Ton Masseurs
Encyclopedia
Ton Masseurs is a Dutch guitarist noted as one of the first pedal steel guitar
players in Europe. He was the lead guitar
/steel guitar player, and a founding member, of the Dutch Country and Western band The Tumbleweeds, who had a number one hit with their version of the Merle Haggard
song "Somewhere Between" (1975). Masseurs was the band's musical leader and producer
.
After their early success, the band began to rotate members. By 1982, Ton Masseurs and his brother Berry Masseurs were all that remained from the 1975 lineup. Masseurs stopped performing to focus on his music studio, which he had started in 1980, called MMP Studios in Waalwijk, the Netherlands.
He did remain active as a session musician on pedal steel. He worked with Dutch acts like Rob de Nijs, Jasperina de Jong and The Golden Earring
among others.
From 1980 to 2001 he was a notable music producer in the Dutch music
scene. in September 2001 he suffered a major heart attack
and retired from the music industry.
. This was made possible by his perfect pitch
.
Masseurs was noted for playing wearing socks with no shoes.
steel guitars. He used two Sho-Bud amplifiers and a Custom III Sho-Bud pedal steel guitar. When he played standard guitar
, his main instruments were a 1969 Rosewood Telecaster, and a 1966 Gretsch
Country Gentleman.
Pedal steel guitar
The pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
players in Europe. He was the lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
/steel guitar player, and a founding member, of the Dutch Country and Western band The Tumbleweeds, who had a number one hit with their version of the Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
song "Somewhere Between" (1975). Masseurs was the band's musical leader and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
After their early success, the band began to rotate members. By 1982, Ton Masseurs and his brother Berry Masseurs were all that remained from the 1975 lineup. Masseurs stopped performing to focus on his music studio, which he had started in 1980, called MMP Studios in Waalwijk, the Netherlands.
He did remain active as a session musician on pedal steel. He worked with Dutch acts like Rob de Nijs, Jasperina de Jong and The Golden Earring
Golden Earring
Golden Earring are a Dutch rock band, founded in 1961 in The Hague as the Golden Earrings . They had international chart success with the songs "Radar Love" in 1973, "Twilight Zone" in 1982, and "When the Lady Smiles" in 1984. In their home country, they had over 40 hits and made over 30 gold and...
among others.
From 1980 to 2001 he was a notable music producer in the Dutch music
Music of the Netherlands
The Netherlands has multiple musical traditions. Contemporary Dutch popular music is heavily influenced by music styles that emerged in the 1950s, in the United Kingdom and United States. The style is sung in both Dutch and English...
scene. in September 2001 he suffered a major heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
and retired from the music industry.
Style
Ton Masseurs' style was noted for very fast playing and near perfect intonationIntonation (music)
Intonation, in music, is a musician's realization of pitch accuracy, or the pitch accuracy of a musical instrument. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously.-Interval, melody, and harmony:...
. This was made possible by his perfect pitch
Absolute pitch
Absolute pitch , widely referred to as perfect pitch, is the ability of a person to identify or re-create a given musical note without the benefit of an external reference.-Definition:...
.
Masseurs was noted for playing wearing socks with no shoes.
Gear
Ton Masseurs was an avid user of Sho-BudSho-Bud
Sho-Bud is a brand name for a manufacturer of pedal steel guitars. The founders were SHOt Jackson and BUDdy Emmons, both active steel players in the 1950s. In the 70s they also expanded their line and offered acoustic guitars. They also made a line of resonator guitars in conjunction with Gretsch...
steel guitars. He used two Sho-Bud amplifiers and a Custom III Sho-Bud pedal steel guitar. When he played standard guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, his main instruments were a 1969 Rosewood Telecaster, and a 1966 Gretsch
Gretsch
The Gretsch Company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a twenty-seven year old German immigrant recently arrived in the US. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums, until his death in 1895. His son, Fred, moved operations to Brooklyn, New York in 1916...
Country Gentleman.