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Topic: Crow Bear: Harry Hougassian? |
Chris Brooks
From:
Providence, Rhode Island
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Posted 18 May 2006 7:32 am |
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Mon ami:
You dedicate your good Steel Guitar France web site to Harry Hougassian.
In the photo, he sure looks like Django would have--if Django had played a double 8. (Now THERE's a fantasy!!)
Who was he? Where? How? When? Why?
Respondez avec des informations, s'il vous plait.
Chris |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Edward Efira
From:
California, USA
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Posted 19 May 2006 2:49 pm
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For those interested, here is a translation from Yann Mezou's post on the french Steel Guitar Forum:
Harry Hougassian, wow, what a character!
Around 1987, I spent an evening in a restaurant named the Ranch River in Chenevierres upon Marne (near Paris). That's one of the few places where they play live C&W (in France). That's where I discovered Harry Hougassian with his buddy Mike Robin on guitar and fiddle. They played as a trio with "Phillyform", a country veteran in France who MC'd the show and played a washboard (he also used to write words for Bourvil, a famous french comedian/singer/actor).
Harry, a little bold man with a well trimmed moustache, wearing suspenders and a bolo-tie started to play his steel guitar.
I could not believe my ears and eyes: a true explosion of dexterity, he played every style on his 6 strings (lap), from Country (Hank Williams) to Jazz (How High The Moon) through Tango, Mariachi, Hawaiian and Tahitian. The 3 of them together created an amazing amotsphere, Harry sang in spanish and in tahitian... you could perceive a hint of "Musette" (traditional french accordion virtuoso style) which added a grain of magic, far away from the gutless Nashville/new country-FM style.
Harry's tuning is E13th: E C# B G# E D B. his inspiration was Jerry Byrd.
He is fiercely partial to the "hawaiian guitar", even if he had owned a PSG he would only consider a pedal-less steel guitar. That evening, they let me to play acoustic guitar (i had one in my car) with them.
we had a great connexion so I asked Harry for some advice, telling him about my interest in the steel guitar.
A few month later, I bought a 8 strings Fender from Magnetic France a (now defunct) Paris good vintage shop. I took my first lessons from Harry, and I watched him play a lot: he used a lot of slants, he would play a lot on his first string (E) for the fast tunes like Beer Barrel Polka. He would always start with a few ballads or medium tempo songs and end up with fast ones (Yakety Axe?) he would sometimes use a sho-bud volume pedal. His guitar player was a perfect match and would play chords with a running bass line. the 2 of them would put up a great show, with an endless mostly instrumental repertoire.
Harry had his moment of glory during the 60's during the tahitian shows era, along with other steelers like Marcel Bianchi. Harry told me that he was playing the choo-choo train "interlude" (a big french TV fixture during the 60's). you can find his records on CD at the FNAC (http://fnac.com/) under the names of Harry Hougass and Harry Kalapana...
I prefer the live Harry, I am gonna try to contact him and inform him that he is now a reference for many steel guitarists.
If only he could play live again...
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 20 May 2006 1:13 am
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Merci frérot  |
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Edward Efira
From:
California, USA
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Posted 20 May 2006 9:21 am
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My plaisir,
EE |
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