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Subject: [ARSebast] Bob White Obituary
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2003 02:14:44 EST

Floyd L. "Bobby" White passed away 21 November 2003 at Fort Smith, Arkansas.
He was born 15 June 1932 at Jenny Lind, Arkansas to R. F. and Zella White. He
was preceded in death by his brother, CB White and his parents. Surviving
daughters include Cathy, Laura and Snow. Surviving sons are Ricky, Robert and
Bobby. Services will be held Monday at 11:00 a.m. at Edwards Funeral Home, Fort
Smith, Arkansas.

Bob White was a world class musician, master of the steel guitar. He played,
as a teenager, with Bob Wills' Texas Playboys. After leaving the Playboys, Bob
joined up with Hank Thompson's Brazos Valley Boys. The Brazos Valley Boys
were selected country touring band of the year, by Billboard Magazine, for 14
consecutive years. He was a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of fame and is
credited with pioneering the 10 string steel guitar. He originated scores of
enduring licks and riffs and introduced the Major 7th and Major 9th pedal changes.
Bob was considered the foremost swing steel player of the 1950's.

Bob retired from the road in the early 1970's and returned home to Fort
Smith, Arkansas. He was a well known nightclub owner for many years in Fort Smith,
he and his brother ran a family business that was originally opened circa
1946. This was known as the Crossroads Club. Bob performed with a house band there
for many years.

Unless you ever heard Bob play steel guitar there would be no way to describe
the pure electricity that flew from his hands, he was a legend.

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