Jerry Bird playing a reso (!)

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 27 Jan 2007 11:47 am

Here's a video of Jerry Bird playing a reso, with Marty Robbins backing him on guitar. Looks like a roundneck with a raised nut (?).. His reso playing is every bit as clean and elegant as his better known electric lap steel style...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0RvvAfcBtY

Steinar

Stephen Dorocke · Post by **Stephen Dorocke** » 27 Jan 2007 12:01 pm

The Master!!

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 27 Jan 2007 12:25 pm

Priceless video! Hearing Jerry play Hawaiian tunes on any sort of reso is my favorite side of Jerry.

That's totally lame how Marty made like he didn't know the tune yet somehow originated that famous Kohala March "run". Show business I guess.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 27 Jan 2007 12:54 pm

Joe KUKUI?!

I've got a VHS tape full of this stuff, and in another part Jerry sez he's been to Hawaii MANY times, more show biz.

No matter, as this is indeed priceless, and all because of Marty's total admiration of Jerry.
A road that went both ways.

Just a mention of his duds and sailor's cap would envoke a rarely seen red face of chagrin from JB, and a bunch of stories and laffs to follow.

Two of the greatests!

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 27 Jan 2007 1:31 pm

My first time to hear Jerry play acoustic steel. It sounded great and Hawaiian.

I have always thought that if Jerry would have eliminated the foot volume pedal control he would have indeed sounded more Hawaiian. But each to his own.

Aloha,

Don

Kevin Brown · Post by **Kevin Brown** » 27 Jan 2007 1:38 pm

This reminds me of the way I felt when I saw the first published picture of Robert Johnson, I just sat and stared, and stared and soaked it all up. I have never seen Jerry play on film, I heard a 6th in there just prior to playing the piece, so Im thinking its c6th. not that it matters to me, just to see the guy for real is most exciting, many thanks Steinar

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 27 Jan 2007 4:29 pm

Tell me fella's.........where was that accoustic bassman and the Uke man standing.

Yes! That was Jerry's C6th version of the tune........ It's fun to SEE what he was doing after having to visualize for so many years.

THANKS for sharing it with us.

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 27 Jan 2007 7:45 pm

Jerry and Marty did two "Drifter" episodes together, both about a half hour each.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 27 Jan 2007 8:19 pm

I'll be posting a few more as soon as I can encode them.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 27 Jan 2007 9:36 pm

I love those short legged white pants he was wearing and that sailor's hat ! Gads, I can recall when I too, wore short white trousers similar to those he's wearing along with a thatched hat figuring I looked really 'hay-way-yan' on a gig ! Embarrassing to look at those old photos today ! Anyway, seems I have an lp here somewhere in my collection on which Jerry played a National Tri-cone borrowed from Leilani Almeida, (the widow of Pua). If my memory is still in tact, I'm quite certain Barney's brothers, Atta and Norman Isaacs played backup along with Benny Kalama. I know I have that album somewhere in my collection...just have to locate it.

Mahalo for that great clip. Just proves again, he was the "Master" !

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 27 Jan 2007 9:49 pm

Basil, thanks for that great post, lookin forward to some more.

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 27 Jan 2007 10:24 pm

Keoki,

I believe the album you're thinking of is Charles K.L. Davis' "Hawai'i's Yesterdays". My favorite album containing Jerry's backup work. He plays about half on a frypan and half on a tricone.

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 27 Jan 2007 10:34 pm

"Boy, you won't find a Mexican without his guitar!" sez Marty

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 27 Jan 2007 10:45 pm

Dave, I was a little surpised by that too! I guess the world was a different place back in those days

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 28 Jan 2007 2:25 am

I will add them ALL here as I finish uploading them to YouTube

In Chronolgical order as per the show EVENTUALLY..
1. Beyond the Reef
2. The Night I came ashore
3. The Sea and Me
4. Kohala March
5. Unknow Hula
6. My wonderful One
7. Maui Chimes / aloha Oe

1. Beyond the Reef Click Here

2. The Night I Came Ashore - Click Here

The Sea and Me Preamble - Click Here

3. The Sea and Me - Click Here

The sea and Me CHORDS Discussion - Click Here

4. Kohala March - Click Here

(Composed by (Heinrich) Henry Berger, seen standing behind queen Lilioukalani)

More about Henry :-

Royal Hawaiian Band - Click Here

5. Unknown Hula - Click Here

Preamble to Wonderful One

6. Wonderful One

Preamble to Maui Chimes - Click Here

7. Maui Chimes - Click Here

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 28 Jan 2007 5:35 am

Not wishing to "Hijack" Stienar's post, I'll put these and the rest of the show in the RECOMMENDED place for videos and soundclips ... 'Steel on the Web'
Baz
Although IMHO it WOULD be better if we were allowed to post NON Pedal clips here as the 'Steel on The Web' section is predominantly viewed by pedalists

John Dahms · Post by **John Dahms** » 28 Jan 2007 6:31 am

OK, here's Jerry in a sailor's cap and clam diggers with an old Regal Dobro, I don't know what to expect. Then he plays. I don't know why I even try.

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 28 Jan 2007 7:00 am

Who's the joker with body odor that walked onto the set mid-song?!?

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 28 Jan 2007 7:47 am

Gregg McKenna pointed out on the Jerry Douglas forum that the dobro in the clips is a 7-string, and if you pause the clip, you can see that it is true.

7-string dobros-not common now (yes, I know,Gary Morse has a Beard 7), but probably a very "rare byrd" back then!

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 28 Jan 2007 10:52 am

I Think that the 7 string resonator was probably because he played 7 string electric for so long that it was probably his most comfortable string configuration. C6/A7 in most and A6 for Maui Chimes and Aloha Oe.

Check out the Clips I've added.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 28 Jan 2007 10:55 am

I'm curious as to what audience this was aimed at. Marty plays the curious inquirer and acts like its all news to him, yet Marty himself was quite proficient on Dobro and Pedal Steel from all accounts, so much so that he was known to stop recording, and demonstrate to the pedal man what he wanted in the background.

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 28 Jan 2007 5:34 pm

Baz,

We are indebted to you for all your efforts in making these classic videos available to us. Not only the videos but the information that you made available that informs us.

I have enjoyed all of it immensely.

Mahalo nui loa,

Don

Stephan Miller · Post by **Stephan Miller** » 28 Jan 2007 7:37 pm

Wonderful stuff. Thank you Steinar and Baz!

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 29 Jan 2007 5:14 am

A hearty thanks to Steiner and Basil for sharing those great goodies with us. George

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 29 Jan 2007 5:54 am

priceless stuff. thanks guys.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Jerry Bird playing a reso (!)

Jerry Bird playing a reso (!)

GREAT JERRY BYRD..........

it was a different time...