Alvino Rey

Alvin McBurney (July 1, 1908 — February 2, 2004), known by his stage name Alvino Rey, was an American swing era musician and pioneer, often credited as the father of the pedal steel guitar. He was mainly associated with orchestral, big band and swing music, and towards the end of his career, jazz and exotica.

Alvin McBurney was born in Oakland, California, in 1908, but moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio. He showed very early signs of his mechanical and musical aptitude, he built his first radio at the age of 8 and, within a couple of years, became one of the youngest licensed ham operators in the country. His interest in music grew when he received a banjo as a tenth birthday gift. He began studying guitar at the age of 12, listening to recordings by guitarists Eddie Lang and Roy Smeck. At 15 he invented an electrical amplifier for the guitar, but neglected to have it patented. He did patent several later versions. In 1927, Rey landed a job playing banjo with Cleveland bandleader Ev Jones. "Yes, I joined the Union when I was 16," he said. He practiced amplifying acoustic instruments as a teenager, starting with this first banjo. "I went to Lakewood High School and from there I went to New York and never did come back." he recalled. His career began in 1927, when he played banjo with Ev Jones. He signed with Phil Spitalny that same year, playing electric guitar in Spitalny's Orchestra. "I spent two years in New York with Phil Spitalny and then went to California," Rey recalled. "I joined Horace Heidt in San Francisco . . . he had a stage band, sort of like Fred Waring." During this time he also studied guitar with vaudeville performer Roy Smeck.^{[citation needed]}

Shark attack feared in Southern California woman's injury

Edit Orlando Sentinel 30 May 2016

Lifeguards shut down a Southern California beach on Sunday after a swimmer was pulled injured from the water with bite marks in a possible shark attack, authorities said. The woman, swimming in a wetsuit, was spotted in distress by a lifeguard boat at Corona Del Mar State Beach about 4 p.m., city... ....

photo: Creative Commons / Matthew Addie

Golden State Beats Oklahoma City To Force A Game 7

Edit National Public Radio 29 May 2016

i. Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals in Oklahoma City on Saturday. The Warriors won 108-101. Sue Ogrocki/AP hide caption. toggle caption Sue Ogrocki/AP ... The Warriors won 108-101. Sue Ogrocki/AP ... The winner will play Cleveland in the NBA Finals ... ....

photo: AP / Fernando Vergara

FIFA President Gianni Infantino laughs as he speaks to journalists at a press conference at the Soccer Federation headquarters in Bogota, Colombia, Thursday, March 31, 2016.

FIFA president found $2 million pay 'insulting,' report shows

Edit Chicago Tribune 29 May 2016

FIFA's recently elected President Gianni Infantino told its governing council a salary offer made to him by the soccer group's compensation committee was "insulting," according to report by German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The newspaper's report, based on the leak of a recording... ....

photo: AP / Steve Dykes

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders smiles as a bird lands on his podium when he addresses the crowd during a rally at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore., Friday, March 25, 2016.

Bernie Sanders Just Warned Hillary Clinton Not to Go Wrong on Her VP Pick

Edit Time Magazine 29 May 2016

The Vermont senator was adamant that Clinton pick a hardline progressive for vice president if she successfully secures the Democratic nomination for president....

photo: AP / Vladimir Isachenkov

Chief negotiator of Syrian peace talks quits over failed talks

Edit CNN 30 May 2016

(CNN)The Syrian opposition's chief peace negotiator, Mohammad Alloush, has resigned over the failure of peace talks to end the country's civil war. Alloush, who represents the influential Jaish al-Islam rebel group, made his resignation public via Twitter, tweeting that his decision was a result of the failure of the international community to stop the atrocities of Bashar al-Assad's regime against the Syrian people ... Read More ... 1 of 23....

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Will Butler's live track playlist: Sam Cooke, Prince, Violent Femmes and more

Edit The Guardian 19 May 2016

In support of his new live album, the Arcade Fire member picks a selection of songs performed in front of a live audience, including hypnotic Motown, Prince’s epoch and his grandfather on steel guitar. Alvino Rey Orchestra – My Buddy. This is my grandfather playing steel guitar with his big band, taken from a live radio broadcast in 1940 ... But also that one emotional brass moment that swells a third of the way in and never returns ... ....

The Electric Guitar Symposium (Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum)

Edit Public Technologies 28 Apr 2016

(Source. Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum). Wichita holds the distinction of being the first to feature the electric guitar to the world's stage, thanks to the initiative of local guitarist Gage Brewer ... The exhibit, 'The Electric Guitar ... Symposium Presenters ... P ... Artifacts range from the most historically significant to celebrity-owned instruments, including guitars owned by Joe Walsh, Les Paul, Charlie Christian, and Alvino Rey....

getTV Presents A Festive Lineup Of Rare Christmas Variety Specials Hosted By Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Mitzi Gaynor, Perry Como, Sonny & Cher, And More, Airing Every Wednesday Starting At 8 P.M. ET From Nov. 25 Through Dec. 23 Other Highlights Include Specials Starring Judy Garland, The King Family and Danny Kaye, Among Others, and a 30-Hour Marathon Starting Christmas Eve at NoonHoliday Programming Kicks Off Monday, November 23 with Christmas-Themed Episodes of THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW, THE ANDY WILLIAMS SHOW and THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW

Edit PR Newswire 16 Nov 2015

CULVER CITY, Calif., Nov ... to 11 p.m. ET, from November 25 through December 23 ... ET ... ET. ... The family's musical legacy is still alive and well today, as King Cousin Liza Rey Butler has played harp on albums for GRAMMY® Award-winning indie rock mainstays Arcade Fire, fronted by her sons Win and Will ... The King Sisters, Alvino Rey, Tina Cole, The Four King Cousins, Cam Clarke, Robert Clarke, Ric de Azevedo, and the King Kids ... ....

