Don Sweatman

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 10 Apr 2013 10:52 pm

News has reached me that DON SWEATMAN of Staten Island, NY., has left us. Don was a very quiet talented gentleman who was a charter member of the ALOHA INTERNATIONAL STEEL GUITAR CLUB. Not only a fine steel guitarist in his own right, his hobby was building some mighty fine steel guitars and often giving them away. It was one such guitar which he built for the famous Hawaiian Cowboy, SOL K. BRIGHT which was presented to Solomon during his only visit to the AISGC Convention in Winchester, IN. Sol loved this beautiful multi-wood fry-pan and can be seen/heard playing it on many YouTUBE videos. While attending the AISGC concerts, Don would often repair members guitars. He did so to my old 8 string bakelite Rickenbaker which was suffering an internal electronic ailment just prior to my performance. Mahalo Don...you will be missed by so many members who met you !

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 11 Apr 2013 5:02 am

I didn't know Don, but I'm sorry that I didn't, especially since he lived so close to me. RIP Don.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 12 Apr 2013 5:52 am

Sorry to hear about Don........I met Don around 1979/80 when he was recommended to me by The Bluegrass Club of NY to repair my lap steel......I believe that Don and Bill Creller were the go to guys for repairing and refurbishing steels.......

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 12 Apr 2013 12:51 pm

I spoke with Don about 9 months ago and we discussed the wooden 8 string fry pan he built. Don was very knowledgable and a good craftsman.
He was always willing to chat steel guitar with anyone. My uncle Vern knew him quite well from the IHSGA.

David Yannuzzi · Post by **David Yannuzzi** » 15 Apr 2013 3:28 pm

I am so sorry to hear of Don's passing . When i first started playing Steel ( lap and pedal) I had an Emmons student model that needed some help . Mandolin Bros. gave me his phone # and said he might be able to help . Don Helped me with my Steel and was very knowledgable about steel guitar and especially hawaiian music .

I ended up buying and 8 string magnatone from him and took a couple of lessons from him .He was a wealth of info and just the nicest guy .

I sold that magatone but still have a notebook with some tunes he tabbed out for me . I remember he had and Gibson Lap that had a really early serial # that he would play that sounded great .

RIP DON

bruce fischer · Post by **bruce fischer** » 16 Apr 2013 1:05 pm

RIP Don,
prayers for all his family & friends.
bruce & lynn

jim flynn · Post by **jim flynn** » 7 Jul 2013 1:28 pm

Condolences to the Sweatman family He was a Good man!

Bill Wynne · Post by **Bill Wynne** » 4 Sep 2013 9:34 am

I met Don twice and had the pleasure of accompanying him at one convention. A marvelous player and a terrific human being.

I still use a bar he made me from some unknown polymer. The guy was technically brilliant.

I will try to post some video of him here soon.

R.I.P., Don.

~ Bill