Steel Guitar Featured

from Keith Haugen

Thanks to Dirk Vogel of Minneapolis, the steel guitar was the focus of attention in two recent "Music of Hawai'i" shows which I host on KIPO, 89.3 FM, one of the PBS's four radio frequencies here in Hawai'i.

Vogel, well known as a Hawaiian music archivist and collector, as well as President of the Aloha International Steel Guitar Club, sent us a tape of 34 recorded songs featuring steel guitar players from all over the world. Most of the recordings were out of print, many of them for decades. Dirk had taped them for us from 45s, 33-1/3 Lps, and transcriptions. I was able to build two shows around the tape, and aired them during my three hour "Hawaiian Sunday with Keith Haugen" weekly show on January 5 and 12.

Among the steel artists which HSGA members will recognize were Bobby Nichols, Andy Iona, Tommy Castro, Sam Koki, Hal Aloma, Gabby Pahinui, David Keli'i, Jules Ah See, Pua Almeida, Barney Isaacs, Bernie Ka'ai, Freddie Tavares, Eddie Bush, Danny Stewart, King Hawahi, Jack de Toro, Alvin Isaacs, Rudy Wairata, Tony Ohtsuka, George de Fretes, Tau Moe, Theo Ehrlicher, Buckie Shirakata, Trevor Edmonson, Kealoha Life, Roland Peachey, Ken Ufton, Les Adams, Jim Jensen, Coy Pereira, Wout Steenhuis, Jerry Shanahan, Harry Hougassian and others. I added some other well-known steel players to fill out the two hours: David "Feet" Rogers, Ken and Phil Emerson, Henry Allen, Bob Brozman, Bud Tutmarc, Alan Akaka and Jerry Byrd.

If you're coming to HSGA's convention in May, I'll be repeating all of the hour-long steel guitar programs for you then. The show is aired on Sunday from 9 a.m. to Noon, so you can listen before you go to "Hot Lix Hawaiian Style" at Kapi'olani Park Bandstand on May 4.

About Keith Haugen
Both Keith and his hula dancer wife Carmen are HSGA members, and have performed in Waikiki for 25 years -- the past eleven at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Their latest CD, called "'Ukulele Lady" featured HSGA "veteran" and former Director, George "Keoki" Lake on steel. Keith has produced and aired more than fifty "Music of Hawai'i" radio shows. He also started Ke Aolama, the first-ever Hawaiian language radio newscast on Hawai'i Public Radio, and writes and produces the features Hawaiian Word of the Day and the Hawaiian Phrase of the Week.

HSGA * HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITAR ASSOCIATION
KAMAKA TOM, President
45-600 KAMEHAMEHA HWY * KANEOHE, HI * 96744
PHONE/FAX (808) 235-4742
EMAIL: hsga@lava.net

Homepage URL: www.hsga.org (hsga@lava.net)
Last updated: 07/23/02 by Gerald Ross (gbross@umich.edu)