The Steel Guitar Forum

So this is a very old song, written by Queen Lili'uokalani herself. I happened on this version that is from the Spongebob soundtrack, used in a number of episodes. Not really sure why it lists Kapono Beamer as a co-composer, unless he was playing on it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTJlGUVPJto

And I'm trying to place who that steeler is. I know Gary Brandin and Jeremy Wakefield are credited, and this sounds "newer" recorded than some of the old recordings they used from Dutch Indies players...but I don't know their respective "sound" well enough. Can anybody tell?

That might be Wakefield. I’ll ask him next time I see him!

Many of the Boomer generation were introduced to Hawaiian steel through old movie soundtracks, as the music was no longer "in the charts." In fact, it was considered corny, by the 1960s, when R And R was ascendant.
And then there are the generations since, who are completely unaware of the Hawaiian music era.
Now, there's a generation approaching their majority, who will associate the sound of Hawaiian steel guitar with Spongebob, and probably with some affection. Anyway, I am an old geezer, and a big fan of the show. I might even watch the reruns one day from a wheel chair.

Nicely said David. You have echoed my sentiments exactly!

That really is beautiful playing. It definitely sounds modern to me. His tone is pretty bright.

I think my SoCal pal Gary Brandin did some work for that show, might be him! He's half of the Vanduras, if you like ambient non-pedal, loungey stuff, he's the guy. The single Vanduras CD is a great album, highly recommended.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X7fO4CTPGE

Think I've got a bit of a lead on this one...I don't think it's either Gary Brandin or Jeremy Wakefield. It's a preexisting track. Here's where I found it...on this compilation CD, from 1994:
https://www.discogs.com/release/1602547 ... waii-Tonga

If you look at the images (liner notes) it sounds like Kapono Beamer arranged each track, and it doesn't list the musicians involved. But it was recorded in Honolulu, it says.

So assuming early 90s...I was already thinking there's a lot of JB sound in there...maybe Jerry Byrd? He was one of the big players in HNL at that time for sure. Y'all have better "Jerry Byrd radar" than me but it has a bit of his sound, to me.

Edit: I'm a bit of an idiot and didn't go far enough in the liner notes! That was Casey Olson on steel guitar...playing with his father Hiram, and Benny Kalama on those tracks!

John McClung wrote:I think my SoCal pal Gary Brandin did some work for that show, might be him! He's half of the Vanduras, if you like ambient non-pedal, loungey stuff, he's the guy. The single Vanduras CD is a great album, highly recommended.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X7fO4CTPGE

Great album, thanks John!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pRak-7 ... o1&index=4
This is the answer. My friend and Forum member, Mike Holland provided this answer. I believe Casey Olsen is the steel player here.

Agreed! See above, I found the liner notes on discogs that give him credit. I wonder if Casey Olsen was taught by Jerry Byrd as there is a little JB sound there, and his father was part of his backing group, anyway. Honestly not sure who Casey Olsen studied under. But gosh, it's a lovely rendition of that song.

I agree with you. I hear Jerry Byrd in his playing very clearly. Perhaps he studied with JB. Regardless, Casey is a wonderful player. Great touch and tone.

Casey was one of Jerry Byrd's student's from the "Byrd's Nest" along with Alan Akaka, Greg Sardinha, Paul Kim. Along with other top players in Hawaii today.
The four mentioned players put out a great CD called "Hawaiian Steel" from the "Byrd's Nest". The playing is absolutely fantastic. They also have many other CDs out there, mostly recorded in Greg Sardinha's studios I belive.

Casey's father "Hiram Olsen" was Jerry's rhythm player. Hiram sadly past recently.

I have had the privilege to see them all play live at the Maui festivals and other venues. Also along with "Bobby Ingano" another top player who often plays and records with them and also "Jeff Au Hoy"

There are many more very good steel players in Hawaii but they don't get the patronage they deserve from the tourism hotels and the like, making it almost impossible to hear steel players in Hawaii unless you know where they happen to be playing.

PS.I also forgot, as mentioned from another thread. Casey Olsen is the grandson of the great "Billy Hew Len".