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I am writing this
bio on behalf of a dear friend of mine; Fred Justice. When I heard he was getting ready to launch a new website, I ask if
I could have the honor of writing his bio and he consented.
I first met Fred in 1972. He was
already an accomplished musician and had a lot of musical experience behind him. Fred learned to play piano from listening
to a radio program at the early age of 5 years old. Fred's parents were share croppers at the time and the land lords would
give Fred pennies, nickels, and dimes to get him to play: "The Old Rugged Cross". Playing piano til the age of 17, he bought
a used bass guitar and taught himself to play it. He then formed one of many bands and sang & played bass for the next
five or six years.
At the age of 23, Fred kept hearing all these steel guitar runs in his head.
He gave in and traded 3 rooms of furniture, a non-running Ford, and a shotgun for his first pedal steel guitar. He woodshedded
that old steel for 8 days and nights. Then he tried out for a steel job of five nights a week and got the job! Playing local
clubs around Illinois and Indiana, Fred then hit the road with Kenny Hart in 1972. Playing off and on with Kenny and some
real short stints with Lois Johnson, Jay Lee Webb, and a real short time with Stonewall Jackson; Fred finally settled in Phoenix,
Arizona in 1975.
While raising some great kids and running a business, Fred played all the
major night clubs and some that weren't too major, in the Phoenix area til 1995. In 1996 he became frustrated with the
music night life and concentrated on his trucking business.
2002 came around and some friends
of Fred's encouraged him to start playing again. He did, but this time it was different. He didn't "have to play", and
enjoyed it more.
Fred made a quick and great come back and now plays about 8 steel guitar shows around the USA on his MSA
steel guitar, which by the way, is built in Dallas, Texas, and is endorsed and represented by Fred at all the steel guitar
shows.
In 2003 Fred and his lovely wife, Brenda, sold out and moved to Globe, Arizona. They have
recently bought a music store that is now: "Fred's Music". Brenda helps run the store while Fred gives steel guitar lessons,
works the website, and does a lot of visiting with his friends. The local people love to hear him playing his steel in the
back of the store. In fact, on a recent trip to visit my good friend Fred, I found a man from across the street, taken in
by what he called a pure and beautiful sound. As he approached the door to step inside and listen, he asked if Fred was a
friend of mine. I said with pride, "Indeed he is.
But, I don't call him Fred,....I just call
him Daddy".............................................
Written by a long time admirer:
"Fred's Daughter",
Salina Justice
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