Wesley Webb West (January 25, 1924 – November 15, 2003), better known as Speedy West, was an American pedal steel guitarist and

record producer A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure. Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...

. He frequently played with

Jimmy Bryant Ivy John Bryant Jr. (March 5, 1925 – September 22, 1980), known as Jimmy Bryant, was an American country music guitarist. He is best known for his collaborations with steel guitarist Speedy West and his session work. Biography Bryant wa ...

, both in their own duo and as part of the regular Capitol Records backing band for

Tennessee Ernie Ford Ernest Jennings Ford (February 13, 1919 – October 17, 1991), known professionally as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American singer and television host who enjoyed success in the country and western, pop, and gospel musical genres. Noted for h ...

and many others. The duo also recorded with non-Capitol artists in Los Angeles. In 1960, Speedy played on and produced

Loretta Lynn Loretta Lynn (; April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. She had numerous hits such as "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Ma ...

's first single. West, who began playing a pedal steel guitar built by Paul A. Bigsby in 1948, was the first country steel guitarist to use a pedal guitar. Nashville players like

Bud Isaacs Forrest "Bud" Isaacs (1928–2016) was an American steel guitarist who made country music history in 1954 as the first person to play pedal steel guitar on a hit record. He is known for his playing his innovative technique on Webb Pierce's 1954 re ...

would adopt it in the early 1950s. He was photographed by Herb Wise, the American photographer who found critical success with his portraits of artists from the 1960s and 1970s.Traditional, Country and Electric Slide Guitar by Arlen Roth. Published by Oak Publications (1975) (US ) (UK ) p101 - Image of Speedy West credited to Herb Wise.

References

External links

Speedy West
at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame
Speedy West Interview
NAMM Oral History Library, May 17, 2002.
Wesley Webb “Speedy” West
on Find A Grave. {{DEFAULTSORT:West, Speedy 1924 births 2003 deaths Musicians from Springfield, Missouri American country guitarists American male guitarists Steel guitarists Western swing performers 20th-century American guitarists Pedal steel guitarists Guitarists from Missouri Country musicians from Missouri 20th-century American male musicians