Oldest Living Professional Steel Guitarist

[Gary Harris]

As a young airman in Wiesbaden, Germany I met this Hawaiian by the name of Tau Moe. This was about 1952. He and I belonged to the same church and of course played steel. He had been in Europe during the thirties and remained there during WWII. I've heard the story that he loaned some of his official papers to some who wanted to get out of Europe.
A coupe of weeks ago I found him on youtube that was recorded a few years ago. I looked in the "White Pages" for his name in Hawaii and to my surprise he is listed and they give his age as 100 years old. He and his group toured different bases with their act. I wrote to him but he may not remember me or is not able to write.

[Roger Shackelton]

Hello Gary,

TAU MOE is no longer with us. He passed away several years ago. (ca. 2005 ??)

The only living member of his immediate family, is his daughter, Dorian. You may receive a response from her.


ROGER SHACKELTON
HSGA MEMBER

[Ray Montee]

It looks like George "KEOKI" Lake of Canada definitely gets the nod for this title.

I got this on reliable testimony............

By the way, just to prove that he really does go way far back in time.......I have an excellent example of how this older than dirt steel guitar player sounded during his hey-day.

Anyone willing to post it here on this topic?
I don't know how to do it but will forward via email.

[Ron Whitfield]

Keoki may be older than Canada, but I think Bobby Koefer has him by at least a year or two.

There are quite a few still current players around the age of 80 plus, and probably a few already into their 90s.

I saw Tau play his last show, double billed with fellow centurion, Bill Tapia, at the Hawaii Theater in Honolulu about five years ago. Highlite of the show was the two playing as a duet.
Bill is still going strong at over 100.

[Roy Ayres]

Using the ISGHOF website, the list starting with the oldest living member is:

yyyymmdd

19241227 Leonard T Zinn
19260609 Herb Remington
19280326 Bud Isaacs
19280818 Bobby Koefer
19280916 Ralph Mooney
19290327 Don Warden
19290410 Jody Carver
19291219 Roy Ayres

Of course, there are a jillion great steelers who are not in the HOF.

I will be 80 in ten more days, yet I am the youngest of the above bunch.