RIP Harry Deitrich: another STEEL GUITAR devotee passes...

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 12 Feb 2011 11:38 am

I just received word this morning, that a long time email friend from the SGF HARRY Deitrich, passed away on February 9th, 2011. He was a strong proponent of the Hawaiian Steel Gutiar and a long time fan of JERRY BYRD. I never had the opportunity to meet this fine gentleman but he's one fellow that I would have liked very much to have met pesonally.
I know very little background or musical history about Harry and had no idea that he'd been battling cancer for a number of years. HARRY, you will be greatly missed by all of us.

Edited by Brad Bechtel to revise the title of the discussion.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 12 Feb 2011 12:20 pm

I'm very sorry to hear this news. I'd only met Harry once, but he was a good-spirited guy and a lot of laughs. He used to post here quite a bit.
RIP Harry.

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 12 Feb 2011 12:49 pm

My hometown of record was Robesonia, PA 19551; the same as Harry's. We would chat now and then about the roads and nearby towns and of course, steel guitar.

Being an old time friend yourself, Ray; has made it a bit easier to learn of his passing and I Thank You for that.

Regrets, Paul

Ron Brennan · Post by **Ron Brennan** » 12 Feb 2011 3:24 pm

Ray,

Thank you for this sad news. I met Harry a couple of times at some Steel Jams Ron Victoria had.

He was a very personable guy and yes, he could play. He loved to use and was great with String Pulls. He showed us his technique.

God Rest His Soul.........TX

Blue Skies & Rgds,

Ron

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 13 Feb 2011 12:02 am

i'm saddened to read of Harry's passing
even tho' i never met him, over the years he sent me countless emails filled w: humour & jokes
he did contribute to my well being

my sincere condolences to his family & may the Lord rest his soul

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 13 Feb 2011 10:25 am

Ray, may I kindly ask you if you could fit Harry's name in the subject title of this thread?....so that those who knew him and are familiar with his name don't skip this thread over.....thanks

Harry "The Hammer" was a one of a kind ex grunt who had an affect on everyone that he met......his droll, cynical sense of humor always had us shaking our heads in hysterical bellyachin' laughter.....and the stories of his life experiences were just as intense, funny, ironic, and entertaining....anytime it was known that Harry would be attending a convention or event was always a great incentive to attend....

He had his own style of playing....his Gibson EH-150 on a fold up vintage stand with a myriad of pedals mounted on a plywood board.....as mentioned before, he had his own tuning where he used a lot of string pulls and jumped around all over the fretboard non stop....what slants?....this of course made his playing of Hawaiian tunes quite unique.....even how he called a tune was, err, rather unorthodox...."ok, key of D...Hula f**Kin' March"......and would whip into that thing like a runaway freight train.....

There was only one Harry.....even at his age (I'm guessing late 70s) he died with his boots on....

Goodbye ole' buddy.....

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 13 Feb 2011 2:14 pm

F&$%ing C$%*@r !!!!

I loved that old a$$&@!^...

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 13 Feb 2011 2:22 pm

Me and Harry ...

Harry, Jeff Strouse and 2/6 of my kids ... he never got to meet my youngest two boys ...

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 13 Feb 2011 4:18 pm

Hey Rick....good to see ya'......yeah, Harry was a hoot at your place.....the Shoo Fly Pie he brought and that huge baloney that looked like The Hindenburg and was almost the same size......

Wally Pfeifer · Post by **Wally Pfeifer** » 13 Feb 2011 8:02 pm

I've been wondering where Harry was for the last few months. He used to e-mail me several times a week. Then his e-mail got less and less. I will miss him so maybe I better save the last pictures of WalMart shoppers that he sent me.
So long, Harry. I will miss you.
Wally Pfeifer

Craig Stenseth · Post by **Craig Stenseth** » 15 Feb 2011 4:54 pm

F@#$, I was just wondering about him today.

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 19 Feb 2011 6:51 am

Harry was a great guy...a barrel of laughs...and a fine musician. He played steel, mandolin, guitar, and fiddle. I used to have a picture of him performing years back, but it was lost on a crashed computer drive.

He used a 6 string open E tuning, and got a lot out of it with string pulls. He dazzled the Joliet audience a few years back with a set that included Bali Hai, and a rip-roaring version "Malaguena" that made you want to fasten your seat belt!

We'll miss you Harry. Thanks for being a friend, and spreading laughter - the best medicine.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 10 Mar 2011 10:17 am

I also wondered about him. I hung out with him a few times at Joliet. He really liked Gibson EH model steel guitars. I'm sure he will be missed......

The Steel Guitar Forum

RIP Harry Deitrich: another STEEL GUITAR devotee passes...

RIP Harry Deitrich: another STEEL GUITAR devotee passes...

Harry----One of a Kind