Buddy Merrill

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 6 Dec 2021 1:22 am

Buddy Merrill passed away Sunday December 5th, 2021 at about 4 pm. He played steel guitar and regular guitar on the Lawrence Welk Show for 20 years, and released at least one steel guitar instrumental album.

Daniel Dickie · Post by **Daniel Dickie** » 6 Dec 2021 4:05 am

RIP Buddy
Sad to hear you are gone but your music will exist and be heard for generations to come!
I always thought his playing was exciting and because he played different styles it was more interesting as well compared to other steel players of the time

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 6 Dec 2021 5:19 am

RIP Buddy. I have 2 of his pedal steel albums and believe he had at least 1 lap (Hawaiian) album. The first PSG album I bought was a Buddy Merrill album. I learned Steel Guitar Rag and Ka-Liga off that album and played them for decades. Buddy was one of my earliest influences. This makes me really sad.

Tom Campbell · Post by **Tom Campbell** » 6 Dec 2021 7:45 am

Been following this posting for the past few days...the in enevitable has happened, RIP Buddy!

I have five of his LP albums. He was a "contemporary" pioneer of the steel guitar...pedal and non-pedal. He influnced many of us.

Duane Becker · Post by **Duane Becker** » 6 Dec 2021 8:13 am

Sorry to hear about this! Buddy Merrill was the reason I learned to play pedal steel. Great Hawaiian and country player. I met him in 1998 in California while playing for a festival. He was with a band. I thought it was Emmons playing at first. His tone and licks were fantastic, even better than the Welk performances. After his show, I talked to him. He must have spent 1/2 hour just talking to me. Very gracious man too.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 6 Dec 2021 8:24 am

Another sad day for the steel guitar community. RIP Buddy.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 6 Dec 2021 8:37 am

Farewell to a great musician. Rest easy.

Pat Moore · Post by **Pat Moore** » 6 Dec 2021 8:40 am

RIP Buddy!
One of my early childhood favorite guitarists! Loved it when he put on a cowboy hat & played C&W music on the Lawrence Welk show!

Gone but never forgotten!
Pat

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 6 Dec 2021 10:24 am

So sad that Buddy never made it into the HOF. He introduced and promoted the steel guitar to millions of people through the Welk Show. What an amazing player he was.

My condolences to his family and loved ones.

RIP, Buddy

Walter Stettner
Vienna, Austria

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 6 Dec 2021 10:47 am

He was an incredible player and inspiration to me from the Lawrence Welk show. Rip Buddy.

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 6 Dec 2021 12:41 pm

When I first was learning to play the Pedal Steel Guitar in the mid 1970s, I found a couple of Steel Guitar Albums by Buddy Merrill. One was a Country Album featuring his Steel Guitar playing. The other album was his "Beyond the Reef," Hawaiian Steel Guitar album. His Hawaiian Album was superb. I still view it as one of the best Hawaiian Steel Guitar Albums that I have ever listened to. RIP Buddy Merrill, you played beautiful music!

Adair Torres · Post by **Adair Torres** » 6 Dec 2021 1:58 pm

R.I.P. Buddy...
You will be truly missed...

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 7 Dec 2021 6:25 am

used to watch him back in the day every week on the welk show. a fine player indeed! RIP

Don Hemmer · Post by **Don Hemmer** » 7 Dec 2021 6:56 am

Very sad news ! RIP Buddy

Chance Wilson · Post by **Chance Wilson** » 9 Dec 2021 7:10 pm

I still marvel at how he got that hot Spanish and Hawaiian sound through my little TV set speaker. There's a reason why it's cold and dark in California this week. RIP

Lee Dassow · Post by **Lee Dassow** » 10 Dec 2021 11:17 am

Used to watch him all the time. Rest in peace Buddy

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 14 Dec 2021 8:14 pm

Sad indeed. Yes, he should be in the Hall of Fame. Talented guitarist, steel guitarist and arranger. I am glad that I have several of his albums and lots of memories of watching him on the Lawrence Welk Show.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 16 Dec 2021 9:36 pm

Did some great gigs with Buddy Merrill & Danny Michaels who won guitarist of the year by The Academy of Country Music in 1976 while at George's Roundup. RIP Buddy & Danny.

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 19 Dec 2021 3:06 pm

I grew up watching & listening to Buddy Merrill, Thank You Mr Merrill for all the wonderful music you've given us.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 19 Dec 2021 3:20 pm

If Marion Hall wasn't the first pedal steel player I saw on TV as a kid, it would have been Buddy. Both were great players with great smiles. RIP Mr. M.

Don Crowl · Post by **Don Crowl** » 20 Dec 2021 8:47 pm

So sad hear that we lost such a huge influence in our community. Also sad for me was that I lived in & worked in Placerville for the county government for years and I missed the opportunity to meet him.

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 21 Dec 2021 7:12 pm

It's my understanding that Buddy was brought to Northern California just about a year and a half ago. He had been living in So Cal (Antelope Valley I believe). Brandy Lane and her husband brought him north to live his final years on their ranch estate in Shingle Springs.

Ashley D\'Silva · Post by **Ashley D\'Silva** » 21 Dec 2021 10:09 pm

I first heard Buddy Merril when the Country Music Show on Radio 1 in London (Tony Blackburn) had Country Capers as their Signature tune...Never lost sight of such a catching tune.
May you rest in peace Sir.

Ashley
(West Australia)