Anyone want to talk about Hawaiian music?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 14 Nov 2005 7:55 pm

I'm always eager to learn more about the great artists of the past, and it's taken a while for me to absorb some of it, but I'd really like to hear some thoughts on players like Hal Aloma, Bobby Nichols, Sam Makia, Bernie Kaai, Benjamin Rogers, Eddie Bush, etc.

I've recently begun building a modest collection of vinyl and shellac, and I'd appreciate some good recommendations. I purchased a decent collection of 49th State 45s and I like them a lot.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 15 Nov 2005 4:47 am

Hmmm ... those guys are sure electrifying ...

I can't offer up any info ... that you don't already know ...

But I hope folks that can ... will jump in ...

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 15 Nov 2005 7:12 am

Here ya go Mike.

A recording by Bob Nichols on Tricone with the Moana Serenaders. Sol Hoopii produced these sessions and you can hear his influence on the tone and feel of the recording.

Nichols is very bluesy on this recording as well as the other cuts from the Moana Serenaders/Hoopii session.

Does anyone know of any Bob Nichols electric recordings?
<A HREF="http://www.umich.edu/~gbross/HonoluluTomboy.mp3" TARGET=_blank>
Honolulu Tomboy - Bob Nichols & The Moana Serenaders</A>

BTW - Pick up the 2 CD Cumquat set"A Treasury of Hawaiian Guitar Music". There are 4 Nichols/Moana Serenaders cuts, Bernie Kaaii, Hal Aloma, David Kelii etc. Very good disks, highly recommended.
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 15 November 2005 at 07:17 AM.]

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 15 Nov 2005 7:17 am

Bobby Nichols played with The Polynesians. Derrick Mau sent me some mp3s of Bobby and we were trying to decipher his tuning. It's just fantastic stuff.

I think I've heard and just about all the acoustic stuff there is, now I want to hear all the 'lectric stuff.

Jules Ah See, Danny Stewart, Joe Custino, Billy Hew Len....would love to hear stories about these folks if anyone has any.

Derrick, chime in please....

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 15 Nov 2005 7:24 am

Does anyone know of any Bob Nichols electric recordings

Bruce Clarke's Lani McIntire series.

Vol 1 & 2 are all Nichols on steel ... Vol 3 has some Nichols and some Sam Koki.

Next to Andy Iona ... Bobby Nichols is my favorite "vibrato-ist" ...

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 15 Nov 2005 7:48 am

Here's one off Lani McIntire Vol 2 ...

Kaneohe

Courtesy of Cumquat Records

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 15 Nov 2005 2:40 pm

I dont know about you Rick, but that sounds like an early Rick frypan to me.

Les Cook · Post by **Les Cook** » 15 Nov 2005 4:04 pm

You mentioned Eddie Bush ,Mike ,and he's well worth checking out...both on electric steel and acoustic (I'm more familiar with the latter). He recorded prolifically on National Tricone with the Biltmore Trio from 1928 to 1930 and while the main focus of a lot of their records was the intricate vocals ,his steel breaks are wonderful.Look out for the 2 78s on Okeh ...Coquette has one of THE great steel guitar solos .Not too much of his early material is Hawaiian though .One of Bruce Clarke's recent releases devotes half a CD to his later recordings with the post-Dick McIntire Harmony Hawaiians ...thats well worth picking up too...it also has some splendid Bernie Kaai

Colin Brooks · Post by **Colin Brooks** » 15 Nov 2005 4:29 pm

My favourite Bobby Nichols track, from Augie Goupil - Toomba! Re-Loaded, "One Finger, Two Finger, Three Finger- Poi" Cumquat Records of course!

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 15 Nov 2005 6:38 pm

Here's one I've been listenin' to alot lately ... quite interesting ...

I have it as a Sol Hoopii tune on one of my compilations ... somewhere ...

And this is off Andy Iona Vol 10 ... Rarities.

Hawaii Calls

Sol knew who to call ...

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

Derrick Mau · Post by **Derrick Mau** » 16 Nov 2005 1:09 pm

Hi Mike,

Sonny Kamahele, who has been on the Hawaiian music circuit for decades told me that his most memorable part of his music career was playing with Alfred Apaka and Jules Ah See at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Dome.
Sonny says that Jules was the best Hawaiian steel player he has heard and performed with. After their shows, they would all go over to the Lau Yee Chai restaurant in Waikiki for a late dinner. Sonny also plays steel guitar and uses a D9th tuning.

