| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Part III – History of Hawaiian Steel – by Merle Kekuku, etc
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Part III – History of Hawaiian Steel – by Merle Kekuku, etc
Don Kona Woods


From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
Post  Posted 25 Feb 2009 1:43 pm    
Reply with quote

On this video Merle Kekuku, Barney Isaacs, Jerry Byrd, and Alan Akaka give commentary.

Merle is probably more knowledgeable than others to give the history of Hawaiian steel guitar because was in the Hawaiian music scene longer than the other commentators. His uncle, Joseph Kekuku, invented the Hawaiian steel guitar.

Merle was also a Hawaiian steel guitar player, but he was generally known for his bass playing. He
occasionally played on the Hawaii Calls radio program as a bass player.

For a number of years, I was a part of a round robin tape club of Hawaiian steel guitar players, one of which was Merle Kekuku. He would always give detailed stories about Hawaiian musicians and some interesting history.

Merle Kekuku and Others

Aloha, Smile
Don
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Don Kona Woods


From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
Post  Posted 26 Feb 2009 10:09 am    
Reply with quote

It has become evident there is an affinity for Jerry Byrd and what he has to say by the number of persons viewing and responding to Part I Some History of Hawaiian Steel Guitar – Jerry Byrd.

If this is the case, he has quite a bit to say in this video clip. He also does some playing.
Aloha, Smile
Don


Last edited by Don Kona Woods on 26 Feb 2009 10:17 am; edited 2 times in total
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Edward Meisse

 

From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
Post  Posted 26 Feb 2009 10:11 am    
Reply with quote

I wonder if there is a DVD of this stuff. The Ralph Kolsiana stuff looks interesting, too. But I'll have to watch it later.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 26 Feb 2009 10:15 am    
Reply with quote

That Ralph Kolsiana stuff was from a documentary produced by Andy Volk called "Ralph Kolsiana: A Life in Hawaiian Music". I have that DVD.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Andy Volk


From:
Boston, MA
Post  Posted 26 Feb 2009 10:31 am    
Reply with quote

I'm torn between being glad that Ralph is getting recognition and annoyance because the YouTube poster is violating the copyright. When Ralph asked me to do what I could with the raw tapes it was really right on the hairy edge of being releasable. The original footage was shot by an amateur on VHS so even editing it on a professional system could only take it so far. I decided the content outweighed the quality and did a limited DVD run. Unfortunately, DVD is a compressed medium and then taking that as a source for YouTube makes it look really like crap. I see the person who posted it is 80 years old and since it's out of print and gives Ralph some more long-overdue recognition, we'll leave it up there.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron