I started playing the Steel Guitar at age 10, taking 12 lessons of a 13-week course. From that point on I was self-taught, learning by listening to country artist like Ernest Tubb, Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, Skeets McDonald, Lefty Frizzel, Hank Williams and many others. By the time I was 15 I was playing in small bars around the Fontana/San Bernardino area. At the age of 16 I won a small talent contest in Bloomington, California. In 1965 at the age of 20 I worked my first full-time club job, at the "Aces Club" in the City of Industry, which lasted 3 ½ years. From the "Aces Club" I went to numerous clubs throughout the Los Angeles area. During the same time period, I did an album called the "International Submarine Band" with Gram Parsons, on the Lee Hazelwood, Inc. Label. In 1968 I did the "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" album, with the Byrds. I began recording for Cliffie Stone in the late 1960's, which gave me the opportunity to work with many great musicians within the music industry.

In 1969 I did my first roadwork, by becoming one of Buck Owen's Buckaroos, and toured with Buck for one year. As one of the Buckaroos I got my first taste of television recording, by being on the first season of the "Hee Haw Show".

In 1970 I went to work at the world famous "Palomino Club" in North Hollywood, California. I left in 1974 to move to Nashville, Tennessee to work for Ray Stevens. I worked for Ray Stevens until 1975, when I returned to Los Angeles, and to the "Palomino Club". In 1978 I left the "Palomino Club" to focus on recording and television work.

 

I did the original pilot for the "Dukes of Hazzards" television series and continued doing the series throughout its 7-year run on television. During this period the "urban cowboy craze" took over and I did various movies, television shows and numerous recordings that featured many different artists.

By the mid 1980's the urban cowboy craze began to fade and I began again working with various groups based within the Los Angeles area. In 1986 I become one of the founding members of the "Desert Rose Band". I toured with "DRB" until the summer of 1990 when I left the band to stay home to focus on my recording, movie and television work.

 

I've been friends with Vince Gill since 1976. I worked on his first two RCA albums in the late 1970's. I became a member of the Vince Gill Band in 2000 and left the band in 2004.

 

Throughout the years I have recorded with many great artists, done numerous movies and television shows. Check out my discography page to view a partial list of the artist, movies and television show I have done over the years.
-Jaydee-