Recordings of Ernest or Freddie Tavares?

[Tim Toberer]

I recently learned about these brothers through this post https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=386170 and I cannot find anything recorded by them. Anyone know where to look???

[Chris Clem]

Freddie plays on this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn3m6ee0kyA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTnHZVyakHA

[Cody Farwell]

Here is Ernest Tavares playing with T Texas Tyler

https://youtu.be/cgWCAPQrexk

[Tim Toberer]

Freddie plays on this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn3m6ee0kyA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTnHZVyakHA

Got to love the "drenched in reverb" sound! It doesn't sound like anyone could do it better than Freddie. Curious that his playing comes across as classic C6 or A6, I presume he is playing his homemade pedal steel, if so he uses the pedals very sparsely and judiciously. Thanks for that rare gem!

[Glenn Wilde]

I have this album with Freddy on it.

[Tim Toberer]

Here is Ernest Tavares playing with T Texas Tyler

https://youtu.be/cgWCAPQrexk

Now that is what I am talking about! Definitely one of the best versions of Panhandle Rag I have ever heard. That recording is up there with the Billy Jack Wills stuff. Wish there was more, but at least we have these. Really takes you back to those times..

Cody, I am very interested to hear more about Ernest's guitar whenever you are ready to share. Your post cleared up a mystery I have been trying to solve for about 6 months. I was searching for any information about pedal steel diminished tunings

and I found this old post. https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtop ... 63718339b3

In the first response a "Vince Acuna" is mentioned as using this tuning. I searched and searched and I couldn't find anything. Then while reading about Ernest I saw his bass player was named Vince Akina and I had my lightbulb moment.

Funny how everyone seems to think this tuning is a very bad idea, even though they never tried it. Ernest and Freddie seem to get around pretty good on it! The E9 folks are a dedicated lot I guess. Non-pedalers seem much more open to the idea of new tunings.

[Tim Toberer]

I found this on Spotify. Pretty sure Duke Kamoku is Ernest Tavares. https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ECiIJ3Sydq741znF8WPUP

I am not big into Hawaiian music, but this is a great record. The full voicings really give him a unique sound. It seems every once in a while you hear a slight pedal bend, but this effect seems like something he actively avoids. I love the volume swells. I just hope there is a hidden trove of recordings somewhere...

[Tim Toberer]

I believe this is Freddie https://archive.org/details/78_anytime_ ... +Sage.flac
The killer solo reminds me of Joaquin Murphey

[Mike Neer]

Freddie with The Outriggers
https://youtu.be/2I2Hz2wtn-0
https://youtu.be/Jn3m6ee0kyA

with William Kealoha
https://youtu.be/lqw6gj_T8qs

with Ray Conniff
https://youtu.be/wlNPUB3ocaY

one track with Axel Stordahl
https://youtu.be/gQEIGbaJByk &t=28m11s

[Tim Toberer]

It is a tragedy that these two brothers have been almost completely lost to history! They have made such a large contribution to modern music, yet even here most people haven't heard of them it seems.

I have been listening to The Polynesians pretty much constantly since I posted this, and I can see why people fall hard for Hawaiian music. This group takes me to my happy place pretty much instantly. It almost gives me hope for humanity! There is a fair amount on Spotify but I can't verify all of it has one of the Tavares on it. It reminds me of the Kingston Trio only with steel guitar and a much jazzier style of arrangement. The Duke Kamoku stuff is really nice as well.

Since I really started getting into steel guitar I have gotten used to suffering through some music I really don't love just to hear a great steel guitar solo (ex. Spade Cooley), it is nice to find a couple entire records I can listen to from front to back over and over. The Polynesians are the perfect group. Thanks for sharing!

[Mike Neer]

The Polynesians had several steel players: Bobby Nichols, Sam Koki and Bernie Kaai in addition to the Tavares brothers.

There are a few people here who are very knowledgeable about Hawaiian music, but that number is shrinking. When I started playing, I was mostly only interested in Hawaiian steel and asked a lot of questions. There are a few players—let’s face it, most of them—who slip under the radar. Bob Nichols is one of them.

By the way, Freddie’s birthday was just a few days ago (February 18 ).

[Tim Toberer]

This is a great site! https://territorialairwaves.com/index.p ... =30&id=590

[Tim Toberer]

Another gem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVAd5EB ... k53c0g5cw8

[David Matzenik]

I have this album with Freddy on it.

I totally forgot I have that album. Juat played it. Its a cheapo label, but its a great record.

[Tim Toberer]

https://radioechoes.com/?page=play_down ... =5.39%20MB
Most likely Freddie Tavares on steel. Great moment in history! Surprising sound quality!! No exact date sometime in the 1930's

[Tim Toberer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7swR8MATA0 My grandpa introduced me to Spike Jones when I was a kid. Never knew I had been listening to Freddie Tavares the whole time! His Looney tunes glissando is a sure sign that it is him on steel.

Here's one my mom used to sing to me. Pretty sure it is Ernie, Freddie or possibly Vince Akina. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abPcqwboeGg

[David Matzenik]

Does anyone know the relationship between Vince Akina, and Duke Akina? Duke had a band called The Hawaiian Four. Pictures of him appear on page 200 of Lorene Ruymar's book, and also on p19 of the Centerbrook Aloha Collection of Hawaiian Songs.