PEDAL STEEL PLAYERS in Honolulu?

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

There's a rumor that a certain somebody that plays exceptional "original Hawaiian Steel Guitar" while establishing a world-wide celebrity reputation for himself has recently purchased a FENDER 400-500-600-800 with pedals and all, or whatever.

The question is: will he be the first to introduce the "Nashville Sound" into the revitalization of traditional Hawaiian Music or does he have something else in mind?

WHO knows the answer to this gripping question? Hold back not......share this revelation with all your Forum friends.

Jim Florence · From: wilburton, Ok. US * R.I.P.

Too late Ray, I poluted the air there many years ago. I was in the "DUNES" seven nights a week from 1967 to 1970. Chick Donner was there also. Surprisingly enough, when I got there in 1967, I was about the only steeler there. None of the "Hawaiian" shows used steel at that time. That changed when Jerry Byrd came over there. He didn't play pedals either.But one night my wife and I went over to the Top three club on Hickam AFB, for dinner, I looked up and lo and behold, J.B. was setting up. After we talked for a few minutes, for the rest of the night, I had the great Jerry Byrd for my personal steel player.What a memory.
Jim

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Jim, glad to hear you had such a memorable JB moment while you were here, I'll bet it was great.

You may not be aware of the firestorm posts in the past about whether or not Jerry had anything to do with the resurgence of Hawaiian steel's popularity,(usually led by our friend the "certain someone"), but I'm glad to see yet another who was there, state the facts that Jerry came here and put a big new breath of life into the moldy (but still walking) corpse of Hawaiian steel.

Now, now, play nice.

As to Ray's question, we've been thru the 'Nashville sound' Hawaiian style already. It sukt as bad as the original.
However, Melveen Leed's 2 Nashville LPs were an example of how to do it right, of course with Jerry Byrd on cymbals.

And, that Fender pedal steel will probably collect lots of dust before it's used again by it's very secret owner. Not to worry, he needs it about as much as a nerf bar and picks.

Jim Florence · From: wilburton, Ok. US * R.I.P.

Ron, I have many fond memories of Hawaii. We were stationed there a total of six years. My group was the first group to be called the "Mavericks", and we were offered,{each} of us, a new Ford Maverick. alas, we were all in the military, and we weren't allowed to accept the cars. My wife was a booking agent, and booked a lot of country artists over there, mostly in military clubs. Guess who was the backup band for the visiting artists. Yep the "Mavericks". Ha.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Jim, I'm betting you saw one of the very first gigs Jerry did in Hawaii after moving there, and just before you left. Good timing.

Sounds like the 'rookie' had to pay his dues and slowly move up the ranks of the established players as he proved his worth.

He done pretty good after all, didn't he?!

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

Bobby Hew Lin played a Fender pedal steel in the Blue Dolfin Room in the 70s. Freddie Tavares also played a fender ped at the JB steel show two yrs running,Hilo Hatties husband played a fender ped at their shows and there are two ot three more that I can't remember their names. All played fenders. During my confab with Bobby at the Blue Dolfin he said the ped on the bandstand was actualy Billy's. Whenever the song he was going to play required a reverse slant to make it sound right and really Billy Hew Lin; he would use the ped guitar as he could not make a reverse slant due to the bar glove he had to use. Bobby said he stayed away from those songs but would play them if requested and only in the Blue Dolfin as the band leader, a bassman with a fine singing voice insisted all requests be honered. The other member of the Blue Dolfin trio at that time was a rhythem player and singer and I think it was Ku ipo ah sing, Long time ago man CC

Jim Florence · From: wilburton, Ok. US * R.I.P.

Ron, No he wasn't considered a rookie, they all knew who he was, and he told me that he had come to Hawaii because he felt his music was "outdated" in Nashville. And come to think of it, what I had thought all my life was "Hawaiian Music" was really J.B. and Lani Mcintire's version of Hawaiian music. It was somewhat a shock to me when I first got there in 1967. to hear the "Island" version . C.C mentioned the "Blue Dolphin" room, and I don't remember it. Was it in Honolulu?

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

Sure was but I can't remember the hotel. The outrigger seems correct but don't take it as gospel. CC

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

I assure you Jim, that rookie remark was with my whole tounge in cheek! But JB did still have to prove he had the goods, as some of the worldly local players were indeed aware of Jerry to a point, but it took a while before they relised that he was such an ass kicker, and that he had a resume like anybody on the planet.

Mr. Hawaiian music, Benny Kalama sure had respect for Jerry, and accompanied him as often as possible. But he too had to 'learn' about Jerry to get the big picture.

CC, could that be Billy's brother Buddy instead of 'Bobby'? It was a long time back, but was there a better time?

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

Ron, this guy was Billys brother. Billy was very thin, this fellow was about 5 ft and stockey build wore glasses I said Bobby as that is what I remember after all these yrs. Could have been Buddy. They later played at the shopping center across the street from the Royal. I believe his day job was with Haw electric. CC

Perry Hansen · From: Bismarck, N.D.

Jim. I think I beat you there. I was in Honolulu from May 57 to March 61. I worked with Patty and Howard Gerald at the Anchor Club for a while and then worked with Buckskin Bob Smith backing the artist that he booked in. We played all of the Service clubs along with some of the locals Like the Pearl City Tavern, etc. I played a Fender 1000 at the time. I sold it to Dave knight (Forehand) When I left. I also have fond memories of Hawaii. Thanks for bringing them back. My only regret is that I was not there to meet the great Jerry Byrd.

