Ralph Mooney " Crazy Arms"

Ralph Mooney, from Marty Stuarts 2010 recording, "Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions"

Ralph was one of Americas originals, he died on March 20 at age 82. He was the backbone of Waylon Jenmnings back up band, The Waylons, but before that he was the player who defined the sound of Nashville pedal steel on hundreds of recordings with Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and Wynn Stuart.

Pedal Electric Steel Guitar is a uniquely American instrument. The sound can be expressively brash  or sentimentally subtle. It can be one of the most expressive solo instruments and also capable of providing the illusion of a full orchestra. In a masters hands, within the frame work of one solo, the player can be both a stand up comic and master storyteller. Ralph was all of these things and more. He wrote the ballad Crazy Arms in 1955 and this was his last recorded performance.