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Topic: Vintage big band does So. Sea Island Magic w/steel, but who? |
Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Eddie Cunningham
From:
Massachusetts, USA
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Posted 17 Nov 2008 3:40 pm Nice playing !! |
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| Ron , Nice video !! I don't know if that is Alvino but the guy plays pretty nice stuff !! I love the suits and ties !!! Wish I could score a gig that let me dress like that !!! Wow !!! Eddie "C" ( the old non-pedal , no reverb , out of work old geezer ) |
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 17 Nov 2008 6:43 pm
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Mr. Rey? I don't think so. The steeler is good but I just don't believe he's 'animated' enough to be Alvino. Whatta' ya' think?
phred
_________________
There are only two defining forces that have offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American GI!!
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 17 Nov 2008 6:45 pm Re: Nice playing !!
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| Eddie Cunningham wrote: |
| Ron , Nice video !! I don't know if that is Alvino but the guy plays pretty nice stuff !! I love the suits and ties !!! Wish I could score a gig that let me dress like that !!! Wow !!! Eddie "C" ( the old non-pedal , no reverb , out of work old geezer ) |
I made my own. we all dress period 20s/30s style. |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 17 Nov 2008 8:24 pm
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Eddie, I was just thinking to myself, "Man, I'm glad we don't have to wear tie and tails to gigs these days."
One interesting thing is that the steel is the only instrument amplified - everything else is strictly acoustic. Back in those days, if you wanted the horns to be louder, you hired more of 'em. That's how the bands got so big. Stan Kenton was once described as, "sounded like he hired a hundred guys, and they all showed up on time."  |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 17 Nov 2008 8:48 pm
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"That's how the bands got so big."
Well, not really. Sax, Brass sections usually consist of 5 saxes, (tenor and alto) plus 5 trumpets and 4 trombones. Since they don't have the privilage of playing chords on their instrument as we do, in order to obtain the full harmony, the above number of musicians are necessary.
The guy on steel sorta resembles Alvino, however his style is closer to Roy Smeck...he is NOT Roy though. I haven't a clue who he is or the name of the band which features two pianos ! Interesting. |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 17 Nov 2008 9:36 pm
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I see there is an acoustic guitar laying on stage. The guy may have been the usual guitar player they used in those days, and the steel was not his usual instrument.
Can anyone ID the guitar and amp ?? |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 17 Nov 2008 10:41 pm
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Looks like a young Jimmy Hoffa,before he joined the union.DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Blake Hawkins
From:
Florida
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 5:55 am
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I think it is Roy Smeck. The technique and tone
are right for him.
Blake |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 9:49 am
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| George, you're right, just having a horn for every harmony part already makes the band large. But the really big ones have multiple horns on the same part. The extra horns on the same part are strictly for volume in filling the big ball rooms. I was just pointing out that's how they did it before everybody got a mike. I just thought it was interesting that they had great balance, even though the steel was the only instrument amplified. They matched the amp volume well with the acoustic volume of the other instruments. |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 10:47 am
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| Yeah, that amp shot is what got me thinking about the balance between that one amp and all those acoustic instruments. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 11:03 am
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The pan to the amp, front and center, set me off laughing, like it must have really been a big thing then to have such a new invention, which of course it was. I too am curious of the make/model of it and the guitar. Both look quite usable today.
Blake, it looks way more like Rey than Smeck, which it is neither of.
The mystery deepens... |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 12:34 pm
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I watched it again to see the amp. It appears to have an eagle ?? type logo plate on the top edge. Not too clear in the video.
There seem to be a lot of vintage amps and lap steels that are obscure brands, and occasionally show up on ebay. |
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Jeff Strouse
From:
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 5:57 pm
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It's not Alvino...doesn't really look like him (at least from the photos and clips I've seen).
Those were nice steel licks, and very tasty playing! And he probably didn't even use all 6 strings. The steel held it's own with the orchestra. |
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Billy Tonnesen
From:
R.I.P., Buena Park, California
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 6:21 pm
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| Alvino Rey had a more oval shaped face and parted his hair different. This steel guitarist made a point of lifting his hands in the air when he picked a note, I assume for showmanship (Speedy West also would do this at times in his playing). |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 7:41 pm
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I believe this is Lew Green who played with Ferde Grofe's orchestra. Lew played Epiphone Electar steels and amps and I believe that's what he's playing in that video.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 8:59 pm
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| I kinda thought the steel looked like an Epiphone, like maybe an early one. |
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Blake Hawkins
From:
Florida
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 9:11 pm
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Not Roy Smeck 
How about Nick Manoloff?  |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 18 Nov 2008 9:27 pm
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Bill, that's an Epiphone/Electar "Special AC-DC" model amp.
If that's not Lew Green, it's got to be Andy Sannella.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2008 12:03 pm
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Well, those are two new names for me.
Thanx, Mike! |
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