Al Vescovo: Press

An Interview with Al Vescovo

 

“Thoroughly entertained” are words that quickly come to mind after seeing and hearing Al’s performance at the SWSGA’s 7^th Annual Show and Convention in January.  He demonstrated true showmanship from his lively style of playing to his genuine expressions of delight and enjoyment.  Al says that he always enjoys playing at the Phoenix show every year, and, it’s obvious.  Along with playing the steel guitar, Al spent several hours on stage playing lead and fill on the semi-acoustic standard guitar, giving Chuck Back an occasional break.  Al is an avid supporter of the SWSGA where he’s been a member for seven years.

 

Albert E. Vescovo was born in Memphis and grew up in the mid-South where he attended St. Anne Catholic High School for Boys.  He later attended L.A. Valley College and UCLA.  Most of his years growing up included music to a great extent.  He’s an accomplished steel guitarist, but he also dazzles listeners with numerous other stringed instruments such as the standard, electric, f-hole, round-hole, gut-string, four-string tenor banjo, ukulele, Dobro, and mandolin.  Music is in Al’s family where his brother, Ernie Vee, is a singer/bandleader, while another brother, Pete Vescovo, is a bassist—acoustic string and electric.

 

Al has been playing the steel guitar for 66 years!  His mentor was Dr. Hugh Jeffreys and the list of his favorite steelers include Joaquin Murphy, Alvino Rey, Billy Hue Lin, and Doug Jernigan.  Al has a performance resume as big as his smile.  Besides the standard weekends and nightclub gigs, he’s done radio performances, hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, teaching, and finally arriving in California where he worked in recording studios, television, and movies.  Some of his favorite past performances included playing for presidents Clinton, Reagan, Ford, and George Bush, as well as working with Brian Wilson—Leon Redbone, and Stan Kenton, and playing with the Johnny Carson—Doc Severinsen & the Tonight Show Band.  Besides being creative with the steel guitar, Al does some acting.  

 

Al’s favorite tuning is C-6^th with extensions.  He uses JagWire strings with a Zirconium as well as some light-weight bars.  He currently plays his 14-string Excel steel guitar as well as his 12-string Gene Feilds MCI through a Peavey Nashville 400, and Benson amps.  He said he will soon be using a 22-pound 200-watt ZT amp.  When asked what he does to help him perform at his best he mentioned soaking his hands in warm water, and of course…practicing. 

 

He spoke of an unusual moment while performing, “Once I was playing a four-string tenor banjo on a Dixieland gig with a trombone, trumpet, and tuba.  The first tune in the set the fourth string on the banjo broke.  Whoa is me.  I didn’t have any strings with me.  Ouch!  Now I’m playing on three strings.  Two tunes later the third string broke.  Now I’m playing a two-string banjo.  Sounded like Chinese banjo and it just didn’t work.  What to do?  We were in a very small town in California on a Sunday and most stores were closed.  We took a break; I left and found a record shop that had guitar strings; bought three sets, and returned to the gig and all was well.  It was a miracle!”

 

Al is married, “52 wonderful years” to Norma Jean and they have three children and four grandchildren.  When he’s not spending quality time with his family, or  promoting the steel guitar, he might be on a lake fishing, or on a golf course.

 

Al currently performs in the studio environ as a freelancer, and also performs on Thursday nights—when he’s available—at Casey’s, a jazz club in ___L.A.?______. 

 

“Like in most professions,” says Al, “electronics and computers are taking over.  My hope is that we as steel guitar players and enthusiasts can prevent the demise of acoustic and amplified instruments by promoting same.  The steel guitar has a long history now and still there is so much to learn about the instrument.  Please visit my website and leave your thoughts about the steel guitar and its future.” 

 

You can visit Al’s website at www.steelandguitar.com, where you can also purchase his CD’s, all featuring the steel guitar and good music!  Other sites that carry some or all of his six CD’s are: www.CDBaby.com, and www.steelguitarforum.com.  It’s an honor to have Al Vescovo as a member of the SWSGA!