Dick McIntire Photos + sound clip

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 2 Feb 2011 6:22 am

British steel guitar historian and re-issue producer Les Cook posted these Dick McIntire photos on his Facebook page.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 2 Feb 2011 10:08 am

Thanks for that Andy. I only had 2 or 3 pics of Dick and none were of this quality.

Any idea on the other guys in the band picture?

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 2 Feb 2011 10:18 am

You're welcome. Don't know the others but I'm sure a little research would uncover some, if not all of the band member names. Someone like Dirk Vogel would probably know.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 2 Feb 2011 10:29 am

I think that may be Lani on the standard guitar next to Dick. Compare to this pic.

Now we know where JB got hip to two-tone shoes.

George Majoros · Post by **George Majoros** » 2 Feb 2011 12:08 pm

Fantastic, thanks for sharing these. Hard to find photo's of Dick McIntire. What a great player he was.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 2 Feb 2011 1:21 pm

Nice pics of a great player.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 2 Feb 2011 2:33 pm

George, that photo of Dick in front of the teaching studio is where all those great tabs came from. I got them from one of his students.

Les Cook · Post by **Les Cook** » 2 Feb 2011 2:48 pm

Mike ....on the back of that photo is stamped " Dearth's Music School and Recording Studio, 824 East Kibby Street, Lima, Ohio" .

While on the back of the pic with Vierra and Silva it says" Hawaiian Conservatory of Music, 666 West Spring Street, Lima, Ohio"

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 2 Feb 2011 4:17 pm

Really? It says Dick McIntire Institute Hawaiian Music. I didn't realize that there was one in Ohio. Interesting.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 2 Feb 2011 5:03 pm

Wasn't it Ron Dearth who sold (or gave Jerry Byrd) his first Rickenbacher guitar?

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 2 Feb 2011 5:57 pm

Wasn't it Ron Dearth who sold (or gave Jerry Byrd) his first Rickenbacher guitar?

Ron Dearth was Jerry Byrd's teacher in Lima, Ohio. He also invented the Stringtone Changer mechanism.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 2 Feb 2011 6:58 pm

Regardless of the facts this seems to be how history is going to tell it, but Jerry was adamant in correcting me about the term 'teacher' when asking about Mr. Dearth, saying "I had no teacher". And he'd also said previously that he was completely self taught.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 2 Feb 2011 8:05 pm

Ron, thanks for that info. I was just stating what I had read in the past... that Ron D. was Jerry's teacher. If Jerry told you he had no teacher, that pretty much closes the case. I guess a lot of folks in Lima, Ohio back then might try to claim credit for the great Jerry Byrd.

George Majoros · Post by **George Majoros** » 2 Feb 2011 10:03 pm

Hi Mike

Still honored to have those tabs hand written by Dick McIntire. Fascinating Rhythm is framed and on the wall.
There is a special vibe in these old sheets of paper.
Thanks again.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 3 Feb 2011 5:43 am

In case some of you who are new to steel guitar are saying "Who the heck is Dick McIntire and what did he sound like?" here's representative track. Dick had precision, taste, economy and beautiful tone and nuance in the way he attacked and sustained notes and blocked others. In the 30s & 40s, he was a huge influence on players from Jerry Byrd to Joaquin Murphey and everybody in between. It's unfair that he's not better remembered today. His Harmony Hawaiians group was also a model for vocal arranging and for their throbbing rhythm style backing the vocals and steel solos. Cumquat records has reissued a slew of Dick's best music but judging from Forum posts, these may be difficult to get.

https://home.comcast.net/~aevolk/music/Ai_Ka_Kou.mp3

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 3 Feb 2011 12:28 pm

Doug Beaumier wrote:Ron, thanks for that info. I was just stating what I had read in the past... that Ron D. was Jerry's teacher. If Jerry told you he had no teacher, that pretty much closes the case. I guess a lot of folks in Lima, Ohio back then might try to claim credit for the great Jerry Byrd.

It's hard to believe that anyone could reach the heights of musical education and abilities that JB did without some help along the way, especially when Mr. Dearth was a nearby teacher and Jerry had such a close relationship with him. So these inaccuracies are bound to happen, sheesh, how much 'known' history is based on such? Plus, it would be safe to assume that he probably did show Jerry a few things even tho he was already pretty good, which is why Ron helped Jerry get that 1st bakelite. Jerry said that when he opened the case, took it out, plugged in and strummed "It was the sound I'd been searching for, I knew then that I wasn't too old to cry". But I was glad to be corrected by him, knowing it would probably become another worthy fact to remember/relate.

Oddly, Jerry got to meet all the McIntire brothers, except Dick.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 3 Feb 2011 12:29 pm

I have a bunch of Dick McIntire sheet music, E7 tuning, tablature with notes, dated 1938 and 1939. The tab is not difficult to play, and it's very sweet sounding. He knew his bar slants and he wasn't afraid to use them!

He's playing Dickerson (pre-Magnatone) gear in the pictures. I believe Dickerson made entry level guitar/amp sets, so maybe the picture is promotional? ...or maybe he really did play Dickerson? These look great in a frame. I have another one hanging in my studio.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 3 Feb 2011 1:33 pm

What cool post-decco design!

Jerome Hawkes · Post by **Jerome Hawkes** » 3 Feb 2011 2:45 pm

that dickerson amp in the last photo is one of the holy grail harp amps these days - big bucks.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 3 Feb 2011 9:23 pm

I've only heard a small portion of what Dick recorded, but what I heard was all Rick long-scale frypan. And the frypan with his style and technique is what stands out I believe.
Sol Ho'oipi (sp) promoted those Dickersons too.
Maybe a matter of making a few bucks when it's possible.

Here's a link to the Aloha Intl Steel Guitar site, with Dick playing. (hope this works) go to 2011 convention info.

http://www.alohainternationalsgc.org/index.html

Les Cook · Post by **Les Cook** » 4 Feb 2011 3:38 am

Les Cook · Post by **Les Cook** » 4 Feb 2011 3:41 am

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 4 Feb 2011 4:49 am

Interesting, Les, to note just how far back the term "hot licks" was in use as a marketing term.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 4 Feb 2011 8:22 am

Interesting, Les, to note just how far back the term "hot licks" was in use...

Yes, I thought the same thing when I saw that!

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 4 Feb 2011 9:26 am

Les Cook wrote:

Les, any chance you can also scan the contents? That would be some interesting viewing.