On Tour With KTCA: Preston Turner

Introduction Video by Preston (Some clips corrupted during file transfer Preston, I apologize)

Article and Photography by Rusty Hoyle of Keep Traditional Country Alive and HonkyHarmony.

We've been following Preston's pedal steel work for a while now, watching him bring that classic honky tonk sound to David Lewis's live shows. On October 11th, 2025, at the Austin County Fair in Bellville, TX, we finally got a chance to sit down with him before his set. In his first year of touring, Preston opened up about his influences, his methodical approach to the instrument, and why he's on a mission to take pedal steel beyond country's borders.

Q: How did you first get into pedal steel? Was there a specific player or moment that made you say "I need to learn this instrument"?

"I've grown up my whole life listening to country music. My dad played a big role in my passion for the genre, and exposure to so many classics filled with the sound of the pedal steel guitar. I distinctly remember asking him one ride in the truck what instrument THAT sound was. He told me it was something called the pedal steel guitar, and described how it was played. I was so intrigued, and as a young musician—probably 9-10 years old at the time—thought it would be cool to learn one day. Fast forward 15 years or so, I was inspired by a great Texas pedal steel player and family friend named Randy Boyd. I found an old Fender student model on Craigslist for $600 and the rest is history."

Q: What draws you to David Lewis's music specifically? How would you describe your role in shaping the sound?

"I was a fan of David's music before I really started playing with him. He has that great 90s honky tonk sound with genuine song writing, not just how many country buzzwords you can check off. David also gives a lot of space for great musicianship and has some really great pedal steel work that is a blast to play. I can't take any credit to shaping his sound. It is David's sound, and the great Jody Cameron plays all the studio stuff. I give a lot of credit to Jody, despite never having the chance to meet him yet, for making me a better player by learning all of his licks."

"I think David is a truly special talent and he and this team are some of the most incredible people I've ever got to work with. I'm so blessed and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the special thing David has built."

Q: Who are your biggest influences on the pedal steel, and how do they show up in your playing style?

"My three biggest influences are Jody Cameron, Paul Franklin, and Cowboy Eddie Long. As a kid who grew up on 80s and 90s country, Paul was on the majority of those records, and a big influence on my playing. Having to learn all of David's record licks has made Jody a big influence on me as well."

"Lastly, Cowboy Eddie Long is probably my favorite player and a big inspiration for me making the switch to U12 tuning. His playing on Jamey Johnson's stuff is AWESOME, and Jamey gives him plenty of space to put pedal steel on display. He goes from playing some great honky tonk licks to some HUGE complex chords, and I thought to myself, "I want to play like THAT!""

Q: Walk us through your approach to learning a new song; do you plan out your parts meticulously, or is there a lot of improvisation happening on stage?

'I pride myself on trying to learn all the record licks and trying to play them as close as possible to the record. There are some cases where I may deviate slightly and add some personal flair, but I never want to take away from the signature licks found on the record. If there are songs in the set that don't have pedal steel, I might write my own solo if it calls for it, or emulate another instrument like a rhythm guitar or organ. I approach things by seeing how I can serve the song."

"That being said, there is little to no improv. Pedal steel is a complex instrument, and I have no problem admitting that at my skill level, improvising can be pretty boring and in the box. It can also open the door to mistakes, something I am constantly trying to keep as close to zero as possible. Diligently preparing and planning licks and parts yields higher quality, better licks, with less mistakes."

Q: What's the biggest challenge of touring with a pedal steel? (I imagine it's not the easiest instrument to haul around...)

The biggest challenge of touring with pedal steel can be the amount, weight, and value of the equipment. There is a lot of things you need, that take time to setup and tear down, and can be very expensive. Touring is hard on equipment, and you are always worried about protecting those investments. Due to their mechanical nature, seems like there is also a lot that can go wrong that need maintenance and tinkering on occasionally.

From a playing perspective, for me anyway, the complexity of steel requires me to always be mentally dialed in to a far greater degree than other instruments I play. We are always striving for perfection, and while all musicians will have "off nights" they are much more noticeable on this instrument for me. It requires a lot of focus, and is a lot harder to relax. Maybe that changes over the years as I get more experienced on it.

Q: Is there a moment from this tour, or touring in general, that's really stuck with you?

"This is my first year touring, and it has been so incredible. Largely due to the amazing team and family I get to do it with. The best moments that have been so surreal has been playing the Texas FFA State Convention in front of 16,000+ people, and playing the Mishawaka Amphitheater in Colorado. "The Mish" has to be one of the coolest places to play music in the country. It is set in a mountain valley in front of a rushing river. I gotta go back!"

Q: Outside of country and Americana, what music are you listening to right now? Does anything unexpected influence your playing?

"I have incredibly diverse taste and music influences. While country has always been the constant my whole life, I've had times and "eras" where I have been really into other genres as well. While I stay true to traditional pedal steel playing in live settings, I am not afraid to draw on those other influences and get creative on steel. On socials I like to take the steel out of country and cover everything from pop punk/emo, CCM, Reggae, Jazz and whatever else I think would be cool. Pedal steel is one of the few instruments that gets really labeled for one genre. I think it is cool to challenge that and be creative on how it's played. That's what music is all about!"
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Go and give Preston a follow on all his socials medias at PrestonPedals_ and be sure to catch him on the road with David Lewis who has a busy remainder of 2025, and 2026 tour schedule!