,” Cain said. “They’ll play whatever they want to.”

Drawings will be held throughout the day for prizes donated by local merchants.

“We have several $25 gift certificates, a lot of free meals, and car dealers gave free oil changes,” Cain said.

Concessions — barbecue sandwiches, Frito chili pies, hot dogs, desserts and drinks — will be available.

     

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