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©2000 by Ely Music/Pub |
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HSGA Members' Corner(Reprinted from the last HSGA Quarterly) Contents...
Bob Stone -- Gainesville, FL"In the African-Americal Holiness-Pentecostal movement there is an unheralded tradition of steel guitar music, much of it on non-pedal instruments. Willie Eason, who at 75 is the oldest Sacred Steel musician, was influenced by his older brother Truman (deceased), who took lessons in Philadelphia in the 1930s from a Hawaiian, remembered only as "Jack". Can anyone give me help to further identify Hawaiian steel teacher, Jack?"
Gracia & Jerry Mulligan -- Long Beach, CA"It was indeed a pleasure and privilege to hear the Duke Ching Trio in the Garden Terrace at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park. The trio consisted of Prince Kawohi who sang the best version of the Hawaiian War Chant that I have ever heard. He says he plays a 4-neck steel and that his father was a real, authentic chanter. Then Titus Napoleon, with his smooth velvet voice, sang "Tele Ia O Le Gami" (sic). It was beautiful. Duke played a great combo of Hilo and Kohala marches and the lovely Mauna Kea. Hearing all that beautiful Hawaiian music made my day and the whole week. We met Edward Kaleikini (Danny's brother) and his wahine, who enjoyed the music almost as much as we did. All that good Hawaiian music inspired me to come home and practice a few hours. I agree 100% with Duke in wanting Prince Kawohi to be our honored guest at Joliet and/or Honolulu in the near future. Long live Hawaiian music!"
Joe Kuta -- New Lenox, IL(A brand, new member straight from our Web site!) "...I am grateful that an organization like this (HSGA) exists. About three years ago, I first heard Hawaiian music and was completely taken aback by the amazing sounds I heard. I knew right then that I wanted to learn to make those sounds myself. After fooling around on regular guitars played flat with a slide, I bought a lap steel. For the past month I've been teaching myself by listening to such players as Sol Ho`opi`i and Jules Ah See. When I found HSGA's Web site, I flipped out. Not only is this the very thing I've been looking for, but you guys hold a convention in Joliet ... right next door to New Lenox. I'd like you to know that your site IS working."
Wally & Alma Pfeifer -- Joliet, IL"Aloha Alan, Just a short note to thank you for being at Joliet Convention, and to let you know how much we enjoyed your performances. Two steel guitar stars at our Joliet Convention! (Alan and Ed Punua). You can't hardly beat that! We're looking forward to seeing and hearing you and others in Hawai`i next May. We still need to get a lot of autographs in The Hawaiian Steel Guitar book. Man, what a fabulous book! We'll see you next May."
Steve Sherman -- San Francisco, CA"I hope many HSGA members got Lorene's book from Santa and are "glued" to it, as I am. I just found a great little guitar and music store in South San Francisco run by Phil Emerson of the famous Emersons (Phil on Rhythm and Ken on mostly acoustic slide.) Phil has nice guitars at a very fair price and does repairs and set-ups on guitars and amps. But mainly he will talk your head off about Sol Ho`opi`i and the old style music -- meaning old original 78's, lying all over his shop. The Emersons played in the Islands for many years and with many greats. Phil tells a good story. His shop on Grand Ave. is a must for local HSGA'ers. I'm saving my money for the Ho`olaule`a." (Editor: 'Eh Steve, Phil should join HSGA. Send us his complete address and shop name, and we'll contact him). NOTE: Ken Emerson now lives and plays steel on Kaua`i. You'll see a lot more of him around HSGA's "Hot Lix Hawaiian Style" Aloha Festival and May Festival concerts in Honolulu.
Bill C. Buntin -- Graford, TX"Thank you for your response to my inquiry. I'm happy to join your club. This is exactly the type of organization I am looking for. HSGA seems to be primarily concerned about the perpetuation of your beautiful culture and music. Hawaiian guitar is what got me interested in pedal steel to start with. So all of the information and education that I can receive about "anything Hawaiian" I will gladly welcome. I can't wait to add more traditional sounding vamps into my pedal guitar playing." "I wish I could make a living using a straight double 8 or lap steel, but unfortunately the band leaders here on the mainland expect to see a big old double 10 Emmons or something like that. Isn't that silly? I do dig pedal, but the hot pedal players lack something that you Hawaiian players have. I want that Jerry Byrd, Alan Akaka, Freddie Tavares touch, so I recently purchased a copy #139 of Jerry's limited edition steel guitar course. What a piece of work! I look forward to visiting you in 'Paradise' real soon. Never been over there, but I'm coming just as fast as I can." (COME TO HSGA'S ANNUAL JOLIET CONVENTION, OCT 2,3,4, your next chance to dig some GREAT Hawaiian steel playing, ask questions, "go to school" on others' playing and learn some new stuff).
Chuck Olive -- Ocala, FL"It was my pleasure after a desire of over 50 years to attempt to play the Hawaiian Steel Guitar given to me by a friend some 30 yearsd ago. I obtained a video tape of instructions from Coopers Music in Orange, VA. Having heard the music of Jerry Byrd most of my life, I wrote him at the address on the video. Amazingly, this legend wrote me back within a week and addressed my expressed difficulty. Having written once since then, again with a prompt response, this (HSGA) is the kind of folks I want to be associated with." (Chuck is a new member this year.) "My instrument is a vintage Rickenbacker Electro in excellent condition. But as Mr. Byrd plainly put it 'if you can't play, it doesn't make any difference what kind of guitar you have, and if you CAN play, it doesn't make any difference either." (Leave it to Jerry to tell it straight up!) 
HSGA * HAWAIIAN
STEEL GUITAR ASSOCIATION Homepage URL: www.hsga.org (hsga@lava.net) Last updated: 07/23/02 by Gerald Ross (gbross@umich.edu) |