He frequently played with Jimmy Bryant, both in their own duo and as part of the regular Capitol Records backing band for Tennessee Ernie Ford and many others.

The duo also recorded with non-Capitol artists in Los Angeles.

In 1960, Speedy played on and produced Loretta Lynn's first single.

[1] West, who began playing Paul Bigsby's second ever pedal steel guitar in 1947,[1] was the first country steel guitarist to use a pedal guitar.

Nashville players like Bud Isaacs would adopt it in the early 1950s.