The news about Sneaky Pete Kleinow is heartbreaking indeed.

Whatever one's perception of pedal steel guitar (and personally I love it) I defy anybody to listen to Sneaky Pete's segue between "Take it Easy" and "Our Lady of the Well" on the Jackson Browne album "For Everyman" and not be intensely moved. It is simply one of the finest pieces of music ever performed anywhere, anytime, by anybody. A piece of pure genius ...

The following is copied and and pasted from a posting by Jim Siff on the Steelguitarforum, I am sure he won't mind me reproducing it here.

FWIW the annual "Gramfest" in Joshua Tree, in the high desert of southern California, has changed a Gene Clark tribute day (held annually) to a Sneaky Benefit this year. Sneaky has played the thing every year that I know of - I always missed him as he played late sets and I was with early-set bands.

Gram Fest 2006..Friday Sep 29, Saturday Sep 30, and Sunday Oct 1st. Sunday is the Sneaky Benefit Concert.

Joshua Tree is a tiny town; Yucca Valley is not too far. Hotel space is limited; Palm Springs is about 45 minutes away.

I'm trying to work out my schedule to go - it would be great if some of the local Forum folks could show support for Sneaky and all he's done for the steel guitar - and the music industry as a whole. (I realize there's not ANYTHING really "local", but you know what I mean).

If anuybody would like to read more tributes to Sneaky Pete there is a fascinating thread on the Steelguitarforum started by his daughter Anita