Steel Guitar Considered an Embarrassment.

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 24 Sep 2004 12:59 am

So I'm reading an article online about the resurgence of the ukulele and see the following statement: "Steel guitar, on the other hand, is considered an embarrassment." Huh?! Can this possibly be true? You would think Hawaiians would be proud of their invention and influence on the world of music. What do you folks think? Is this just a writer's imagination or is there some truth to the statement? To see the sentence in context and find more information, click on the link below.

enRoute Magazine, Sept 2004, pp 77-90. That's the in-flight magazine of Air Canada. Full text and some of the photos are online at http://www.enroutemag.com/e/september04/travel.html

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Dan Sawyer
Fender Deluxe 8® (stringmaster), Fender Deluxe 8 (trap), Gibson EH-150, Wayne Lap Steel

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 24 Sep 2004 3:07 am

I'll file that with the precipitous decline or even non avaliability of airline food.

Since they can't ge that right anymore,
how they gonna pay good writers for the inflight ad space / backside wipe this comes from.

But it seems to be coming from the same mindset as the bluegrass nazis.

Some other people had huge successes and that's tied to comercial excess.. in Hawaii.

Others did different things with it, so now it isn't traditional or reflects a time we don't find traditional enough, so it sucks.

He quotes from one tiny little inbreed self-reinforcing group and passes it off as gosepl.
Yeah right.

But now, hundreds of travelers get this pap, and now suddenlly have an opinion.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 24 Sep 2004 4:29 am

Can this possibly be true?

Yes, when I play.

John McGann · Post by **John McGann** » 24 Sep 2004 4:43 am

If it's not the steel, it's accordion, or banjo, or something in someone's mind....

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Bill Leff · Post by **Bill Leff** » 24 Sep 2004 6:41 am

I'd like to hear from some of the Hawaiians that frequent this forum on this topic!

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 24 Sep 2004 7:19 am

I don't think the steel guitar by itself is considered an embarassment, but many of the Hawaiian recordings that featured the steel guitar in 1960's could be.

Listen to many of these recordings. Frequently you'll hear cheesy background vocals (ala - the Ray Coniff Singers), sound effects of waves hitting the shore, and heavy-handed, overly arranged orchestral horns and strings.

Not hip at all.

Compare those recordings to Andy Iona, Sol Hoopii, Dick McIntire, Jules Ah See, Gabby Pahinui etc. Which have more soul?

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 24 September 2004 at 12:29 PM.]

Wayne Carver · Post by **Wayne Carver** » 24 Sep 2004 7:26 am

I have a few Hawaiian recordings that are great, like one buy "Alvino Rey" that I found the other day at Goodwill but I too hate the ones Gerald was talking about.
I,m sure there are people in the mountains that are ashamed of "Hillbilly" music as an example.

Bob Hickish · Post by **Bob Hickish** » 24 Sep 2004 7:36 am

Its hard to imagine Hawaiian music with
out a Steel ! Here in this area , I have seen
what might be a new interest in the Steel !
There is a night club in Port Angeles that
has gone completely country - Western Swing To
Country rock - and if there were more Steel
player's here ,There would be steel in all the bands
playing there . I hope it a new trend .
BH

Dwayne Martineau · Post by **Dwayne Martineau** » 24 Sep 2004 9:36 am

If it's not the steel, it's accordion, or banjo

My three favourite instruments!!!

[This message was edited by Dwayne Martineau on 24 September 2004 at 10:36 AM.]

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 24 Sep 2004 9:46 am

Alan Kirk · Post by **Alan Kirk** » 24 Sep 2004 10:10 am

[This message was edited by Alan Kirk on 24 September 2004 at 11:14 AM.]

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 24 Sep 2004 3:00 pm

Maybe it was just another canuck who like doesn't USA. The Canadian Govmt. sure isn't on our side. So who gives a dam what their crappy airline puts along along side their crappy food.
Bill

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 24 Sep 2004 3:03 pm

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 24 Sep 2004 3:10 pm

...it's just the writer's own opinion.