Home built for 'Wizard of Oz' dance director Bobby Connolly sells in Encino #TBT

Edit The Los Angeles Times 27 Aug 2015

A house built for “The Wizard of Oz” dance director Willian Harold "Bobby" Connolly has sold in Encino for $3.4 million. The Mission-style main house, which dates to 1932, originally sat on 30 acres. A later owner, Alvino Rey, a big band and swing musician, sold off portions of the home site, which is now less than two-thirds of an acre ... Caption Throwback Thursday Michael McNamara / Shooting LA ... See more galleries ... ....

Encino home built for 'Wizard of Oz' choreographer heading to market

Edit The Los Angeles Times 16 Apr 2015

The storied Woodley Estate will be coming on the market in Encino at $3.999 million. Built in 1932 for “The Wizard of Oz” choreographer Bobby Connelly, the four-bedroom, three-bathroom main house originally sat on 30 acres ... Most of the land was sold off during the tenure of early owner Alvino Rey, a big band and swing musician notable. The lot is now about two-thirds of an acre ... (Michael McNamara / Shooting LA) ... 8 ... Twitter ... 0. ....

Why ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ isn’t the greatest MGM musical

Edit New York Post 25 Feb 2015

... Welles “The Magnificent Ambersons.’’ What’s left of “Syncopation’’ (the third and last teaming of former child stars Jackie Cooper and Bonita Granville as a pair of musicians) is notable mostly for the music, including a climatic jam session featuring Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet, Gene Krupa, Harry James, Jack Jenny, Joe Venuti and Alvino Rey....

Q&A;: Sinkane On His New Mean Love And Working With Everyone From Usher To David Byrne

Edit Stereogum 25 Aug 2014

Every Sinkane album is a world unto itself. Mean Love is no different in that it is very different. A conglomeration of everything from Sade to Radiohead to Alvino Rey to Fela Kuti, it marks the latest evolution by one of music’s most fascinating figures ... His travels have become an inextricable part of his biography because they shine through so clearly in his unique pool of worldwide influences. (Full disclosure ... STEREOGUM ... GALLAB ... ....

A new stage for Arcade Fire

Edit The Charlotte Observer 01 Aug 2014

He's referring to pedal steel guitar innovator Alvino Rey, who gigged the arena not long after it opened in 1967 ... From early Los Angeles gigs at the clubs Spaceland and the Troubadour in support of its debut, "Funeral" (written in part about Rey's death), the band has ascended venue by venue....

Taking a look and listen to 12 timeless theme songs of America's Big Band Era

Edit The Examiner 07 May 2014

[EDITOR'S NOTE. My oldies pop music articles generally focus on the '50s and '60s, but occasionally, they delve into the '70s or to the Big Band Era of the '30s and '40s ... Born in St ... Until 1953, he was a popular radio bandleader, and his group -- called Horace Heidt And His Musical Knights -- featured Larry Cotton on vocals (including this theme song), guitarist Alvino Rey, and Art Carney was the band's singing comedian ... ....

MPD cop falls prey to snatcher

Edit Journal Online 28 Apr 2014

A MANILA policeman fell victim to snatchers who stole his necklace worth at least P150,000 while he was merely standing in front of his house in San Andres Bukid, Manila, the other day ... He was identified as Alvino Reyes , alias ‘Alvin Patay’, 29, of Barrio La Purisima, Paco, Manila, after he was traced getting treatment in a hospital ... Ana Hospital ... Headlines . ....

The banjo man who delivered Deliverance music

Edit Sydney Morning Herald 11 Apr 2014

The song, a precursor to the rock ’n’ roll of the coming decades, has been covered by musicians like Les Paul, Chuck Berry and Alvino Rey....

Arthur Smith, who wrote "Guitar Boogie" and "Dueling Banjos," dies

Edit Denver Post 09 Apr 2014

CHARLOTTE, N.C ... He was 93 ... Les Paul and Alvino Rey both covered the song on electric guitars, and "Guitar Boogie Shuffle," a rocked-up version by the Philadelphia lounge group the Virtues, charted in 1959 ... "But there hadn't been enough money involved to pay a lawyer until Warner Brothers (the film company) did that ... ....

Arthur Smith, guitarist who wrote ‘Guitar Boogie’ and ‘Duelin’ Banjos,’ dies at 93

Edit The Washington Post 07 Apr 2014

He was 93. A son, Clay Smith, confirmed the death but did not specify a cause. Notable deaths of 2014. A look at those who have died this year. PHOTOS. Notable deaths of 2013. GoingOut Guide. Looking for things to do? ... area D.C ... Kid-friendly. Free admission ... Les Paul and Alvino Rey both covered the song on electric guitars and “Guitar Boogie Shuffle,” a rocked-up version by the Philadelphia lounge group the Virtues, charted in 1959....

Rey, Alvino Filmography