WEST, SPEEDY
(*1924)
WEST, SPEEDY (b. Wesley Webb W., Springfield, Mo., January 25, 1924) West was a pioneering recording artist on the PEDAL STEEL GUITAR, whose duets with guitarist JIMMY BRYANT, recorded in the 1950s, remain some of the finest country instrumentals of all time. Born in Missouri, West took up the steel guitar when he was thirteen years old. After serving in World War II he settled in southern California, where he found work with SPADE COOLEY 's and HANK PENNY 's bands. In 1948 West is said to have…