QUOTES

Lloyd has played as a major studio musician on several thousand recording sessions, from his start in the Nashville studios in 1964 up to date. His playing graced a countless number of records, always adding a distinctive touch that often became a trademark for the vocalist.

In this section I have collected quotes and remarks from recording artists and fellow musicians Lloyd has worked with throughout the years. My sincere thanks goes out to all of those who took the time to contribute to this section.

 

1) Mike Auldridge:

     (Legendary Dobro player for the "Country Gentlemen", "Seldom Scene" and other bluegrass bands)

"I love Lloyd's playing so much that I wrote a song (Lloyd's of Nashville) for him. I had the honor of having him record it with me on one of my instrumental projects back in the 1970's. His dobro playing style is as distinctive as his pedal steel style, and in my opinion, Lloyd Green has one of the very few completely recognizable, original styles in the world of steel guitar. His solos are always beautifully constructed masterpieces, whether only a few bars long or the length of a full instrumental piece. His sound is always unique and thought provoking to his fellow steel players, his solo instrumental projects always remain fresh even to the most jaded steel aficionado's ear, and he never fails to inspire and impress all listeners and players alike."

2) Barbara Fairchild:

     (Recording artist and vocalist, with several major chart hits incl. "Teddy Bear Song" and "Kid Stuff")

"Lloyd Green was always such a gentleman when I was around him and I did have the joy of Lloyd playing on some of my records, although he wasn't on all of them.  His style and talent were unmistakable and the honor he has received is certainly well deserved. 

I can't remember what city it was now but there was some big show or promotion that Columbia Records was doing.  Lloyd and I ended up sitting in the hotel lobby and talking for a good amount of time while we were waiting on the folks in charge to tell us where to go, etc.  I was very impressed with what a really nice, sincere person he was.  I've always had a lot of respect for him, not just on a professional level but as a friend.  Our business is certainly richer because of his contribution to it." 

3) Robbie Fulks:

     (Recording artist and producer of the exciting project "Touch My Heart - A Tribute To Johnny Paycheck)

"When you get Lloyd Green to play a session, which has twice been my good fortune over the last two years, you get not only his trademark touch and tone, those underpinnings of his unsurpassed technique, you also get the vitality of a teenager, the hermeneutic clarity of a great composer, and the stories - peopled with just about every country-music figure from the last 40 years you'd want to know about - of an extraordinarily observant man who spent most of his mature years at the top of his field. 

I admired Lloyd's playing, Paycheck to Skaggs, a long time before I met him. His four bars on"Apartment #9" are my favorite pedal steel solo of all time.  Getting to work and hang with the monumental teenager/composer/anecdotalist     who invented this half-wild, half-cerebral approach to the instrument has been one of the highlights of my life."

4) Walter Haynes:

     (Member of the Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame, famous producer of artists like Jeanne Pruett and Freddie Hart)

"Lloyd has been a friend for many years now.  He was a shoe salesman when I first met him.  I was getting tired of doing sessions, I was doing four sessions a day and decided to get into the production field.  I liked Lloyd's playing and recommended him to some people that I worked with in the studio .... and the rest is history!"

5) Chris Hillman: 

      (Legendary Westcoast musician, member of the original "Byrds")

"Lloyd Green was an integral part of our album "Sweethearts of the Rodeo" His contribution on Steel guitar made the record. He was flat out brilliant and a joy to work with. He also was kind enough to step out on the Grand Ol' Opry Stage and play with the Byrds on that fateful night so long ago."
 

6) Janet McBride:

     (Traditional Country Vocalist, closely associated with the Mesquite Opry in Texas)

"I recorded two sessions in Nashville with Lloyd Green as the person in charge.  He contracted for us, all of the musicians and the back-up singers and the studio, too. 
 
I have always been very proud of the great sound we had on those cuts.  Four of my Nashville cuts were released on Longhorn Records.  They were 'A Woman's Point of View', 'Mass Confussion', 'Playlike You Love Me' and 'It's The Truth That's Killin' Me' and the other two songs cut were released on Metromedia in 1968-69.  They were 'My Johnny Lies (over and over)' and 'That's Not Like Me'.
 
Lloyd Green's steel guitar work along with the other Nashville greats like Grady Martin, Fred Carter, Pig Robbins and I think Harmon might have been on drums plus the Nashville Edition for harmony made these six recordings equal to any other music being releasedon records at that time.  I felt like each of those recordings would get great airplay because they were so well done. 
 
I can't say enough about this great 'man of steel'. It is impossible to get to know someone very well when you only see them in the studio but Lloyd Green was always well prepared to handle the job we hired him to do and for that we were always thankful. 
 
I am proud to call him friend."

7) Ray Stevens:

     (Singer/Songwriter/Instrumentalist with several smash hits like "Misty" and "The Streak")

"Lloyd is a great musician. I always enjoyed his professionalism and expertise on a recording session."

8) Barry & Holly Tashian:

     (Influential singer/songwriter duo with several great albums in traditional style)

"With Lloyd Green, it's the spaces between the notes, the emotion in the notes, and the wonderful technique that is evident in everything he plays, making his unique style instantly recognizable, and a joy to hear.

We're so glad he's making music again, he is the very best!"

9) Leroy Van Dyke:

      (Nashville vocalist, "The Auctioneer")

"I'm proud to say that I was a part of the Nashville music scene during what I like to call the "Golden Age of the Nashville Scene," during which time
Lloyd Green began his amazing career.

All of us knew that when Lloyd showed up for one of our sessions that we would be treated to an outstanding professional level steel performance.

He's one of the good guys!!!"
 

10) Winnie Winston:

     (Legendary Steel Guitar player, author of "Pedal Steel Guitar", referred to as the "Bible" for Steel players)

"Long ago, when I was writing "Pedal Steel Guitar" I approached Lloyd Green to write an introduction. He was gracious enough to do so. When I finally was able to spend some time with Lloyd at his home I found a wonderfully intelligent person who I am proud to have as a friend.

Of course, there's his music too... While I admire many steel players for their ability, I keep coming back to Lloyd as the player I love to listen to. Beneath the veneer of simplicity is an amazingly complex tapestry. He *never* gets from point A to point B the same way twice. Never. Slide it up. Slide it down. Detour to the left. Detour to the right. Start to the left and then come in from underneath. It is always a refreshing surprise.

I once played a few cuts of Lloyd for a friend who knows nothing of steel. She listened and said, "He's like someone who talks very gently, and then, when they want to make a point at the end of a sentence, they *lower* their voice."

Yup. That's it exactly. Listen carefully. The really important stuff you have to listen for to notice. That's Lloyd! Just sneaking in on it...."