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Topic: Ralph Kolsiana and the Waikiki Swingsters |
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 17 Nov 2018 11:59 am |
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There's been a discussion on FB this week about Ralph and the Swingsters.
So here, for your listening and downloading are the complete 1936 RCA Bluebird recordings of Ralph Kolsiana and the Waikiki Swingsters.
Steel: Ralph Kolsiana (Rickenbacher frypan)
Lead Guitar: Johnny Kolsiana (Gibson L-5)
Rhythm Guitar: Henry Kamanuwai (Martin Koa Dreadnaught)
Bass: Johnny Watson (German-made bass)
Vocals: all above
Enjoy!
1. Song of the Islands
https://picosong.com/wXBWJ/
2. Who
https://picosong.com/wXBWT/
3. Snaparoo
https://picosong.com/wXBWd/
4. On the Beach at Waikiki
https://picosong.com/wXBvy/
5. My Dark-Eyed Hula Lu
https://picosong.com/wXBvS/
6. Honeysuckle Rose
https://picosong.com/wXBvh/
7. Hawaiian Smiles
https://picosong.com/wXZsw/
8. Sentimental Over You
https://picosong.com/wXZsy/
9. Wela G
https://picosong.com/wXZs9/
10. Palm Serenade
https://picosong.com/wXZsg/
11. Sweet Sue
https://picosong.com/wXZsx/
12. Aloha Oe
https://picosong.com/wXZsr/
Snaparoo, Wela G and Hawaiian Smiles were composed by Ralph. If memory serves, all of these songs were recorded in E7th tuning.
I was lucky enough to be friends with Ralph for a year or two at the twilight of his life. He was a sweet guy and just as passionate about music in the 1990s as he had been when this was recorded, back in 1936, on the 4th frypan Rickenbacher made! In my opinion, because he never made any more recordings, Ralph's contributions as a pioneer of electric steel guitar are unjustly forgotten.
Although he played professionally for 30-40 years, this was Ralph's only pro recording session. His band had a regular gig on Steel Pier in Atlantic City NJ and RCA was nearby in Camden, NJ. Ralph's brother Johnny was heavily influenced by Django and even got to sit in with Reinhardt when he was in the air force in WWII. Ralph had a fascinating life. He played for Al Capone and his henchmen at Al's Florida estate. The gangsters paid the band by stuffing $100 bills into the sound hole of the rhythm guitars! As a merchant marine in WWII, both his ships were torpedoed and sunk. Each time, Ralph was one of just handful who survived. He told me he took LSD in the 60s and "if you had a good head on shoulders, it was no big deal, man." Going blind toward the end of his life, he was convinced there was a fountain in Mexico whose waters could restore his sight.
He was a hell of steel player and one of the most memorable musicians I've met.He would be thrilled to know that people here are still listening to and enjoying his music.
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Mitch Drumm
From:
Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake
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Posted 17 Nov 2018 12:31 pm
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Thanks for that, Andy. There are couple of tunes there that I did not have.
Here's the only pic of Ralph I have, from 1946, at Don The Beachcomber's in Hollywood. Is that a Rick D-16 like Leon had--or is it a National?
Maybe I got the pic from you? I can't recall.
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 17 Nov 2018 1:33 pm
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That is some great music. Ralph's playing is somewhat reminiscent of Bob Dunn's. Thanks for the downloads.
PS. Does anyone have a photo of Johnny Kolsiana?
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Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 17 Nov 2018 2:23 pm
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Yep, that pic was from me , Mitch. I think it was a National if I recall but not 100% sure of that.
These are the Swingsters, Ralph on the right. Not sure if that's Johnny in the back. Ralph was pan-ethnic and this guy looks like a run of the mill white guy but the noses are similar. I probably have it somewhere with Ralph's notes on the back but where is a mystery?
1950s club gig
Ralph 1990s with two frypans
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com
Last edited by Andy Volk on 18 Nov 2018 6:34 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Steve Marinak
From:
Man O War Cay, Abaco, Bahamas
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Posted 18 Nov 2018 4:18 am
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great stuff! thanks for posting
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Steve Marinak |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 18 Nov 2018 7:26 am
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Thanks Andy! There is an autobiography in Lorene Ruymar's Hawaiian Steel book. That is Ric double neck he is playing in the picture. He was also a decorator and artist, creating a lot of the that decor seen in Polynesian themed restaurants (like Don's in the pic above).
I've heard very little of his music, so this is really good. He had a personal style. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 18 Nov 2018 7:34 am
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I've posted this before but if you haven't heard it, it's new to you! Here's Ralph recorded at the Chase Hotel in Santa Monica in 1955. His band was playing a gig opposite a jazz group that included jazz legends Monty Budwig and (Ralph thought he recalled) Joe Pass! He was reluctant, but his bandmates pushed him to sit in and this was the result.
https://soundcloud.com/aev/ralph-kolsiana
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Sebastian Müller
From:
Berlin / Germany
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Posted 24 Nov 2018 1:08 am
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Just downloaded all the tracks, I was only familiar with 'Snaparoo' and 'Who'. Love Ralph's ruff energy, thank you so much for posting this!
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https://hawaiian-steel-guitar.com |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 1 Dec 2018 2:26 pm
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| Thanks for posting all that Andy ! |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 2 Dec 2018 9:45 am
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You're welcome. Doug. If Ralph had had the same recording opportunities as McIntire and Iona, I believe we'd be talking about him in similar terms as his playing really evolved from the 30s recordings. Some of the long-gone Los Angeles nightclubs Ralph played include:
Club Zamboanga, The Seven Seas, Don The Beachcomber’s, The Tahiti Hut, Chi Chi Club, The Waikiki, The Hawaiian Gardens, various hotelsl in LA and Catalina Island and Disneyland’s Tahitian Lounge.
Here's the amazing Zamboanga Bandstand. If THAT didn't get you in the mood for Hawaiian music, I don't know what could!
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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