Gerald: I was just coming into No Peddlers to make a post on the PHC debacle when I saw yours. You are so right ! I too found it a slap in the face and especially so, by the Hawaiian musicians themselves. They of all people know what we know and it is almost more than I can tolerate. I mean HPTV has even done shows on Jerry Byrd and knows the legend and the heritage only too well. Their oversight on one of their mainline programs is unforgivable and reeks of incompetence on their part as well as Garrison Keiler. Supposedly he is a Chet Atkins admirer and one of folk and country music as well. This stain will tarnish his standing with a lot of music lovers who, unlike him and PBS, KNOW THE DIFFERENCE !!
I'm going to try and get on line with PHC and tell them what a flop the show was because of that oversight.
One redeeming factor I did notice was the "Electric Solid Body Ukelelee." What a tone ! I thought it was someone playing a Gretch Country Gentleman (ala:Chet Atkins !) but there were simply too many four note passes ( and a lot of them were old steel guitar slant runs too !) not to remind me of Authur Godfrey's
hand at the Uke when he did many Hawaiian shows. I had never heard one let alone heard of one but it is a sound whose time has come.
Forget those old fears of Buck Trent and an electric b@njo. This is a whole new world and what kills me is they are doing it with four strings.(??) I cannot believe the low end and the smoothness of it. I think it would be a beautiful match with the steel guitar and that is something else they missed on the show. These two instruments in harmony would make some exceptionally good music. Something we can wait for, I suppose. 
Regards, Paul[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 06 January 2002 at 10:28 AM.]
