12 Facts About Noel Boggs

Noel Edwin Boggs was an American musician who was a virtuoso on the lap steel guitar and a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.

Noel Boggs was one of the pioneers in electric steel guitar who helped popularize the instrument beyond its native Hawaiian music into other genres of American popular music, specifically Western Swing.

Noel Boggs appeared on some 2000 recordings as a soloist and his playing was prominent on several of Wills' hits that became Western swing standards, including "Roly Poly" and "Stay a Little Longer".

Noel Boggs began playing on a Rickenbacker lap steel, the first electrified string instrument of any type.

Noel Boggs was one of the first steel players to switch between guitar necks in mid-solo in order to get different chord voicings.

Noel Boggs befriended guitar manufacturer Leo Fender in 1946 and became the owner the first product of Fender's new musical instrument company, a lap steel guitar.

Noel Boggs became noted for his electric steel guitar playing that popularized the instrument beyond its native Hawaiian music into other genres of American popular music, specifically Western Swing.

Noel Boggs befriended jazz guitarist Charlie Christian whose solos Noel Boggs transcribed to create arrangements for three guitars on songs such as "Flying Home" or "Good Enough to Keep".

Over his career, Noel Boggs appeared on some 2000 recordings as a soloist and performed with nearly every major artist in Western Swing including Bob Wills, Spade Cooley, Bill Boyd, Tommy Duncan and Hank Penny.

Noel Boggs was featured on Penny's 1946 hit instrumental "Steel Guitar Stomp" with electric guitar played by Merle Travis.

In 1949, Fender created at triple-neck console steel for Noel Boggs requiring a metal frame with legs to hold it.

Noel Boggs died August 31,1974 after suffering a massive stroke and heart attack.