Last year, I was fortunate to meet, and speak with Bill Tapia who has played with the Johnny Noble Band in the 20's. He played the banjo for the band that performed for the grand-opening ceremonies for the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in 1927. Bill told me that he remembers Sol Hoopii on one ocassion, playing on the streets of Waikiki and was amazed when a rich tourists from the Matson steamers dropped a $100.00 tips.
Big money for those times . . .

Bobby Ingano who learnt his steel from David "Feet" Rogers, told me that he remembers how Feet would always walk down the street shaking his head from left to right as if he were listening to music. A tune was always on his mind.

Herbert Hanawahine recalls avoiding Feet during his young school days as Feet would always try to take his lunch money. He said Feet was big for his age, and many of the students in the school were afraid of him.

Feet Rogers

You would too, if you seen this guy coming toward you.

Last years convention in Joliet, I spoke with HSGA member, Bob "Pulevai" Waters at dinner. He's the man to talk to regarding Hawaiian steel players as he knew them all.
Bob has no computer I'm assuming as there is no e-mail listing under his name in the HSGA's e-mail directory.
Bob told me the best Hawaiian steel player he has heard is Danny Stewart (sorry Jeff!)

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 16 Nov 2005 3:25 pm

Thanks, Derrick. I just find these little bits of information about these all-too-seldom mentioned greats fascinating. I'd love to talk all day about this music and these musicians but, unfortunately, I'm in the minority in my neck of the woods.

I wish there was more we could do to inspire folks who have an interest in the steel guitar to look into the great Hawaiian music. It doesn't have to be the cheesy crap everyone always told them it was--there's a tremendous wealth of great music that will blow their minds.[This message was edited by Mike Neer on 16 November 2005 at 03:26 PM.][This message was edited by Mike Neer on 16 November 2005 at 04:01 PM.]

Bill Leff · Post by **Bill Leff** » 16 Nov 2005 3:52 pm

Eddie Kamae related a story of Gabby Pahinui falling into a pool with his steel (he liked to drink...).

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 16 Nov 2005 4:04 pm

Hey, as long as it wasn't plugged in, what's the harm?

Personally, I find drinking and steel playing quite a difficult (but unbelievably fun) combination of things to do. I've played three sheets to the wind on many occasions. These days, I try to stay 2 sheets to the wind.[This message was edited by Mike Neer on 16 November 2005 at 04:05 PM.]

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 16 Nov 2005 4:18 pm

No place like an HSGA convention to catch up on ... The Dish ...

Phewww ... listenin' to stories about Dick McIntire there ... made me feel kinda "normal" ...

Seriously ... HSGA and Aloha International are the "Last Bastions" ... where Hawaiian Steel players can get together, learn and have a blast ... at the same time.

There seems to be a growing "core" of faithful enthusists ... that are following around the "seasoned" members ... absorbing info, techniques and that "spirit".

But there is always room for more ... Mike

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 16 November 2005 at 04:22 PM.]

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 16 Nov 2005 4:27 pm

Are we talking about the same Dick McIntire?

Dick "I work out at the gym for three months straight and show up sober whenever I film a movie" McIntire?

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 16 November 2005 at 04:28 PM.]

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 16 Nov 2005 4:30 pm

Bob Waters is definitely THE guy to talk to about tDick McIntire and other 40's Hawaiian musicians. I did an interview with him for my book but didin't use it. If I can ever come up with the tape I'll transcribe it and post it.

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 16 Nov 2005 4:35 pm

Rick Aiello writes:
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>There seems to be a growing "core" of faithful enthusists ... that are following around the "seasoned" members ... absorbing info, techniques and that "spirit".

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I enjoy playing music with the "seasoned" members of the Hawaiian music community because most of them learned to play music before Rock and Roll and the folk scare of the 60's. Their musical background doesn't include Bob Dylan and Led Zepplin. (no flames please).

