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Post new topic Mr. SLEEPWALK - Johnny Farina
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Author Topic:  Mr. SLEEPWALK - Johnny Farina
Nick Reed


From:
Russellville, KY USA
Post  Posted 16 May 2004 7:26 pm    
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Sleepwalk will always be one of my favorite non-pedal style Steel Songs. Do any of you like it? I had the opportunity to meet Johnny a few years ago at Scotty's Convention when he was inducted into the ISGHOF.

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Roger Shackelton

 

From:
MINNESOTA (deceased)
Post  Posted 16 May 2004 8:12 pm    
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Sorry Nick, but just in case you didn't know it, Johnny Farina is a "Johnny Come Lately." His brother Santo played the steel guitar on the 1959 recording of "Sleep Walk." Johnny should be the first person to admit that.

I like "Sleep Walk" too. It has been one of my all time favorites since I first heard it on the radio in 1959, when I was in high school.

If you go to the "Sleep Walk" website a vocal version is available from the webmaster.

Roger


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basilh


From:
United Kingdom
Post  Posted 17 May 2004 3:13 am    
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Amen Roger..
Baz
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Tim Whitlock


From:
Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 17 May 2004 4:44 am    
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Although many here consider "Sleepwalk" to be the second most overplayed steel instrumental (Steel Guitar Rag is the first), it always gets a great response from the audience. I still marvel at young Santo's incredible touch on the original recording. His vibrato is amazing and very difficult to duplicate. To me, getting the vibrato right is the key to playing this song.
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Bob Hickish


From:
Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 17 May 2004 5:20 am    
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I play standard steel county swing with fiddle -base and guitar every once in a wile I will drop Sleep Walk on the guys and it always goes over - People love hearing it ! I'v been playing it sence 1960 ! it always brings back old memeries for every one over 50 , we will do a noumber of rest home gigs and I have seen the song bring tears to there eyes , It might be the way I play it ! but I dont think so !!! Sleep Walk is walk back to simpiler times and fond memeries .
Bob
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Gerald Ross


From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Post  Posted 17 May 2004 5:37 am    
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Sleepwalk is embedded in the collective unconcious of the entire western world. Everyone has heard it and has been affected by it at one time or another in their lives.

Question: How many times after you've played Sleepwalk has an audience member come up to you and asked "What's the name of that song? I've always liked it".

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

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website


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Tim Whitlock


From:
Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 17 May 2004 7:59 am    
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Every single time.
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Doug Beaumier


From:
Northampton, MA
Post  Posted 17 May 2004 8:13 am    
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Johnny bills himself as Johnny Farina of the Original hit song Sleepwalk. This is actually true because he played guitar on the original, not steel guitar. Some steel guitar players feel that Johnny's act is a form of misrepresentation, but a lot of old acts have reinvented themselves, sometimes with all new members except for one original member.

Johnny still plays the casino circuit and from all reports he sounds great on his Fender steel guitar. When Johnny accepted his award in St Louis he made it clear that Santo was the original player of Sleepwalk in 1959. I give Johnny a lot of credit for keeping the steel guitar alive. I'd say he's doing a great job. As far as Sleepwalk... I love it, it's the first song I learned to play on steel guitar 34 years ago, and I've played it thousands of times, including this past weekend with my band!


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My Site - Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories

[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 17 May 2004 at 09:22 AM.]

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Smiley Roberts

 

From:
Hendersonville,Tn. 37075
Post  Posted 17 May 2004 10:10 am    
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Santo Anthony Farina,& Johnny Steven Farina,were both born on King's Hwy.,in Brooklyn,N.Y. Santo is older than Johnny,by 3 years.(+/-)

Santo started playing the steel guitar when he was 9 yrs. old;and he also plays Spanish guitar,which he later taught to Johnny.

Rumors abound that the boys are not the "best of friends" anymore. That's why they didn't appear together,at the conv.
There's a possibility that Santo is,now, residing in Italy.

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  ~ ~

©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com


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Kevin Ruddell

 

From:
Toledo Ohio USA
Post  Posted 18 May 2004 2:40 am    
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I love the song and performance and it does " take you back "
I saw Don E. Curtis play a great PSG version of the song at a steel guitar benefit . Before starting he said he was aware it's a song overplayed by everyone but was going to play it anyway as he really liked the song. Around a year or two ago someone ( Jody Carver ? , not sure ) posted some interesting personal anecdotes about the early years of Santo and Johnny, and some of their band members . Also some origins of the song . You might be able to find the thread with a search.

[This message was edited by Kevin Ruddell on 18 May 2004 at 11:23 AM.]

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Walter Stettner


From:
Vienna, Austria
Post  Posted 18 May 2004 11:14 am    
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And:

It is the only Steel Guitar Instrumental that ever won a Grammy!

Kind Regards, Walter
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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David Doggett


From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
Post  Posted 18 May 2004 12:18 pm    
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It's a great song, and always a hit as a slow number. I remember hearing countless high school dance bands play it - without a steel guitar! What was Santo's tuning when he played it?
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Rick Dempster

 

From:
Preston, Victoria, Australia
Post  Posted 18 May 2004 10:25 pm    
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And how many times has it been covered? Over here in Oz, we had a feller who went by the name of Rob E.G., who covered 'Sleepwalk' and had a string of local national hits, all steel instrumentals, including 'Jezebel' '5,4,3,2,1 Zero' ''55 Days at Peking' etc. etc.This was in the early to mid 60s.All on a 6 string Rick. The old Hawaiian players hated him. He sounded like a cross between Hank B.Marvin and Roy Smeck. Wound up being a producer in LA. going under his real name, Robbie Porter. I wonder if his career would ever have got a start without Santo & Johnny's help. Anyone ever hear of him?
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Kevin Ruddell

 

From:
Toledo Ohio USA
Post  Posted 19 May 2004 3:57 am    
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I don't know about my vinyl album copy, but on my cd Santo compilation,
" Sleepwalk " is a little flat compared to proper pitch . Anyone else notice this trying to play along with the record ?
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 19 May 2004 6:58 am    
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Since the subject is "Sleepwalk", I'm going to put in a plug for Herb Steiner. He has a whole CD and tab available just devoted to "Sleepwalk". If I'm not mistaken, the tab is written for three different tunings.
Erv
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Greg Sullivan

 

From:
Poughqaug New York
Post  Posted 19 May 2004 5:24 pm    
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Jody posted this quite a while back.Jody knew
Santo & Johnny very well.Maybe this will answer some of your questions.

Jody is unavailable at this time due to personal issues.

Thank You

Greg Sullivan


"CREAM OF FARINA" was the topic Jody posted.
Maybe you can find it in the history area of this Forum..Thank you. Do a search under Steel Players Titled "Cream Of Farina" type
Jody Carvers name in and there it is. Sorry
I could not do this for you. Here it is,my wife found it.

Thank You "CREAM OF FARINA"........

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum15/HTML/002584.html

[This message was edited by Greg Sullivan on 19 May 2004 at 06:36 PM.]

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