Herb Remington, an elected member of the prestigious Steel Guitar Player’s Hall of Fame, began his steel playing while in high school although he played piano at the age of five.  After serving his country during World War II, in 1946 he went to California to audition for Luke Wills’ (Bob’s brother) band, but Bob Wills hired him for his own band.

An accomplished Hawaiian steel player, he has toured with Hawaiian bands and has been featured in Hawaii many times.  Herb resides in Houston, Texas, where he manufacturers the “Remington Steel” steel guitar, and also teaches.

Western swing was establishing itself as a major force in Country music when Herb joined “Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys” in the late ‘40s. Herb’s contribution from that day (and even through to the present) was recognized by his induction into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1979.

In his early years, he wrote the classic tunes, “Remington Ride” and “Boot Heel Drag,” instrumentals that are part of every steelman’s repertoire. Truly a pioneer, he keeps it up with periodic recordings and in his manufacturing of Remington steel guitars. Further, he is constantly assisting steel players in need of help on their equipment and instructional needs (at his store and shop in Houston, Texas). All of his current albums are listed and described in this catalog. These albums dramatically project Herb’s classic style, something that isn’t as recognizable with today’s players. But then, all the pioneers of the steel guitar were truly stylists, not just another good player!

Fortunately for us, Herb has maintained his style, he has even expanded it, adding pedals to enhance and expand on what he had perfected. To his stylistic integrity, he chose not to be trapped in the commercial mold as did so many pedalists who followed him.

Thus, listen to a page of steel guitar history. Herb’s “Jean Street Swing” and “Then And Now” albums contain nearly all the instrumentals Herb recorded with Wills. They could be called Herb’s “Musical Anthology” of the development of a true western swing steel player. Most of the tunes are these two albums are not “hi-fi,” but are historical treasures of the development of Herb’s style, otherwise gone forever had it not been for their assemblage here.

After Herb’s opening albums, his later work amply solidifies him as the true steel guitar pioneer he is. All his albums were recorded with care. He obviously wanted each to attest to his desire to play flawlessly, while interpreting the melodies in his inimitable way.

(Anyone remotely connected to the steel guitar is aware of Herb Remington and his great sounds knows what he has done for country music here and through out the world! – Steve L. Butts, News Director, TCM Radio)