The Professional Work of Nashville Steel Guitarist, Sonny Garrish (Song By Gene Watson)

Growing up in a musical family, Nashville session ace Sonny Garrish was surrounded by musical ambition at an early age. His father, who wanted to be a professional musician, began using Sonny in his various bands when he was as young as seven. By fifteen Sonny was no longer singing with his father, but backing him on steel guitar. While still a senior in high school, Sonny started playing with a group of musicians from nearby Washington, D.C. A standing gig in Fairfax, Virginia at Hunter's Lodge, which often hired Nashville talent such as Johnny Paycheck for weekend gigs, led Garrish to his first job in Nashville. After giving his number to members of Bill Anderson's band, the bandleader called Garrish and offered him a job. That opportunity led to session work and for the next several years, Sonny slowly built a name for himself around Nashville.

In 1975, Sonny recorded an album titled, Country Soul Stew. That album (LP) has never been reissued on CD. The liner notes tell Sonny's story in his own words. Sonny wrote or co-wrote nine of the fourteen pedal steel instrumental songs on the album. Sonny is a pedal steel guitarist who is able to hear more in a tune than the person who wrote it. In his own compositions he is able to build on the musical ideas that trace through his mind and then capture those thoughts with his guitar.

Not an overnight success by any stretch of the imagination, Sonny often put his name on substitute lists, filling in for the first choice musicians who were sick, or playing on writer's demos in hopes that his playing might stand out to a producer. Slowly he began getting breaks such as the 1976 Eddie Rabbitt session (Rocky Mountain Music) he played on that subsequently became a hit. And, by the 1980s, Garrish had become a top notch steel guitarist playing on records by John Anderson, George Strait, Billy Ray Cyrus, Don Williams, Reba McEntire and Johnny Lee among others.

Today, Sonny's name is in the same company as Lloyd Green, Buddy Emmons, Hal Rugg and others. Garrish should have been inducted to the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame years ago. The number of artists that Garrish worked with cannot be annotated here. Therefore, the following is only a partial listing of albums featuring steel guitar work of Sonny Garrish.

Sonny Garrish, Recording Sessions, Partial Listing
• Bet Your Heart On Me (Johnny Lee, Asylum 6E-541, 1981)
• Charley Sings Everybody's Choice (C. Pride, RCA AHL1-4287, 1982)
• Countryfied (John Anderson, Warner Bros 25373, 1986)
• Don't Close Your Eyes (Keith Whitley, RCA 6494, 1988)
• Don't Go Near The Water (Sammy Kershaw, Mercury 510161, 1991)
• John Anderson (John Anderson, Warner Bros BSK-3459, 1980)
• Keyed Up (Ronnie Milsap, RCA 14670, 1983)
• Live Laugh Love (Clay walker, Giant 24717, 1991)
• Merle Haggard (Merle Haggard, Curb 77636, 1994)
• My Kind Of Country (Reba McEntire, MCA 5516, 1984)
• Once A Drifter (Charlie Rich, Elektra 6E-301, 1980)
• Pressure Is On (Hank Williams, JR., Elektra 5E-535, 1981)
• Prime Cuts (Don Williams, Capitol 91444, 1989)
• Pure Country (George Strait, MCA 10651, 1992)
• Rocky Mountain Music (Eddie Rabbitt, Elektra, 1065,1976)
• Should I Come Home (Gene Watson, Capitol ST-11947, 1979)
• Some Gave All (Billy Ray Cyrus, Mercury 510635, 1992)
• Spun Gold (Barbara Mandrell, MCA 5377, 1983)
• Steve Wariner (Steve Wariner, RCA Victor AHL1-4154, 1982)
• Strait Country (George Strait, MCA 5248, 1981)
• Strait From The Heart (George Strait, MCA 5320,1982)
• Still I Stay (Charly McClain, Epic 40534, 1987)
• Tennessee Woman (Tanya Tucker, Capitol 91821, 1990)
• T. G. (T.G. Sheppard, Warner Bros 25282, 1985)
• The Real Tommy Overstreet (Tommy Overstreet, Elektra 6E-226, 1979)
• The Rich Sounds Of Bill Anderson's Po' Boys (MCA 337, 1981)
• The Time Has Come (Martina McBride, RCA 66002, 1992)
• Thinkin' Problem (David Ball, Warner Bros 45562, 1994)
• Traces (Don Williams, Capitol 48034, 1987)
• Wherever You Are Tonight (Keith Whitley, RCA 66762, 1995)

RJB: Country Music Historian, June, 2011. References: Record Research: Country Music Singles 1944 -- 1993; Billboard Magazine; RJB: Original Country Music Chronicles

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[slapcompany]

Could you be emotionally detached at work and not know it? Sure, if you’re detached. There’s a party in your head and you’re not invited. slapCompany

[flashbell]

@slapcompany , ??

[Crowrocker71]

Haven't heard this in ages. Thanks

[pro3tlb]

Sonny grew up in my home town of Hagerstown Maryland. For a time my oldest sister and her husband lived next door to his parents; then they sold the house to my nest oldest sister and her husband.

[Youtbette8]

Sonny Garrish played steel guitar on my entire CD "The Simple Things" that I recorded in Nashville. He and I became great friends. He was always the last to leave the studio. I could've had any steel player in Nashville, but I chose Sonny because of his classic work. When the project was over I presented Sonny with a special gift of a brand new Leno Dobro with a custom case. I am proud to call Sonny my friend and studio steel player. He played every lick I hummed and then some....LOL!

[Youtbette8]

Sonny Garrish plays steel guitar on my entire CD "The Simple Things" that I recorded in Nashville. He and I became great friends. He was always the last to leave the studio. I could've had any steel player in Nashville, but I chose Sonny because of his classic work. When the project was over I presented Sonny with a special gift of a brand new Leno Dobro with a custom case. I am proud to call Sonny my friend and studio steel player. He played every lick I hummed and then some....LOL!

[sus453]

This is one of my favorite Gene Watson songs, and the steel guitar on it is beautiful! Thanks for sharing this.

[ConditionOfAnonymity]

hey flashbell, i believe it was slapcompany's point was to confuse us who are always confused. it like having deja vu but yet you have amnesia, you'll get where you know there's something that you know you should have done before, but have no clues??? you see, i'm dang sure confused. help!

[FAUSTORICCARDO]

V V Nice. Grazie Bell.

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[hagblay]

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS--5 STARS---TY MUCH JOHN