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RIP Steve Ripley

Steve Ripley, leader of the country-rock band The Tractors, died Thursday at his home in Pawnee. He was 69.

A news release sent to media outlets said Ripley died peacefully and was surrounded by family. He had been suffering from cancer.

In addition to his work as a recording artist, Ripley was a songwriter, producer, engineer, studio owner, radio host and inventor of the “stereo guitar” favored by such fellow musicians as Eddie Van Halen, Ry Cooder and Dweezil Zappa, according to the news release.

Owner of The Church Studio in Tulsa for 19 years, Ripley additionally distinguished himself by playing guitar with Bob Dylan and producing and/or engineering projects for Leon Russell, J. J., Cale, Roy Clark, Johnnie Lee Wills and many others.

Ripley was respected throughout the industry for his gifts as an artist and producer, and for technical innovations in the world of guitars, microphones and sonic design. Once, while sitting at George Harrison’s recording console at Friar Park, Ringo Starr asked Steve, “Do you know how to run this thing?” To which Steve replied, “Well yeah, I guess I do. You know, it’s what I do.”

Ripley’s radio series, Oklahoma Rock & Roll, explored Oklahoma’s contributions to music and American pop culture; and most recently, his successful efforts to rescue and preserve the musical archives of Russell, his friend and mentor.

He has long been regarded as one of the patriarchs of “Red Dirt” music and is an inductee into the Oklahoma Red Dirt Hall of Fame.

Ripley’s “Dylan connection” was his friend, legendary drummer for the stars (and Tulsa native) Jim Keltner, who was also playing with Dylan at the time. Ripley played guitar on the Dylan album Shot Of Love and played with Dylan on a world tour. In a 2009 Rolling Stone interview, Dylan recalled Ripley as one of his favorite guitar band mates.

Another friendship that emerged from Ripley’s time in California was with legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen, with whom he collaborated on his stereo guitar design and started the company Ripley Guitars. The two forged what became a lifelong friendship and mutual love that lasted until Ripley’s final days.

“For more than 35 years I’ve been fortunate to call Steve Ripley one of my true friends,” Van Halen said. “Steve is many things. Part genius, part musician, part inventor and many other great things, but my favorite thing about Steve is the wonderful, kind, humble human being he is and always will be. I love Steve with all my heart and am proud to know him.”

In 1987, the Ripley family moved back to Tulsa, and he acquired The Church Studio, the legendary recording venue which Leon Russell owned in the 1970s. This would become his second home and the hub for his larger body of creative work — including seven albums for The Tractors and a solo album.

Ripley contributed to a number of Church Studio collaborations with such artists as the Red Dirt Rangers, Hanson, Chainsaw Kittens, Admiral Twin and Carlton Pearson. He was a mentor to many young musicians and fans, and he was known as an anchor to the neighboring community, particularly supporting his homeless friends in the area."

 

Steve Ripley

Steve Ripley, shown at Cain’s Ballroom in 2016, has died. He was 69.

Kevin Pyle/For The Tulsa World.

 

Steve Ripley, leader of the country-rock band The Tractors, died Thursday at his home in Pawnee. He was 69.

A news release sent to media outlets said Ripley died peacefully and was surrounded by family. He had been suffering from cancer.

In addition to his work as a recording artist, Ripley was a songwriter, producer, engineer, studio owner, radio host and inventor of the “stereo guitar” favored by such fellow musicians as Eddie Van Halen, Ry Cooder and Dweezil Zappa, according to the news release.

Owner of The Church Studio in Tulsa for 19 years, Ripley additionally distinguished himself by playing guitar with Bob Dylan and producing and/or engineering projects for Leon Russell, J. J., Cale, Roy Clark, Johnnie Lee Wills and many others.


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