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Post new topic Jerry's Memorial Service
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Author Topic:  Jerry's Memorial Service
Jack Byrd

 

From:
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2005 10:11 am    
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For those who would like to read about Jerry's service here is the link.
http://starbulletin.com/2005/04/17/news/story8.html
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Andy Sandoval


From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2005 10:52 am    
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That was beautiful Jack. Thanks for sharin it.

------------------
55" Fender Stringmaster T8, 54" Fender Champion, Carter D-10, two Oahu laps, two National laps, and two Resonators

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Roy Thomson


From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2005 11:04 am    
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Thank you Jack.

Roy
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Rick Alexander


From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2005 11:58 am    
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Thanks Jack.
The "printer-friendly" version printed out nicely . .
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Rick Aiello


From:
Berryville, VA USA
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2005 12:05 pm    
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That sure is a cool photo of a young JB ... its goin' up on my wall ...

Thank you ...

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Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2005 4:25 pm    
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Thanks for posting this so we can all share in it. BY chance Jack; do you know in whose home that photo of JB and Danny Kuuaana was taken; JB seated with the Rick on his lap?
ALso, that is NOT the amp that is in the
Country Music Hall of Fame. ANy idea what kind it is? Or who it belonged to?
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Steven Cearley

 

From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2005 5:21 pm    
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In February of 2003 I wrote to Jerry Byrd and told him how much I enjoyed his music. Within about a week I received a reply from him on a handwritten blue letter. I was surprised and elated that someone like Jerry would take the time to write to someone he didn't even know. It wasn't a form letter or a computer generated letter, it was handwritten and personal. I can imagine that there are hundreds of these letters out there that many will cherish as much as I do mine. What a fabulous person he was.

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Jack Byrd

 

From:
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2005 5:57 pm    
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Ray,

I have no idea to either question.
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Jeff Strouse


From:
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2005 8:14 pm    
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Thanks, Jack. Sounds like it was a wonderful service, for a wonderful human being.
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Don Kona Woods


From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2005 9:02 pm    
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Here is an interesting E-mail received from Keith and Carmen Haugen, Hawaiian entertainers with permission to share it. IT GIVES SOME ADDITIONAL DETAILS OF THE MEMORIAL SERVICE NOT CONTAINED IN THE NEWS ARTICLE.

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT JERRY BYRD, THE MASTER OF TOUCH AND TONE. By Keith & Carmen Haugen

Those attending his memorial service at the Elks Club in Waikiki read like a who's who of Hawaiian music. Among the steel guitar players who were there, (many of whom performed) there were Greg Sardinha, Alan Akaka, Casey Olsen, Isaac Akuna, Owana Salazar, Bobby Ingano, Harold Haku`ole, Kamaka Tom, Gordon Freitas, Stephen Kreider, Dewitt Scott, Keoki Lake, Eddie Palama, Solomon Kam. Sorry if we missed you.

Among other prominent entertainers, some of whom performed, were Eddie Kamae, Joe "The Fiddler" Bourque, Boyce Rodrigues, Danny Kaleikini, Dennis Keohokalole, Gary Aiko, Kimo Kahoano, Kanoe Miller, Kuki Among, Karen Keawehawai`i and her sister, Jonette, Aaron Mahi, K&C. Sorry if we missed you.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS:

-- Eddie Kamae sang a new song he's written -- a capella

-- Kimo Kahoano sang a hymn he'd written after his father died -- also a capella

-- Aaron Mahi helped everyone focus as he led the tribute.

-- Kanoe Miller danced "Lovely Hula Girl" -- how very appropriate.

-- Owana Salazar not only played "Sand" on the steel, but sang it as well. You almost never hear those words.

-- The `Iolani Palace volunteers who sang were terrific.

-- Hale O Na Ali`i of which Jerry's wife, Ka Leo, is a member, was represented by Marge Kealanahele, Hailama Farden, Bill Haole, and others.

-- Nina brought tears to our eyes (her's too) with her rendition of "Kawohikukapulani," which Jerry asked that she sing for him.

-- We learned that Jerry had taught nearly 300 students in the past 30+ years since he moved to the Islands.

-- Fred Foster, the great Nashville songwriter and producer, said in his message that ther is now "a bird in paradise." "Our loss is heaven's gain."

-- Others described Jerry as "a musician's musician," "the master of touch & tone," "the world greatest steel player," and countless other accolades. "You are a true artisan, the likes of which we'll never see again."

SOME REMINISCENCES:

-- I always remember that Jerry and I both got hooked on Hawaiian music while listening to "Hawai`i Calls" on the radio.

-- Not long before he died, when Gordon Freitas and I visted Jerry at the Malama `Ohana care facililty at Kaiser Hospital in Moanalua, he said: "I did it all. I did all that I wanted to do." How many of us can say that? And you KNOW that he did it his way.

-- In the 1970s, when he was teaching steel for the Hawaiian Music Foundation's education program, Jerry told us how thrilled he was to be in Hawai`i teaching steel guitar to Hawaiians. He called it "giving back," to Hawai`i and the Hawaiians, and it made him feel good.

-- In 1975, when I returned home from a Mainland trip and told him where he could find a National Resonator Tri-Cone guitar in mint condition, sealed in a plastic case without a single scratch on it (Ace Pawn in San Jose) and at a very good price, he said: "I don't collect guitars, I play them. I only need one." That inspired us to sell off all but four of our instruments -- an `ukulele and guitar at home and a matching set that we kept at the hotel. It changed our lives. (and they would never fit in our small apartment now anyway.)

-- In 1986, when I quit taking lessons from Jerry because Jack deMello hired us to perform five nights a week at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and I would not have time to practice, Jerry said: "You're just like the rest of them. Take five lessons; then quit."

-- A few years ago, when we performed at the wedding reception of Gen. Fred Weyand and Malia Foster, we were able to introduce two good friends of ours who had not met. It seemed impossible, but Jerry Byrd and Jim Nabors had both become famous in Nashville in the same period, and knew all the same people, but had never met. What could be better than to introduce one of our friends to another of our friends?

-- And in 2000, when I recorded a country CD ("CordellCountry") after 40 years of doing only Hawaiian music, we gave Jerry one of the first copies. He gave us a two-page handwritten letter in which he reviewed the CD, and described it as "country the way it used to was .. clean and uncluttered." He went on to say we could use any of his quotes to promote that CD and that he wanted to produce our next one. What a great friend.

Now Jerry is up there jammin' with David Keli`i, Barney Isaacs, Sonny Kamahele, Billy Hew Len, David "Feet" Rogers, and all the other great steel players who went on ahead.

Aloha Jerry!

And our aloha goes also to Kaleo, his "sparring partner" and daughters Lani and Luana.

Keith & Carmen

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Jeff Au Hoy


From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2005 10:03 pm    
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I love Jerry's smile in the Kua'ana photo. It lights up the whole room.

And checkout Danny's Martin archtop!
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Nelson Tang

 

From:
Hawaii, USA
Post  Posted 18 Apr 2005 10:47 am    
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thanks for the article on the service.
i am sorry i could not make to the memorial
service due to a conflict. i am thankful for Jerry Byrd's life and contribution.
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