Forrest “Bud” Isaacs (March 26, 1928 – September 4, 2016) was an American steel guitarist whose 1954 recording on Webb Pierce’s hit “Slowly” introduced the use of a pedal‑operated steel guitar in mainstream country music. His innovative technique, which involved bending the pitch of strings while playing, is widely credited with transforming the sound of the instrument and influencing subsequent generations of pedal steel players.
Early life and education
Isaacs was born in Bedford, Indiana. He grew up listening to Hawaiian steel guitarists, particularly Jerry Byrd, and began learning the lap steel guitar as a teenager. By his early twenties he was performing on regional radio programs such as the Midwestern Hayride.
Career
In the early 1950s Isaacs moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he worked as a session musician for a variety of country artists. His most notable contribution came in 1954 when he played a modified lap steel guitar equipped with a single pedal on Webb Pierce’s recording of “Slowly.” The pedal allowed Isaacs to raise the pitch of certain strings while a note was sustained, creating a distinctive “bending” effect that was unprecedented on a commercial country record. The song became a major hit, and the pedal steel sound quickly spread throughout the industry.
Following the success of “Slowly,” Isaacs continued as a prolific studio musician, recording for artists such as Ray Price, Ernest Trevathan, and Red Stewart. He also performed regularly on live radio and television programs, including the Grand Ole Opry and the Ozark Jubilee. In the late 1950s he recorded solo material for RCA Victor, though his primary reputation remained that of a session player.
Instrument development
Seeking greater expressive capability, Isaacs collaborated with guitar maker Paul Bigsby to create a custom steel guitar that incorporated multiple pedals. This instrument, often referred to as the “Bigsby pedal steel,” formed the basis for modern pedal steel designs. In the 1960s he co‑founded the Sho‑Bud company with fellow steel guitarist Shot Jackson, which produced a line of pedal steel guitars and related accessories.
Later life and death
Isaacs retired from full‑time session work in the 1970s but remained active in the steel guitar community, giving clinics and mentoring younger players. He was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Country Music Hall of Fame’s “Living Legends” program. Isaacs died in Arizona on September 4, 2016, at the age of 88.
Legacy
Bud Isaacs is regarded as a pivotal figure in the evolution of the pedal steel guitar. His work on “Slowly” is frequently cited by historians as the moment the instrument entered the mainstream of country music. The “Bud Isaacs bend”—the specific pitch‑bending technique he pioneered—became a standard expressive tool for pedal steel players. His collaborations with instrument manufacturers contributed to the technical development of the modern pedal steel guitar, and his influence is evident in the playing styles of subsequent virtuosos such as Buddy Emmons and Lloyd Green.