Pete Finney - Nashville Steeler

[Mike Holder]

For a brief period of time I was a stage/guitar tech for Jodi Messina and Pete did some subbing for her regular player for a few weeks. I made sure his equipment worked every night and later on as a tour bus driver I drove him with Michelle Brandt. I always liked him. enjoyed his playing and over the past few years really enjoyed his writing on here regarding artists, gear or whatever. This was sad to hear, I hope others who may get that low have the good fortune to have someone to turn to or talk to in an effort to have them reconsider this line of thought. As one of his previous employers sang.." rest high on that mountain".

[Rick Campbell]

I don't know that I ever heard Pete play, but I'm sure he was a good one. I do remember that he was always a contributor to the forum with knowledge about players and playing. Condolences to his friends and family. RIP.

RC

[Bill Lowe]

I met Pete at Roberts a few times. Was very nice and he took the time took talk with me each time . Great player and super nice guy. Thoughts and Prayers for him and his family.

[David Murphy]

I met Pete initially when I travelled from here in Ireland to get pedal steel lessons from him at his home in Nashville about 10 years ago. He was so kind and patient and clearly very knowledgeable, not to even mention being a absolutely masterful and tasteful player. It was an even nicer surprise to me to learn that it had been Pete that had expertly curated the Nashville Cats exhibit, book and CD at the CMHOF and Museum which I had been lucky to see a few years earlier on a previous trip to TN. In recent years, I got to know Pete and his wife very well on their regular visits here to Ireland where they had been spending quite a lot of time. We had become close friends and had been in regular contact up to his final days. Pete made a big impression on the music community here in Cork. He was so gracious with his time and in sharing his scholarly knowledge and expertise on all things pedal steel and country music. He was a wonderful historian and writer and, for me, he was a massively supportive mentor and champion of my own endeavors with pedal steel within Irish music. He was very humble and didn't ever really seem too comfortable with the limelight on himself. We were collaborating over the past few weeks creating a website encompassing all his work - both his music and writing - and he was gradually coming around to the idea of having an online presence. The world will be a poorer place without Pete - his loss will be felt hugely - and seeing so many wonderful tributes online over the past few days it's clear he made a big impression on everyone he encountered throughout his life. He was a gentle soul who could be very witty and funny as well. A great person to be around. Huge condolences to his wife Carol and thinking of all his family and friends here on the forum, in the US and further afield. Rest easy Pete.

[Don R Brown]

We were collaborating over the past few weeks creating a website encompassing all his work - both his music and writing - and he was gradually coming around to the idea of having an online presence.

That's a nice tribute, David, and I hope you are able to complete that project.

[Craig Stock]

Here's a nice obit on Pete.

Savingcountrymusic.com:

https://savingcountrymusic.com/beloved- ... ssed-away/

and MSN

https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/co ... ngNewsSerp

[Richard Alderson]

I am very sorry to see this. Pete's Nashville Cats exhibition was an important contribution to the public's knowledge of that special group of session players who defined an entire era of recording. He counts among the writers and chroniclers of the Nashville Cats and everything they did. Very surprising and unwelcome news, especially in regard to someone who has been in very frequent contact here sharing his wealth of knowledge and information.

[Jim Fogle]

The website Saving Country Music has a nice write-up on the passing of Pete Finney. https://savingcountrymusic.com/beloved- ... ssed-away/

[Joe Burke]

Here's a podcast with Pete Finney. I really enjoyed hearing him talk of his career.

https://www.makersandshakerspodcast.com ... ete-finney

[Skip Edwards]

Very good write-up about Pete today in the LA Times.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-a ... eel-guitar

[Tim Whitlock]

So sad to hear of Pete's passing. I became a fan when I saw this clip with David Peterson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLvY4US ... rt_radio=1

[Daniel Dickie]

RIP Pete
He replied to one of my posts on the forum when I was incorrect about something
He was a real legend and had some great stories.
If you want to hear some great stories Otis Gibbs has some recordings of him discussing different stages of his career on YouTube

[Kevin Hatton]

I can’t believe this. He was a very kind individual and great player. Got me comp tickets in a Patti Loveless show.