The Steel Guitar Forum

A great picture of Casey Olsen, Alan Akaka, Jerry, Greg Sardinha, Doc Akuna celebrating Jerry's birthday at the Willows restaurant on Oahu, a few years ago.

I think that was the last time everybody got together, it was a good day.

You were there Ron?

Yep.

Nice.

Here's what Alan says about this photo:

Four of Jerry's student each today possessing his own style. Jerry stated that he didn't teach so he would have Jerry Byrd clones. He taught so we could carry on the art of playing the steel guitar. He didn't teach us to be "fast and loud". He taught how to be musicians. Mahalo Jerry for your inspiration and guidance.

I forgot about Alan's beautiful quote. Thanks for reposting. In my lessons with Jerry, he never played steel. only rhythm guitar.

It was March of 2000 and surprise party for his 80th. His wife Kaleo and I put together a guest list. Lots of entertainers and former students. DeWitt Scott and his wife Mary flew in without Jerry knowing. Scotty didn't want to cross paths with Jerry in town before the party so he hid out with my dad on the North Shore. I arranged to have Chet Atkins call Jerry on the phone during the party. It was bittersweet because Chet had been diagnosed already. Turning 80 is a big deal in our family and I wanted Jerry to enjoy the event with his musical family. I'm so glad we did it.

Chris Templeton wrote:In my lessons with Jerry, he never played steel, only rhythm guitar.

Kudos for being there, Chris, but man does that suck from my pov! It was watching him playing the tunes that made all the difference for me in grasping what he and playing REAL steel was all about, especially with his bar hand magic being just over 2 feet away in the line of sight.
What year where you with him?
This has me wondering why he dramatically changed formats.
I guess I can now be glad it took me 20 years to finally pull the trigger on lessons. Whew, lucky again.

'88 or '89.
I was in awe of the "fur" he had on is hands and forearms and then I realized it was from not wearing long sleeve shirts or gloves.
Did he play steel at your lessons, Ron?

Chris Templeton wrote:Did he play steel at your lessons, Ron?

Absolutely, he'd run thru the tune or exercises on my steel and then grab the standard guitar to accompany after taping the rhythm onto tape to study with.

Yes, he made those great rhythm guitar tapes too. Yes, you are right Ron, he did grab my steel to show an exercise. It was that he never recorded his steel at the lessons.
It's amazing that he wrote so much material by hand. Also that he would spend so much time writing letters to people, as so many people have mentioned on the forum.
Ron, on a side note, dig you ever hear Jimmy Papa sing live?

Chris Templeton wrote:It was that he never recorded his steel at the lessons.
It's amazing that he wrote so much material by hand.
Ron, on a side note, dig you ever hear Jimmy Papa sing live?

No, he wouldn't tape his steel playing, and I asked for it believe me. Probably everybody did.
He really was dedicated to passing on all he knew, incredible!
Papa is an enigmatic name and I've only heard a smattering of a tape with him singing long ago, which I can't even remember what he sounded like now, but he impressed many back then. So many greats never got in a studio to preserve their talents.

That Jimmy Papa tape was great. I can't locate it now, but I was recently reminded that it was David Keli'i playing steel.
One time I went with Jerry to Zippy's for coffee and Jimmy joined us. A very nice man. He sang falsetto.
I think that Hawaii has the most gifted singers and musicians, per capita, I have ever heard.
I probably has to do with people always getting together at gatherings and luaus, singing and playing music. I don't no how it is now. Probably many have succumbed to this alone behind the screen crap.
Anyways. it warms my heart to see that picture of Jerry with his students.
The hula dancer, Kanoe Miller, who worked with Jerry, recently posted a video of Casey Olsen, on Facebook, playing "Hilo March", and it was spectacular. Jerry's got to be somewhere beaming with pride, like he is in this picture.

Chris Templeton wrote:That Jimmy Papa tape was great. I can't locate it now.

Invest in a search dog asap! I'll ask around, but that recording has to be salvaged by someone, it's treasure.

You may be right about the amount of quality musicians in Hawaii, they were often never heard by anybody but friends and family or by chance, like the Kailua side ukulele guy riding the bus home one nite and ripping some serious quality for 10 min. and when he finished the whole bus and the driver applauded big time. He was great and never seen him again. Then there was his elders era where it was even moreso. It still is but much less, and hardly any steel of course.

Jeff Au Hoy was the one who reminded me of David Keli'i playing steel on that recording. He said he has a copy.

Good dog!

He might have to do some digging to find that bone!

At least we know what yard it's in.
Really, any recordings of Kelii need to preserved, he was the gold standard virtually all Hawaiian/local steelers took from. This tape is one of only two homemade recordings I'm aware of as I think, and no doubt (hopefully) there's others languishing and deteriorating waiting to be saved.