Al Kealoha Perry-- a steeler?

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 20 Sep 2004 1:08 pm

Long before I ever thought about playing steel . . . I played guitar with Mary Kay in LA and Vegas for a while in the mid 60s. I'd play at her club in the Valley occasionally--with her, and her father "Johnny Ukelele."

One night in 1967 I did a duo with a steelman on a multineck standup Fender. I had sort of remembered part of his name (I recalled that it was a Hawaiian middle name) and today I heard it on Hawaii Calls: Al Kealoha Perry.

Am I correct? A Google search reveals that he was the bandleader for the show, but was he a steel player too?

I remember he did a knocked out version of "Caravan" . . . I tried to keep up on my Gibson L-4.

Was this Al Perry?

Thanks,

Chris

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now living in the Ocean State ....

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 20 Sep 2004 3:35 pm

Heres a Bruce Clarke/Cumquat Records restoration of Al Kealoha Perry with David K. at the steel.

Several years back ... Jerry Byrd was prompting some "Home Recordings" of Jimmy Papa ... one cassette had David K. playin' steel ... the other had Al Kealoha ....

No Perry at the end ... just Al Kealoha ...

Always wondered if they were the same or different guys ???

Those Papa's were outstanding ... falsetto singin' at its finest

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HorseshoeMagnets

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 20 September 2004 at 04:36 PM.]

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 21 Sep 2004 7:47 am

Thanks, Rick. Yes, I went to this and other sites yesterday on my search.

Whoever my mystery steeler was, he played great and was very nice to an aspiring guitarist. As I recall, he played standing up.

Chris

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now living in the Ocean State ....

Maurie Junod · Post by **Maurie Junod** » 21 Sep 2004 9:01 am

Yes, I believe he was a great steeler.
Sometime back there during the fifties
I purchased an LP by Capital entitled
"Hawaii Calls: Favorite Instrumentals
Of The Islands" with Al Kealoha Perry.
Presented by Webley Edwards.

On the record label it says Arr. by
Webley Edwards, The Hawaii Calls Orch-
estra and Chorus With Al Kealoha Perry.

When I played this LP I became captivated
by his clear intonation and discovered the
C6 tuning which I erroneously called Am7 th.
I played along with the recording for a long
time until I could emulate his great style.
The recording disc sadly is practically worn
out from that effort. I credit him with
heavily influencing what I do today.

Maurie [This message was edited by Maurie Junod on 21 September 2004 at 10:06 AM.]

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 21 Sep 2004 12:29 pm

Patrick Newbery · Post by **Patrick Newbery** » 21 Sep 2004 1:04 pm

I think Jeff's correct. I have the album here and the only credit for steel guitar is given to Jules Keliikuihonua Ah See. Al Kealoha Perry served as musical director of the Hawaii Calls radio show for 30 years – 1937 to 1967.

From an online site 25 best songs, a review of Blue Hawaii:
... The definitive version is by Haunani Kahalewai with Hawaii Calls. The orchestra and chorus under the direction of Al Kealoha Perry comes through with lush harmonies and guitars and paints a memorable picture in sound of the true island paradise.

Also online:

Al Kealoha Perry was born in Kohala, Hawaii, to a Hawaiian mother and English father. He began singing in 1929 with the Aloha Temple Shrine Chanters, and in 1935 he led the Honolulu Hale Glee Club. The latter singers became the "Hawaii Calls" program's Singing Surfriders when Al Perry joined Webley Edwards. His wife Kathleen managed the Willows restaurant.

While some records were released under Perry's name, he is best known as musical director on most of the dozens of "Hawaii Calls" records. As musical director of the long-lived and enormously popular radio and television series, the venerated Perry marshalled and arranged for the various talent of Hawaii and Polynesia, while Edwards narrated and presented the program to millions. ~ Tony Wilds, All Music Guide

Maurie Junod · Post by **Maurie Junod** » 22 Sep 2004 10:53 am

Thanks guys for setting me straight on who
my true hero was. All I have heard about
Jules Ah See has been inspirational and I
am proud to have been under his influence
even if just through a recording.

Derrick Mau sent me a clipping VIA E-Mail
to further verify your posts.

Jeff, I am looking forward to meeting you
in Joliet in a few weeks. I will try to
behave myself while in your presence.

Maurie

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 22 Sep 2004 11:51 am

Maurie Junod · Post by **Maurie Junod** » 22 Sep 2004 5:52 pm

Jeff,

I'm just an old Geezer who is still working
to be able to play like my good friend Duke
Ching, as well as many other artists who I
call my heroes. The above post reflects that
this was my earliest encounter with Jules' style of playing which captivated me at the
time and still does. I don't pretend to know
everything but I keep on raising the bar.

This year will be my twelfth HSGA performance.

Maurie