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Topic: Kekuku recordings? |
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 17 Nov 2008 1:39 pm |
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Ok, I've heard the tale of Joseph Kekuku and his controversial invention of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar. I don't want to get into that discussion.
What I want to know is, are there any recordings of JK? Was he any good?
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 17 Nov 2008 2:25 pm
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No further information since the last time this was asked in 2001.
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/001961.html
I've never seen such a recording available on either CD or vinyl. Given Mr. Kekuku's fame as originator of the steel guitar, I would assume such a recording (if it existed) would be rather widely available.
The University of Iowa has a flyer for Kekuku's Hawaiian Quintet that's pretty interesting.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 17 Nov 2008 6:00 pm
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| Brad Bechtel wrote: |
| No further information since the last time this was asked in 2001. |
And, he's still dead.
But, Bobby Ingano recently had the incredible opportunity of teaching some steel to a lady named ? Kekuku, directly decended from Joseph, while he was on the Big Island for some workshops. |
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 1:19 am
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Bill,
This is the chair we've been long looking for!  |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 2:44 am
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| In attitude and sensibility, that flyer was ahead of it's time. Most "show pics" of the era show performers on stage or standing. The cross legged, relaxed vibe is pretty unusual. |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 6:36 am
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Yeah Bud, I noticed that chair  Might be hard to find one like that |
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 9:26 am
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| The cross legged, relaxed vibe is pretty unusual |
Not really, Gerald Ross plays his steel in the same cross legged position.  |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 9:45 am
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_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 10:15 am
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Gerald,
Joseph did majority of his recordings with the Toots Paka Hawaiian Troupe, most of them recorded on Edison wax cylinders. He may have did some recordings on the Victor or Columbia label, I'm not sure.
Wasn't there a thread on this Forum before that had a link to wax cylinder recordings?[/i] |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2008 5:27 pm
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I said I wouldn't get controversial - but I couldn't resist...
Here's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.
I sincerely doubt that Joseph Kekuku was the first person in mankind's history to slide a smooth shiny object along a musical instrument string. Stringed instruments were around for many years before JK walked the planet.
There is an Indian stringed instrument called the Veenah(sp?) that is played by sliding an egg-shaped piece of polished glass along the strings.
Hawaii is smack dab in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Any ship crossing the Pacific had to stop in Hawaii for food, water and rest. Hawaiians were constantly being exposed to different cultures and the music associated with them.
Perhaps a young Joseph Kekuku witnessed an Indian sailor/musician playing the Veenah and that inspired him to apply the sounds he heard to the popular Hawaiian tunes of the day.
There's nothing new under the sun. Definitely Pre-Kekuku
Watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hk0zeuq86Q
Not that far of a jump to Panhandle Rag if you ask me.
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Nov 2008 5:38 pm
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| Derrick Mau wrote: |
| Quote: |
| The cross legged, relaxed vibe is pretty unusual |
Not really, Gerald Ross plays his steel in the same cross legged position. |
in SHORTS!  |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 22 Nov 2008 11:18 pm
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The Indian guy didn't use a guitar though, did he?
The guitar Joe used was likely a slack-key tuned one originally, wasn't it? The Indian guys were likely doing the sliding stuff hundreds of years ago, but they were not "Hawaiian"
Did you know that the Russians invented the airplane before the Wrights did? That's what they claimed in the 50s propaganda |
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Jeff Strouse
From:
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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Posted 23 Nov 2008 5:46 am
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Gerald -
I think Joesph Kekuku did make a recording of...
"Dem bones, Dem bones, dem meaty bones..."
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