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 16 Nov 2005 9:57 pm

Maybe we need a section on the forum just for Hawaiian steel(I'll probably get in trouble for this) I'm not smart enough to play blues or jazz anyway. Just old standards, OLD country, and Hawaiian.
The phrase "folk scare " is really funny
GB HAHAHAHA!![This message was edited by Bill Creller on 16 November 2005 at 09:59 PM.]

John Bushouse · Post by **John Bushouse** » 17 Nov 2005 3:44 am

Listening to Andy Iona or Lani McIntyre, what strikes me is not only the liquid (nice and thick) steel playing, but also the powerful rhythm guitar & uke behind the steel. Throw on those harmonies on top and you've got a sound that just isn't heard these days.

Take a good listen to the rhythm work "Kaneohe" and "Hawaii Calls" - it's really rock solid, and really propels the songs.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 18 Nov 2005 7:04 am

Basil posted some amazing recordings a few months ago of some live playing by (Hal Aloma?). Any chance of hearing that again?

Anyone with any great out-of-print vinyl transferred to mp3s, please feel free to send the mp3s my way.

Warren Slavin · Post by **Warren Slavin** » 18 Nov 2005 8:23 am

Bill Leff's Comment-- "Gabby Fell into a Pool"

Bobby Ingano was relating that story to me -- Mahi Beamer was performing at one of the Hotels and Gabby arrived (late) but before he fell into the pool he relieved himself. He was to perform also. Mahi Beamer complained saying to the Banquet Manager, "Gabby is ruining my show". The manager said "Gabby is the Show". It is reported that Gabby never appeared as a regular on "Hawaii Calls" because Al Perry never new if he was ever going to show up for the performance. Andy Cummings had great faith in Gabby's talent and ability and Gabby worked with Andy for a long time, they even golfed together. On October 13th, 1980 Andy went to pick Gabby up to play golf but he wasn't home. A few minutes later he arrived after one of his all-nighters. They went to play golf and they finished the first nine and then on the 11th Tee Gabby collapsed and died on the Tee. Rescue attempts were futile.
There is a book published by "Hawaii Press Pacifica" - 1978 - Kasher/Burlingame, that narrates interviews with about 10/12 Hawaiian entertainers -- "DA kINE SOUND".

Also, Honolulu Magazine (out of print) in 1992 published an article on Gabby which gives the colorful life of Gabby and his wife Emily (Ma) and their sons, Bla, Cyril and Martin.

TO MIKE NEER: I see by your profile that you live in Middlesex, NJ. We have lived in The Somerville/Hillborough are for fifty years and moved (3 yrs ago) to Penna, outside of Phila. It is a shame that I didn't know of you in the earlier years as we could have shared some stories and music.
I talked with Henry Bogdan (former steel player with the moonlighters) many times on the phone and he even came over to our home one time and we had a nice visit. What is he doing now.

All Pau -- Warren

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Derrick Mau · Post by **Derrick Mau** » 18 Nov 2005 10:45 am

A good book to get is Eddie Kamae's "Hawaiian Son". It's an autobiography about him but, he tells great stories of Gabby, Feet Rogers, and other members of the legendary group, the Sons Of Hawaii.

The book is published by: 'Ai Pohaku Press
The author is: James D. Houston / Eddie Kamae

[This message was edited by Derrick Mau on 18 November 2005 at 10:47 AM.]

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 18 Nov 2005 11:31 am

The very first night, when I moved to Honolulu in Dec. ’79, I sat~in (stood) on the late Billy Hew Len’s JB Frypan at the Outrigger Luau! That was the first time I met Billy and we visited and exchanged info. often while I was living there. (until June ’80) I only have 2-Albums that Billy played on. One was from the Luau and the other was with Barney Isaacs Jr. Billy was a very friendly kind of guy!

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“Big John” Bechtel
Soon to be: New Burgundy D–10 Derby (w/6 &

’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence
web site

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 19 Nov 2005 10:29 am

Warren - Yes, it's too bad we never got a chance to meet, being neighbors and all. I've been here for about 10 years now, but I only started playing steel 3 years ago. Meeting you probably would have saved me a lot of trouble.

Looks like a great book, Derrick. I just ordered a copy.

I'm in the process of purchasing a new turntable, and it's going to be one specifically geared towards 78s. Also, I have a few 16" transcription records that this unit will handle. I will share them once I've finished them.