Mr. Ralph Mooney, master of the steel guitar, died on Sunday at the age of 82. I just noticed the obituary in a friend's Facebook post.

Mooney was go-to guy for pedal steel guitar during the mid-20th century. He was one of those quiet professional session musicians who helped to create the sound behind big name singers. You've probably heard his work before, and just not realized it. During the 50s, 60s and 70s, he recorded and played with probably every country singer of consequence, from Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard, to Wanda Jackson—the rockabilly singer who recently recorded an album with Jack White.