Working with George Harrison led Peter Frampton to fall in love with an effect he would go on to popularize so completely that he ultimately eclipsed one of its earliest champions…
How Peter Frampton discovered his signature effect while recording with George Harrison
March 5, 2026 by
Pete Drake’s Exploits Remembered
January 16, 2026 by
NASHVILLE, TN — No single musician ever did more to popularize and display an instrument’s capabilities and range than Pete Drake did with the steel guitar. The legendary player, producer and label owner was honored last weekend by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum with official induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Drake, Ray Charles, The Judds, and Eddie Bayer all received their official medallions, had their exploits recalled and their songs celebrated.
For Drake’s widow Rose, the event was a long time coming and certainly well deserved. But she wants fans to understand just how deep her husband’s commitment to music was and how versatile he was as a player and producer. “He truly loved all kinds of music,” she told the Tribune during an interview last week. “His goal was always to serve the song, and sometimes that got him in trouble because he was always thinking about how best to serve the song rather than other things.”
Drake’s amazing ability as a player… read the full article.
Pete Drake – Country Music Hall of Fame
January 16, 2026 by
Pedal steel guitarist Pete Drake left a lasting mark not only on country music, but also on rock, gospel, and folk music. He is the first steel guitarist inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
“Stand by Your Man.” “Lay Lady Lay.” “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” Each of these classic records is instantly recognizable, in part due to the pedal steel guitar stylings of Pete Drake. The in-demand session musician contributed to dozens of country hits, and he also popularized the pedal steel guitar outside of country music on recordings by Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Elvis Presley. For his pioneering accomplishments, Drake is the first steel guitar player to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Roddis Franklin Drake was born October 8, 1932, in Augusta, Georgia, the son of…read the full article.
Ringo Starr Sets Sights On Another Country Album For 2026
January 5, 2026 by
Ringo Starr is preparing to extend his late career love affair with country music, confirming that a new studio album is in development and pencilled in for release sometime in early 2026. The untitled project will again explore country and Americana territory and reunites the former Beatle with producer T Bone Burnett, the creative partnership that reshaped Starr’s recording direction with 2025’s Look Up.
On This Day in 1971, George Harrison Started a Seven-Week Run at No. 1 With His First Post-Beatles Album
January 2, 2026 by
On this day (January 2) in 1971, George Harrison topped the Billboard 200 with All Things Must Pass. The triple-album marked his first release since The Beatles officially parted ways in April 1970. Musicians on the album include Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Alan White, Pete Drake, and many more.
55 years ago today: George Harrison released All Things Must Pass
December 10, 2025 by
On this day 55 years ago (November 27, 1970), George Harrison released his third studio album – and his first solo album since the break-up of The Beatles – All Things Must Pass. Produced with Phil Spector – and featuring contributions from the likes of Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Gary Wright, Klaus Voormann, John Barham, Badfinger and Pete Drake – the classic album featured hits like ‘My Sweet Lord’, ‘What Is Life’, and ‘Isn’t It A Pity’. To mark the anniversary of All Things Must Pass, we’re revisiting Jackie Hayden’s tribute to George Harrison…
Peter Drake: The Gentle Genius of Nashville’s Steel Guitar
November 17, 2025 by
In the long history of recorded music, there are figures whose influence can be heard everywhere, even if their names are not immediately recognised. One such figure is Pete or Peter Drake, the Nashville producer and pedal steel guitarist whose quiet innovation helped shape country, pop, and rock through the 1960s and beyond. His sound was subtle, but once heard, impossible to forget — a warm, bending tone that seemed to sing.
Drake’s story begins in Georgia, where he was born in 1932. Like many musicians of his generation, he came to Nashville in search of opportunity, carrying not only talent but also a willingness to experiment. The pedal steel guitar, at that time, was largely confined to traditional country. Drake saw it differently. He imagined it as a voice, capable of human expression — something that could bridge styles and reach listeners far beyond the honky-tonk.
His earliest session work in the late 1950s established him as a reliable, versatile player. By the early 1960s, he was one of Nashville’s busiest session musicians. His credits read like a roll call of mid-century greats: George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, and countless others. Yet it was Drake’s work with artists outside of country that gave him his unique reputation. He played on Bob Dylan’s Nashville Skyline and John Wesley Harding, helping to define a new, gentler sound for the songwriter. His steel guitar on “Lay Lady Lay” became iconic — smooth, warm, and perfectly understated.
Pete Drake’s Legacy Beyond His Steel Guitar Virtuosity
October 2, 2024 by
On May 1, 2022, Pete Drake became the first pedal steel guitarist inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Georgia native deserves such a high honor, if only for his matchless session work on Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man,” Charlie Rich’s “Behind Closed Doors,” Lynn Anderson’s “Rose Garden” and other benchmarks in country music history.
On this day in 1970: George Harrison released All Things Must Pass
November 29, 2023 by
On November 27, 1970, George Harrison released his third studio album – and his first solo album since the break-up of The Beatles – All Things Must Pass. Produced with Phil Spector – and featuring contributions from the likes of Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Gary Wright, Klaus Voormann, John Barham, Badfinger and Pete Drake – the classic album featured hits like ‘My Sweet Lord’, ‘What Is Life’, and ‘Isn’t It A Pity’. To mark the anniversary of All Things Must Pass, we’re revisiting Jackie Hayden’s tribute to George Harrison, originally published in Hot Press in 2001…
