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HSGA Members' Corner(Reprinted from the last HSGA Quarterly) Contents...Elmer Ridenhour -- Salem, VA(We like to "make nice" on da kine from time to time; thank you Elmer, for doing it for us.) "Alan - I was greatly pleased and impressed with the skill and leadership you displayed in May at the musical events for steel guitar ... also your super picking, especially 12th Street Rag - quite an accomplishment. I was impressed too, with Ed Punua's playing and singing. I predict a brilliant, successful future for him if he continues in the right direction."
Aub. Hewston -- New South Wales, Australia"Am still enjoying the video tapes of the '95 convention. I am amazed at the talent of the steel players -- also the backing group. Each has their own style of playing which I think is great. The different tunings that can be played is very interesting and have a great sound. Am looking forward to the '97 convention (Honolulu) to see and talk to these talented men, but most of all to meet Alan and Jerry." (HSGA "players": Aub. is seeking backing tapes to play steel with at functions, as he has no group of his own. Can you help him? Contact: Aub Hewston, 32 Oxford St., Gateshead, NSW 2290, Australia.)
Dave Mayes -- Pt. Richmond, CA"Thanks for your very informative reply (to inquiry about HSGA). I had no idea HSGA was such a going concern! A delightful surprise and a reassuring one too. Add me to your ranks (he joined, and we did) I can't believe what I've been missing. Looking forward to meeting everyone at the '97 Ho'olaule'a -- I will be there." Regarding Alan Akaka's steel lessons in the HSGA Quarterly, Dave wrote, "Your 'So You Want to Play Steel Guitar Hawaiian Style' is DEAD-ON. Wow! An attention to detail that eradicates any doubt. Thanks again."
Andrew Volk -- Arlington, MA"The HSGA Quarterly looks better with every issue. Alan, please keep up the monthly installments on technique -- especially discussions on blocking and harmonics techniques. I really enjoy reading every issue. Lately I'm also enjoying a 1952 triple-neck Fender custom I've just acquired. It came with a wonderful hand-painted, original Fender case with "Lewie Thompson" on one side, and "Swingin' Troubadours on the other. Does anyone know anything about Lewie or this group?" (Andy's at 35 Ronald Rd., Arlington, MA 02174-1421.)
George "Keoki" Lake -- Edmonton, AB, Canada"I'm still slugging away on steel amongst many other activities. We have put together a very impressive Polynesian Group under the direction of Toutai Pasi. The Pasi ohana is still very much involved in the Polynesian Cultural Centre where Toutai gained much of his entertainment skills. He and his family moved to Edmonton 2 years ago and wasted little time rounding up potential dancers and a musical crew. He found me through word of mouth, and we struck up a great friendship." "We call our group 'Cane Fire', and now have 4 lovely ladies who dance all the routines of Polynesia ... also a fire dancer, 2 male dancers and rhythm guitar/vocals, bass,/vocal drummer/vocal, and me on steel. We recently booked two large conventions which came off very well." "The Oil Well Drillers wanted something really impressive for their 400 delegates so they built a 'volcano' on stage, palm trees, etal. My steel started the show with an octave gliss, then WHAM! All hell broke loose as the volcano exploded with a mighty roar. The flames shot upward toward the very high ceiling and the wiring of the stage lights above me caught fire. Everyone looked upwards instead of at the dancers. We never missed a beat through all the commotion. After a mad scramble for tall ladders, the flames were doused and the show went on. Not THAT'S a grande entrance if ever there was one!" (It's not nice to fool with Madame Pele, George.) "Also, I have just completed my first term teaching adults steel guitar. It's been 40 yers since I've taught, but Senior's Rec Centre asked me, and the students are very keen to learn. After some 20 lessons, they wanted to play a concert. I was really proud of their performance. My daughter is in the class and coming along very well. She's in the extreme right of the picture." (To paraphrase a current TV commercial slogan ,"Hawaiian music is everywhere you want to be". We'd like to hear from other HSGA members who are playing Hawaiian in far off places.)
Bud Tutmarc -- Seattle, WA(in a July letter between trips!) "I am leaving for Greece next Wednesday, July 24, and have been invited to play at a church in Thessaloniki. I don't think many Hawaiian steel guitars have been played there. Last year and the year before, I play my steel on a boat on the Sea of Galilee and in the Garden of Gethsemane. That ought to be another first". (And a lovelier sound than guns, Bud. How 'bout Russia, next? Could use some "sweetening".)
Masahiro Ujiie -- Ichikawa City, JapanI have enjoyed every HSGA Quarterly issue. Let's me know all about the HSGA's activities. Articles are very interesting, and most of the photos explanations are humorous. (Yes, Ujiie-san, HSGA members have FUN when they play together.) Hawaiian music seemed to start booming in Japan this year, along with hula. The show business companies in Japan are planning to invite more musicians and dancers from Hawai'i, and even local small pub restaurants also are planning more Hawaiian shows than before. The first boom came soon after the end of WWII, in early '50s, and we enthusiasts expect this current trend to become the second boom. As you know, Japan is still under the deep economical depression and no sign of recovery today. We hope for this (Hawaiian music) trend to be the specific medicine for the depression." (As an HSGA steel player friend says "I'm only an ocean away and ready to play!" Greg Sardinha spent the summer taking Japanese language lessons -- guess why! And Bobby Ingano and Martin Panhinui are just waiting to be invited back. They all rave about what wonderful hosts you in Japan are for Hawai'i's musicians.) 
HSGA * HAWAIIAN
STEEL GUITAR ASSOCIATION Homepage URL: www.hsga.org (hsga@lava.net) Last updated: 07/23/02 by Gerald Ross (gbross@umich.edu) |