HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITARIST-Casey Olsen

Dana Blodgett · From: California, USA

This morning as I was walking thru the lobby of the Sheraton/Waikiki I thought I heard a steel guitar and was blown out of my flip flops by none other than the great Casey Olson(Hope I spelled it right)!He was with a stand up bass player ,guitarist and an older gentleman on the ukulele, playing all the standards. Casey was gracious enough to talk with during breaks. The guitar he was playing was a "Canopus"(Japan)tuned to C6. I took a couple of pics, when I get home I'll try and post those. I gotta go looks like Greg Sardinha just showed up on the scene.
The steel is not yet dead in Hawaii...plenty left just gotta look for it! Tommorow 9a.m. in the lobby of the Sheraton/Waikiki and tommorrow afternoon at the "Pink Hotel"(the Royal Hawaiian)
Casey said that Alan Akaka has a "Steel" school in Kailua I believe. Aloha
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Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme

Dana Blodgett · From: California, USA

Greg Sardinha and a couple friends on bass and guitar followed Casey Olson today in the lobby of the Sheraton/Waikiki.Greg was playing an older single neck Fender 8 string tuned to C6, not sure if it was a stringmaster or not.Just crazy good to my ear! Harmonics(chimes galore)! He was also very approachable and said he was at the Royal Hawaiian also tomorrow,later on tonite at the Hilton. Tomorrow afternoon(sunset)at the Halekulani(next door to the Sheraton). He also said he would be playing again at the Honolulu airport soon. He did that gig for awhile about four years ago. Today there's been steel guitar all day since about 9:30a.m. here at the Sheraton in the lobby and the best thing about it is it is FREE!. I'll try and post pic's in about 10 days when I get back to sunny California.Greg and Casey just blow me away!
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Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Count yourself very lucky to have had a roll like you're on, Dana, now just keep the rain away, k? www.hwnsge.5u.com

Kekoa Blanchet · From: Kaua'i

Here's a link to more info about Alan Akaka's music school. He's a great teacher.
http://www.kekulamele.com/

For a while, he was flying to Kaua'i every Saturday morning, teaching classes and private lessons during the day, and then flying back to O'ahu Saturday evening. This was sponsored by a grant from the HSGA. Just to keep up that schedule every week points out his dedication and passion for teaching this instrument. And what a treat to have such a talented teacher here on Kaua'i! Rumor is that he'll be doing it again this spring -- I sure hope so.

Alan plays a Canopus steel guitar as well, as does Ed Punua, another talented performer here on Kaua'i.

Don Kona Woods · From: Hawaiian Kama'aina

David Matzenik · From: Cairns, on the Coral Sea

If you are interested in helping perpetuate the music and tradition of Hawaiian Steel Guitar you should seriously consider becoming a member of the HSGA. The forum is slow Oh Well

but there is a lot of knowledge over there.
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Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother.

David Soreff · From: North Las Vegas, NV

You were VERY lucky to see all that great talent...especially after all the talk about steel dying out, it's nice to hear about this. I remember in 2003, way before I started playing steel, when my fiance and I flew into Honolulu for me to meet her family for the first time, Greg was playing at the airport, and I just had to stop and watch for a while...I was fascinated by not only by the sound, but by the unreal musicianship I saw...great memory. Flash forward to one of Alan's BBQ/Kanikapilas (I am a haumana of his at his school) and I am playing steel guitar with Alan on bass, Greg on guitar and Derrick Mau on ukulele...quite intimidating I assure you for a newbie. My fiance and I are planning on settling in on O'ahu and buying a house this summer after Hawai'i season on the ships, and I can't wait to have all this "steel goodness" available for me to go see. Also, FYI, Alan has started doing Skype lessons on steel guitar...

Wally Pfeifer · From: Illinois, USA

[quote]This was sponsored by a grant from the HSGA

Dana Blodgett · From: California, USA

Aloha Ron, Don, David, David & all...Hey the sun's out this a.m. and things look brite, Casey Olson and friends are goin for it again in the lobby at the Sheraton and later moving over next door to the Royal Hawaiian! This is sooo cool IMHO these guys Casey and Greg are just crazy good!What a way to start your day.
Ron I'll look into joining when I get more of a chance-my internet availability is limited to a few minutes everyday til I get back to Cali.I'd like to know more about Alkans school and his contact #'s if possible, as I come out as often... Aloha nui all,& Mahalo Ron
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Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme

Kekoa Blanchet · From: Kaua'i

Aloha Dana,
From Alan Akaka's Ke Kula Mele website:

seldomfed · From: Colorado

We had Casey and his dad Hiram as our honored guests this last OCT in Joliet at the annual HSGA event there. It was a great time. Those two play so well together.