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

Ron, I found my old menu from the Blue Dolfin. The hotel was the Outrigger, it was Buddy hew Lin, and the bass/vocal was Bill Messer and Kuipo was on guitar. At the same time across from the Royal was Eddie Kekaula with David Kelii on steel. He even remembered me from the 11yr old prior to dec7. cc

Jim Florence · From: wilburton, Ok. US * R.I.P.

You guys are making me homesick. Perry, I knew Howard and Patty well, worked with them at the "Dunes". They were divorced by the time I met them, but were still working together. They had Bill Spiliard, on guitar, and Duke Lee, on drums. Patty played bass, but was equally tallented on guitar. Great musicians.

Chick Donner · From: North Ridgeville, OH USA

For Perry hansen .... You must have known Len Ryder (Lemieux) . . he held forth at the NEw Frontier. I met him in early '67. A friend took me downtown to the New Frontier and I sas my first steel guitar (pedal). I sat enthralled all night and came back the next nite4 and bought that guitar. It was his old 3 neck ShoBud. He had just purchased a fingertip ShoBud which he still plays today. He left shortly thereafter and I ended playing back at the NF with Jerry Hopkins and Sheila Tilton. I also have pictures of me with Sheila's sister, Bill Spilliard and Liz Carter (on drum) at the New Frontier, but couldn't tell you exactly when it was. Somnetime in late '68 or early '69.

My FIRST gig on steel was with Stu North and the Muleskinners at the Waiani (sp) NCO Club late on a Sunday afternoon.

DeWitt Scott · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA * R.I.P.

I remember selling a Fender 400 to Billy Hue Lin. I have sold a pedal steel to one of the other known steel players along with some of Doug Jernigans Jazz CD's. I have heard him play several times since then and he was still playing the non pedal. I remember Freddie Tavares playing steel at the Garden room at the Ala Moana hotel. He played on a Fender 400 and the year was 1985. I know for sure that he played in the year 1985 as I recorded the show on a Teac 4 track recorder. I also recorded the 1986 show and I still have the masters to those shows. That was a fun time for me. Being recorded on four tracks the players had a chance to punch in and clean up some things. I think only one player took advantage to that and he brought he steel to my hotel room and we did the overdub there.

I also remember the Dunes night club. Oalso ne time I got a phone call from a steel player wanting a band to play the Dunnes and I fixed him up OK. The guy bought a Sho Bud Professional steel but.....

I also remember going to the International Market and hearing a steel player in a bar there. In fact, he called me a few months ago and is now living in Canada. At this point in time, early 1960's, most of the playing was country and western in clubs and on military bases and they were playing on pedal steels. Scotty

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

Scotty I was at the show that you recorded. Do you remember Freddie saying that he brought the 400 with him so he could set down to play? take care CC

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

CHICK DONNER, Len Ryder wants to know where that steel is. He asked me a year ago if I knew anybody who had it.

Scotty, you're making me puke to think I missed Freddie Tavares anywhere in Hawaii in '85.

XXXX!

Have you made those recordings available, or possibly in the (near) future?

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

Hey guys, it's HEW LEN (Billy and Buddy).

Jim Florence · From: wilburton, Ok. US * R.I.P.

Nobody knows where that old Sho Bud is. Chick had me sell it for him when we both ordered new ZBs. I lived in Kalihi at the time and sold it to a local. He paid me cash and I didn't even get his name. BTW, Chick and I both still have those ZBs. And last night I remembered that I have a copy of J.B.'s book. It tells about the blue Dolphin room, and the whole story about J.B. BTW I bought the book from Scotty's at St. Louis.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Jim, thanx for letting me know the guitar is lost in the ozone.

Per JB's book, it's far from the whole story, but still a good read.

Chick Donner · From: North Ridgeville, OH USA

RON WHITFIELD, I wanna know where it is too. If I find it first, I'm buying it. I know Len feels the same way. I could kick myself for selling it to JF, but in those days I needed the money. Now of course . . . . .

Jim Florence · From: wilburton, Ok. US * R.I.P.

Ron, I'm almost sure it went to the big island.
How about J.B.s health?

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

I think Len mentioned it going off Oahu at some point as well.

Jerry is hanging in there, having gotten his appetite back after the initial problem was worked out to get ready for surgery (which he said didn't do any good...), but it ain't easy, as he had to get the tube back into his bladder a while back which hampers everything. I'll try and get a response from Jack about the latest, so keep your eye on 'no peddlers'. Every time I try to call Jerry I have to give up as I can't stand the thot of him having a hard time. His wife is an RN so he's getting the best home care possible.

Thanx for asking, and LONG LIVE JB!

Perry Hansen · From: Bismarck, N.D.

Chick. I didn't know Len Ryder, he was probably after I left in 61, but I did work with Bill Spilliard for quite some time. Him and I also worked with George Riddle backing the greats. I did forget to mention a country steel player that was there when I got there. That was Cal Clayson, also a DJ at KAHU in Waipahu(sp). He got me started in the DJ business.

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

I played pedal steel on Oahu in 81' and 82' with Junior Brown and a few others during urban cowboy mania. There was a real honky tonk named Ducky's Silver Spur in Waipahu I'll never forget. Scary. I gigged at a country bar in the International Marketplace, the Hilton Hawaiian Village, and a few others scattered around Waikiki at that time. There was also a club called the Pecos(?) in Pearl City where I saw my first line dancers, the all male crew right off a Navy submarine. Yikes!

It was a great life for a young surfing steeler! Play all night in town, surf all day in "da country". (North Shore)
When my soon to be overly haole ex-wife got "rock fever", I was forced to leave. My fingernails are still in the runway.

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