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Topic: The great Hawaiian steeler David Keli'i |
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 19 Oct 2018 8:56 am |
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David would do a kind of bouncing, swinging lope on uptempo tunes I've never heard from any other steeler. Whether playing harmonics on a ballad or swinging a hula, he was a masterful player.
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Mike A Holland
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 20 Oct 2018 4:11 am
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| I have to agree with you wholeheartedly Andy! David Keli'i is a wonderful player. Fantastic touch and tone. A real talent in my view! |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 20 Oct 2018 11:33 am
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I have a great CD of his playing, and the first few tunes are surely on a frypan, but some others are on a console of some kind. My favorite (on the frypan) is Twilight In Hawaii !!  |
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Michael Greer
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 22 Oct 2018 8:28 am
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Andy
I recall reading that David Kelli had a fairly long residency at a Las Vegas Resort in a Polyanesian themed show.
I don’t remember any of the details...perhaps some forum members can shed some light or actually attended one of the shows.
It makes sense that he was in Las Vegas and explains how his custom guitar that you posted a link for ended up in a Las Vegas Pawn Shop.
Mike |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 22 Oct 2018 10:02 am
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I recall that same story. I actually don't know that much about DK and his career.
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Mitch Drumm
From:
Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake
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Chris Templeton
From:
The Green Mountain State
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 23 Oct 2018 1:16 am
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Wow! These are great pics, Mitch. Thanks.
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Sebastian Müller
From:
Berlin / Germany
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Posted 24 Oct 2018 2:26 am
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I only have one Hawaii Calls Show recorded that features David Kelii, great stuff but sound quality is soso, what besides that and Pua Rose is available?
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https://hawaiian-steel-guitar.com |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Chris Templeton
From:
The Green Mountain State
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Mitch Drumm
From:
Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake
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Posted 24 Oct 2018 5:54 am
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Sebastian:
Here's a few you might be able to run down. I think David is on these:
Clara Inter with Al Perry:
Manuela Boy
The Cockeyed Mayor Of Kaunakakai
The Pidgin English Hula
When Hilo Hattie Does The Hilo Hop
David Keli'i as "Akoni Lani" (from an "Akoni Lani" LP):
Hawaiian War Chant
Hukilau
Lovely Hula Hands
My Little Grass Shack
Joe Keawe:
Kauoha Mai (from 1977)
The Waikiki Girls:
Right On
There are at least 6 "Hawaii Calls" broadcasts from 1947 floating around on the net, each around 15 minutes.
And one show from 1949 that lasts 29 minutes.
He did an entire LP under his own name for the Maple label out of Canada, I guess in the 1970s somewhere.
I wonder when he moved permanently to the mainland? Maybe as far back as the 1960s. |
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Sebastian Müller
From:
Berlin / Germany
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 24 Oct 2018 6:33 pm
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Thanks for that Jeff !  |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 24 Oct 2018 7:47 pm
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I'm sure I'll have more to say about my favorite steel player David Kelii, but here are a few:
With George Archer and the Pagans:
Papio
Les Femmes D'Amerique
Here's a fun one with Al Kealoha Perry:
Hawaiian Scotchman
That last can be found on a Cord Intl. comp (along with others featuring Kelii) called Aloha Hula Hawaiian Style - Al Kealoha Perry & His Singing Surfriders.
Here |
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Michael Greer
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 25 Oct 2018 7:22 am
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The Aku Aku restaurant at the Stardust hotel in Las Vegas.
The restaurant was in operation from 1960 to 1980.
I have to assume that it was sometime during that time span that David Kelii was in residence at the Polynesian themed restaurant.
The large sculpture was moved to and still resides in a Las Vegas park.
Any forum member recall going to this landmark restaurant during this time frame?? |
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