Alan Akaka is the steel instructor this FEB for Keola Beamer's Aloha Music Camp on the Big Island. I'm attending and looking forward to a week of Hawaiian music with Alan, and all the other great pickers that will be teaching there. A week on the beach with steel guitar... ah!

chris
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Chris Kennison
Rhythm Cats - steel, guitar, banjo, dobro
Gold Canyon, AZ
www.rhythmcatsshow.com
www.seldomfed.com

Dana Blodgett · From: California, USA

Aloha Kekoa, Mahalo for the info about Alan Akaka's steel school and contact #'s I appreciate it! Actually, Alan is supposed to be at Duke's on Sat. from 7-9p.m. I am gonna try and make it. Yesterday was awsome, I saw Casey, Greg and later on at sunset I sat out on my lanai and listened to a trio with a steel guitarist at the resort just west of the Sheraton!
Yesterday Greg Sardina was playing a “Canopus" 8 string sunburst single neck! Beautiful looking and also beautiful sounding, Greg said he had this one tuned to a C13.So for two days in a row I had access to "Hawaiian Steel" from 9:30a.m. till after sunset! You can't get much better than that. Hopefully my pic's will be ok and I can post in a week or so.
These "Canopus" guitars sound awsome,very similar to an old string master(FENDER)IMHO!
Again, Kekoa , Mahalo nui Loa.
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Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Dana, did Greg or Casey mention if these are steady gigs for them now, or what days/times/places they'll be continuing with?
To see Casey at all is rare today, and to keep up with Greg who's constantly on the move you'd have to be calling him weekly, so thanx for the tips!

Dana Blodgett · From: California, USA

Ron, I'll try and contact you tommorow with another post at least as my usage of the internet is about up for today.
Briefly though I got the impression that these were not steady gigs as yet. Although I think Casey would like to play more often in the Sheraton/Royal Hawaiian hotels.
I believe Casey said he was off to Japan soon and that Greg was heading to California soon as well.
I tried to send a pm and an email but I don't think it worked!More to come... Aloha
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Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme

Tod Johnson · From: Hawaii, USA

I read through the comments and didn't see it mentioned. Uncle Casey is the grandson of Billy Hew Len.
He sat in with the great Raiatea Helm yesterday here on Maui at the 15th annual ukulele fest.
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1939 Oahu Tonemaster, 1957 Rickenbacker, Melbert 8, and a cheap Rogue.

Robert Allen · From: Tennessee, USA

Casey plays lead at 3:43 in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj3YhR2-QwQ

Nic Neufeld · From: Kansas City, Missouri

Chuckled at myself when I opened this thread, saw the remark about Alan's school and eagerly thought "hey I can give you all the details", then noticed its from 11 years ago, at a point where I barely knew a puka from a hole in the ground, and had my one lap steel guitar taking up space in its case, tuned to EADGBE (out of ignorance). Time flies!

I remember seeing his father Hiram playing with Jerry B on those old HI Public TV bits on youtube. I watched those a LOT of times.
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Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Was Hiram Olsen a member of Jerry Byrd's group when he played the Surf Room at the Royal Hawaiian in the '80s?

Dana Blodgett · From: California, USA

I believe so , he was Jerry’s rhythm guitar player for many years, Sadly Hiram’s no longer with us. I use to see Casey play with Hiram at the “ House without a key”…The Halekulani in Waikiki.
Casey told me Hiram had a SHO~BUD SUPER PRO at home
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Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme

Travis Brown · From: Florida, USA

Well, it's now 11 years after this thread was first posted and I just got home from three weeks in Waikiki (for work).

I was bar hopping almost every night. I saw probly a half dozen different groups playing Hawaiian music, and not one had a steel guitar player.

It was kind of a bummer, though, of course, I still had a great time.

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