Pete Drake: The Country Music Hall of Fame

Pete Drake achieved greatness as a pedal steel guitar innovator who elevated classic recordings by Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, and many others. Drake helped restore the steel guitar to popularity after it fell from favor in the late 1950s and early ’60s.

Drake also invented the “Talking Music Actuator,” also known as the "Talk Box," which allowed him to transform guitar sounds into vocals. Other musicians later adopted the device, and it was heard on hits by rock musicians Peter Frampton and Joe Walsh. Drake also made his mark as a producer, a song publisher, and a record label owner.

Dig deeper into Pete Drake’s story on the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's website: Watch.CountryMusicHallofFame.org.