Big Band Steel?

Dwayne Martineau · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

I'm just sitting at work, listening to Mel Torme for the first time, realizing how ridiculously talented he was.

There's no steel, of course, but I'm hearing it all over this stuff--scads of room in these arrangements for some tasty Byrd-style steel.

Does anyone know of steel appearing in a setting like this?

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Guy Mitchell.......and his orchestra....to name but one.

seldomfed · From: Colorado

Andy Iona, Dick Mcintyre (sp?), Buddy Emmons w/ Ray Pennington, Alvino Rey, ...., just climb in the 'way back' machine.

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Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon"
www.book-em-danno.com

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Paul Whitman's Orchestra. He used a female steel guitar player.

During the big band era it was not uncommon for some big bands to incorporate the "Hawaiian guitar". During the 30's and early 40's, steel guitar could be heard often on popular radio. Many pop stars like Bing Crosby, Kay Starr, Terresa Brewer and Patti Page often used the steel guitar.

Sadly, this all died out along with most of the Big Bands.

carl

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

I've seen pix of Hal Aloma in one of the Dorsey Bros. bands w/Frank Sinatra, but it may have been stills from a movie and not actually with him as a full time member.

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Carl, I wonder who was this "female steel player" (and what's a "female steel" anyway?

)

Kenny Dail · From: Kinston, N.C. R.I.P.

Jimbo...Female steels have no knee levers.

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Dwayne Martineau · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Alright, I've got some hot public library action ahead of me! Thanks. Keep em' comin'!

P.S. My steel is a female. She weighs only fifty pounds, and her four legs are a little wobbly, but she sings like a dream.

Also, she has three heads.

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Jim,

Her name was Letritia Kandel. She traveled with the Orchestra for many years. Then she decided to stay at home and opened up "Modern Guitar Studios" in downtown Chicago. 306 S. Wabash as I recall.

I know cuz I took Hawaiian Guitar lessons from her for years. She was the most thoroughly trained musician I have ever known. And an ole "mama lion" if there ever was one.

A "female steel" is a steel that has to keep its legs together when it sits down.

carl

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

I beleive Sam Koki played steel guitar on Bing Crosby's early records, including his theme song "When the blue of the night meets the gold of the day" Crosby recorded some of his old stuff in later years without a steel.

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

Don't forget Buddy Merrill w/Lawrence Welk.

Everett Cox · From: Marengo, OH, USA (deceased)

Don't leave out our own Forumite JODY CARVER.

He was/is as good as it gets.

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

An orchestra which only olde pharts like me would recall was the Paul Martin Orchestra which featured some of the smoothest steel with a big band you'd want to hear. Now, this goes back to the early forties. Paul was closely associated with Alvino, but that's where any similarity ceased. Alvino was a bit brash with dynamics whereas Paul had a beautiful smooth touch to his style. Both used the early Gibson pedal guitars. Talking with Alvino, he mentioned many of Paul's big band arrangements were written by Alvino. Paul's big band was in the LA region mostly, and many radio transcriptions of the orchestra came out during that era. I wish I had some of them, but unfortunately I have only about 5 minutes worth of listening.

Blake Hawkins · From: Florida

Orrin Tucker used a steel guitar for accents in some of his recordings.

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Keoki-I am glad you mentioned Paul Martin, very few people mention him, but that was long ago and before WWII.

I remember Paul Martin very well. In fact I liked his smooth style a little better than Alvino's.

I did my darndest to copy both of their playing styles.I used to hear Paul Martins playing on the radio coming from California.

But Alvino was more popular and put out a lot of records, which I bought.

And yes, let us not forget Jody Carver and Rico Turchetti........al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

[This message was edited by Al Marcus on 05 June 2004 at 09:41 PM.]

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

And yes, let us not forget Jody Carver and Rico Turchetti........;;;;quote Al Marcus

Maybe so but Rico and myself were influenced
by the Steel Guitar Pioneers AL MARCUS and ALVINO REY. Thanks for the plug but you deserve the credit

Those that know Al Marcus
can attest to that. Right? You betcha

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 06 June 2004 at 07:34 PM.]

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Al, I have heard some of your work and what I heard had a similar Paul Martin "ring" to it. There are not many pedal guitarists around these days who can capture "that" sound.

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