Think___do you know of an intelligent journalist?

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 24 Sep 2004 5:41 pm

The fact of the matter, in the very early days Hawaiian music consisted of violins, and God forbid, banjos! I have an old EDISON CYLINDER DISC with that precise instrumentation. Hawaiian Steel Guitar is a "johnny-come-lately" on the Hawaiian instrumental scene but were it not for this great instrument, and its exposure throughout the world on "Hawai'i Calls" short-wave, the lure of the islands would never have been what it was back then. As Jerry has often stated, The steel guitar is the SIGNATURE sound of Hawai'i. As a Canadian, I'm ashamed that article was published in the AIR CANADA rag.

Steve Merritt · Post by **Steve Merritt** » 27 Sep 2004 2:28 pm

The funny thing to me is, I see Uke as being more embarassing! When I think of Hawaii I think of Don Ho and Tiny Bubbles. What is upsetting about that statement is the reference to 'corny redneck country music'. Famous Coutry Steelers IMO have legitimized the Steel Guitar. But again that is in my opinion.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 27 Sep 2004 4:27 pm

There are now 9 decades of recorded Hawaiian music (which includes some of the greatest music ever made) that will go unheard of by the masses, most of whom will always associate various rinky dink sounds with this state and some wouldn't care for the good stuff even if they did encounter it. Steel guitar in particular is just too unfamiliar or abstract for most, and the cliche's heard in commercials etc. perpetuate the 'embarrassment' factor.

Steel is too deep for your average person to appreciate these days, as they've been dumbed down past even it's most obvious merits and don't think there's anything worthwhile in it.

The writer had a typical lack of familiarity with the islands musical history and the steel, but the article overall was well done.

The uke is a fine instrument of course, but STEEL IS KING, and good Hawaiian music CANNOT be denied!

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 27 Sep 2004 7:18 pm

...drums, now to play drums, that's an embarrassment.
Oh! I beg your pardon. I suppose the consideration is "musical" instruments.

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 27 Sep 2004 9:59 pm

Now watch it, guys! I'm a serious uke player in my alternate life (just check my webpage). But seriously, there is nothing that can "sing" like a steel guitar. Maybe the writer was refering to the fact that many young people are taking up the uke and see it as a symbol of Hawaiian pride. Maybe these young people find steel guitar to be an embarrasment. If so, that's really too bad since the steel was invented in Hawaii and the uke was not.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 28 Sep 2004 7:43 am

"Maybe it was just another canuck who like doesn't USA. The Canadian Govmt. sure isn't on our side. So who gives a dam what their crappy airline puts along along side their crappy food".
____________________________________________
Rather NASTY words directed at America's closest and FRIENDLIEST neighbor. You must remember the entire population of Canada is hardly a match for the population of the State of California. We have a very small military which is devoted to peace-keeping and has built a tremendous reputation worldwide for doing so. Canada was NOT the only nation to not support the Bush invasion of Iraq. However our record stands proud in Afghanistan, Bosnia, et al. Your comment betrays your total ignorance of the best friend the US has or ever will have !

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 28 Sep 2004 8:01 am

George; I apologize to all my Canadian friends for the remarks. I guess I must have been thinking mostly about the French, who seem to be contrary to everything.
Not only that, Florida needs the snowbirds to get thier economy back up and running after three hurricanes.
Regards BILL

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 28 Sep 2004 9:27 am

Bill, you live close. Go spend some time in Canada; you'll love it and it's people. I've been there twice (Banff area and Niagara Falls area).

I'd live there if I could turn off the "deep freeze".

Spending so much of my life in a southern California Mediterranian climate my blood is probably about the consistency of strawberry Kool-Aid.

[This message was edited by Rick Collins on 28 September 2004 at 10:29 AM.]

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 28 Sep 2004 9:33 am

I recall when the Iranians captured the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979. There was a contingent of US diplomats that were rescued by the brave folks at the Canadian Embassy. That incredible gesture should not be lost on ANY OF US.

Just MHO.

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Texas Steel Guitar Association

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 28 Sep 2004 9:36 am