The Steel Guitar Forum

does anyone know who the steel player is on duke kahanamoko beach party album with the waikiki beach boys. thanks

The Waikiki Beach Boys ? are they the same as the ones that recorded for MFP or EMI, if so It's Syd Gillingham..

That has been discussed on this forum before and I think it's supposed to be Joe Custino. I thought it was Splash Lyons because Splash is on the cover with Duke, Harry Robello, Chick Daniels, etc. Someone in Hawaii apparently determined that Custino is the steeler.

A great CD/LP. Kalakaua Aylett's vocal on "Ahulili" is to die for.

The remaining point of confusion for me is the date of the recording. If I recall correctly, some say it has been dated to the late 40s or early 50s, but the quality and overall ambience sounds to me more like late 50s or into the 60s.

The picture on the cover must surely have been taken in the 1960s. Duke died at 77 in 1968 and certainly appears to be well into his 70s in the picture. Harry Robello was born Aug 31, 1917 and below is a pic of him from 1966, at age 48 or 49. I think Harry was married to the daughter of Duke's brother. Harry is over Duke's right shoulder in the CD pic.

Splash is sitting in the sand on the left in this pic.

Additionally, the Cord website says the LP was issued in 1963, which would fit with the group picture. I guess it's possible the recording was made much earlier, but I have my doubts.


Harry Soria, an authority on Hawaiian music, implies that the CD was recorded in 1963, here:

http://www.hawaiimusicmuseum.org/forum/ ... p1239.html

Mitch, I also have heard Joe Custino, but as an aside, your statement

Harry Soria, an authority on Hawaiian music, implies that the CD was recorded in 1963,

would make this particular recording extremely rare.. I thought it was Vinyl and CD's were introduce years later .. LOL