The Steel Guitar Forum

It does not seem anything like 8 years since Jerry left us, let alone 20 years since he and his playmates gave us a never to be forgotten concert, nor some 5 years before that when Kaimana Hila was released here. It could not have been better, a nice smooth flowing number with a Maori vibrato, it wa...

I think this is the same CD that has Bill Sevesi's Kehulani. I rang Bill and told him that they had done a straight steal, incorrect spelling and all. Bill said that a lot of this goes on and that is why, when he does an album, he always includes one of his own compositions and then it comes under t...

Ray, Thanks a million for that dose of Wayne Tanner. Sight unseen, I would have said it was Jerry, same tone, same style, same vibrato and he does all this so early in the morning! A really enjoyable look and listen - look and lesson too.

It seems to be a sad twist of life that couples only seem to go together in tragic circumstances. In most cases, we start our life's journey alone, then we meet someone to share the journey with us and one finishes up alone again, but this time with family and a whole lot of memories. New Zealand co...

Dave, I have just enjoyed Isa Lei again. Do you have any information on Neville Kahn? Hopefully, a photo?He did some local compositions by Iris Mason which was good no matter which way you look at it. Also some Maori numbers. He was an excellent player and gave me something to try for. Thanks for th...

Ben was one of our finest guitarists, a genuine quiet man with an incredible ear for music. His beginnings were very humble. Born and raised on Matakana Island, a few miles off the coast of Tauranga, plenty of fish, fields of corn, orchards of many fruits, but no work and no education. This had to b...

Yes, this is indeed sad news. We, in Auckland, New Zealand were also fortunate to have Ernie and Helen visit us On their first visit, Ernie gave a Peavey amplifier to our new NZ. Hawaiian Steel Guitar Assn. This was almost embarrassing as it was worth about $1800 plus the cost of getting it here. A ...

Does anyone know anything about Neville Kahn who used to play steel for Johnny Wade?
Maybe our Aussie mates David Matzenik or Tony Davis could help with info. - a photo would be great. Anything would be a great help for me to do a profile for our quarterly Gazette.

Gee, it was wonderful to hear that sound again. I must give myself time to play those Hawaii Calls LPs again - in my view, they cannot be surpassed. But the spin off, for me, was Royal Hawaiian Hotel by Mai Aloma - Jeff Goorams (?) - Dick McIntire inspired maybe, but played beautifully. This is the ...

April 11th., down under means Jerry left us seven years ago. Only yesterday, I posted a letter to a friend saying how lucky we were that Jerry, Hiram and Kalani came all this way for a concert, so we were able to greet and meet. And how we were lucky they came to a bar-b-q at Ben Tawhiti's and we we...

Ray Montee - you said that it was Bernie, confirmed this am by Maili Kuaana. What relation is she to Bernie? John Marsden, England, Hawaiian music historian, would love to get in touch with her to see if she can add to what he has about Bernie. Can you help with an address?

Adam, people wish me a Happy New Year but you have just given me one. Gee, I looked at your pictures and all the memories came flooding back. I have never seen or heard of a Ludwig since Bunny shut up shop, until now. Bunny wanted a guitar that was a cut above Commodore,one that would last for years...

I don't know what it is but I do know it ain't a Commodore

I don't know what it is, but I do know it ain't a Commodore.

Ron, When you showed an interest in that tape I was hoping not to be embarrassed in not finding it - I hadn't seen it for ages. I did find it and I do not want to disappoint you by sending something you may have or seen already. It is the 6th Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ala Moana, don't know w...

Ron, I am a disappointment when it comes to computers - I can type but that is about all. The best I can do is send you a video. To confirm, you mean the one with Jerry at the Ala Moana? I will need an address. We still send our quarterly Gazette to Kaleo, out of respect and gratitude.

It was nice reading about Sonny. We got over to Hawaii in 1989 and I had written to Jerry hoping to meet him. He replied that he was going to Nasville to visit Lani Jo, but if I went to the Halekulani he had a couple of pupils playing there, Alan and Casey and he thought I would be impressed. He was...

When he arrived in NZ from Tonga in the early fifties he introduced himself as William Wolfgramme. Kiwi style, this was very quickly reduced to Bill and he dropped the " E " but retained the double " M ' Nani Wolfgramm is his nephew. Dick Sanft, another Tongan, played at the dances, b...

When I was 19 and playing steel guitar, I won some money from a building society and went to Oz on the old Wanganella. First up, find the Hawaiian Club in Sydney and found it closed. I only had one night before I went to Brisbane. And so, I did not find out anything about the Club nor meet any of th...

David - U beaut - trust an Aussie to come up with such a pearler. It was listening to playing such as this that prompted me to pose the question on the forum some time ago - are we really doing any better now than then? Take away your multi-necks, stands, pedals, reverb, foot controls - just a six s...

Thanks Rick, for the info. " Yep! Sure sounded like Jerry allright." His memory wasn't too bad - he remembered me when we got over there. He arranged coffee, he paid and I told him I would pay next time - owed it to him for the rest of his life rather than do him out of it - and in convers...

A few weeks ago I posted that I had played a mish mash tape which led me to Jerry's Hula Lady. I played more of that tape today and there was a version of Moon Of Manakoora, the steel sounds very much like Jerry, no vocal, instead a whistler warbles the song. Does anyone know for sure if it is Jerry...

Ron,
While it may be quite true that Felix Mendelssohn had that Hawaiian corner tied up, he would not have, had his steel guitarists sounded like that guy.

Others may be interested in the info. John sent on this somewhat elusive player.3 photos show him 1. standing with a fairly elaborite double 8, 2. sitting with his guitar on table top legs and with his Moana Serenaders, his son on ukulele 3. his hula girl Lehua Kailani Martin. Charles Kailani Kama a...

Gene, John Marsden does not have a computer and I have noticed a complete absence of addresses and phone numbers on this forum. If it does not infringe protocol ok. I could copy what John has sent me and post it to a postal address if I had one. John has also supplied a contact in USA but here again...