I met Pete back in 2016 at the International Country Music Conference when he was being awarded the Chet Flippo Award for the excellent book and Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit he co-curated on Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and the Nashville Cats. Before he accepted his award, he came early and listened to several other presentations that day, including my talk on the country music recordings of Hoagy Carmichael. He approached me after my talk, said he was a big Hoagy fan, wanted to hear more, and invited me to the Country Music Hall of Fame later that evening to hear him play, see his exhibit, and talk more country music. I gladly accepted the invitation.
It was only later that night, during his intro at the Hall of Fame gig that I learned he had toured for many years with CMHOFers like Patty Loveless, Vince Gill, Reba, the Judds, as well as the Chicks and spent many years with the Monkees, too. Later I started to see his name on all sorts of recordings by Bobby Bare, Justin Townes Earle, Brennen Leigh, Clem Snide, Robbie Fulks, and more, and he seemed to always be playing with Chris Scruggs and the Stone Fox Five when I was in Nashville. That guy was in demand and everywhere!
At some point he asked me who my favorite pedal steel player was and I said 'Pete Drake.' He got excited and said PD was one of his favorites, too. I told him I was soon to be recording with Betty Amos w/ Judy and Jean in Nashville and asked if he'd be willing to play steel on the session. He said, 'Sure!' And because we both loved Pete Drake, I asked if he'd be willing to cover Pete Drake's Starday recording of "The Spook" with me? Again, 'Absolutely!' That tune ended up being the bonus track on the Bear Family Records release of Nate Gibson & the Stars of Starday and it's one of my faves. Pete nailed the Pete Sound!
It's sad to see this picture today, taken less than a decade ago, and know that since that session we've lost Betty, Judy, Jean, Dave Roe, and Pete. But I'm mighty grateful our paths crossed and particularly for the time, kindness, and sharing of talents. RIP Pete.
Photo by Drew Carroll. L-R: Chris Scruggs, Pete Finney, Cousin Kenny Vaughan, Dave Roe, Betty Amos, Judy Lee, Jean Amos, Nate Gibson, Timon Kaple
