Grand Junction Musician Still Touring with Mark Chestnutt

"We can't get rid of him," is Mark Chestnutt 's response when asked if Slim Yamaguchi is still playing steel guitar for him.  Slim Yamaguchi, a Grand Junction, Colorado, musician, via Japan, has been performing with Chestnutt for 22 years, and seems content to stay put.

Years ago, before joining Chestnutt's band, Slim performed with several Western Colorado Country Music artists, including Cedar Creek with Ronnie Ray, Fred Trujillo, and Randy Norton, as well as Doug Lenard and Greg Achord.  The musicians Slim worked with locally remember very well Slim's fear he would not be taken seriously as a Country musician due to his Asian heritage.

Steel players around the country have come to respect Slim, not only for his aptitude on the steel guitar, but his kind nature.  Steel guitarists whose instruments were manufactured by Excel, built in Japan by Mitsuo Fujii, have found Slim to be a very helpful asset when pursuing tech support.  Mitsuo understands very little English, and as it seems, most  Country musicians speak very little Japanese. 

As a consequence, communication between the builder and the client has at times been futile.  Enter Slim Yamaguchi, who speaks fluent Japanese and English, and is happy to translate in both directions.  Look for Slim on various steel guitar discussion pages and Country Music forums.

Slim continues to tour with Mark Chestnutt, and will be coming to the Westerner in West Valley, Utah, on September 14th.  Following that gig, they will appear at the Pasadena Rodeo in Pasadena, Texas, on September 20th.

For more information on Slim Yamaguchi and the current tour with Mark Chestnutt, check out  www.markchestnutt.com.