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FRED TAVARES.....steel guitarist
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The Steel Guitar Forum
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FRED TAVARES.....steel guitarist
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This topic was originally posted in this forum: Wanted To Buy |
| Author | Topic: FRED TAVARES.....steel guitarist |
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Ray Montee Member Posts: 4090 |
posted 10 March 2001 10:31 PM
A question about the above steel guitarist formerlly with the early day Foy Willing band. Jody Carver mentioned him in another post elsewhere here in the Forum. I have a record by the original Riders of The Purple Sage......"ANYTIME". It kinda sounds like the late, Joaquin Murphy, and YET....it doesn't. Does anyone know if Tavares had that type of style or HOW DID his style sound? Or better yet, does anyone know who it is that's playing steel on the above entitled record? Would appreciate your responses. Thanx. |
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Bill C. Buntin Member Posts: 642 |
posted 11 March 2001 07:10 AM
I don't know much. But I do know that Tavares had a brother who played also. Freddie as I heard him called, was a Hollywood player for a long time. The things I do know that he did was for one he was THE steelman that did the famous "Looney Tunes" steel glissando take off. He did many movie soundtracks. One great example is the John Wayne movie "Donovan's Reef". That is Freddie Tavares all over that whole movie. The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Assoc. published a history of Freddie a few years back. That is where I learned it. If someone has a copy its' very interesting reading. Regards |
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Mike Perlowin Member Posts: 6731 |
posted 11 March 2001 09:21 AM
Didn't he also invent or design the stratocaster? |
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Michael Johnstone Member Posts: 2535 |
posted 11 March 2001 10:51 AM
The Stratocaster was George Fullerton,I think.I know Freddy had something to do with the development of the Stringmaster.I've heard people call the later models-the ones with blenders and the knife switch like a Telecaster-the Taveres model.Also,Carol Kaye once told me that Freddy Taveres invented the Fender bass.Joaquin used to mention him and said that for a while,Freddy and Roland Ball were THE guys in L.A. -MJ- |
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Jody Carver Member Posts: 7455 |
posted 11 March 2001 11:26 AM
Ray,,,,that is Freddy Tavares on Anytime with Foy Willing,,,damm straight,,,he played great hot hawaiian,,,,I have that recording here and have had it for years,,,,,Freddie was also involved with the strat and stringmaster design,,,,George Fullerton who I love had NOTHING TO DO WITH EITHER DESIGN thats the GOSPEL,,,I know man I was there,,,Freddy did have a brother also a very talented guy,,,but Freddy was always with leo at Fender,,,George Fullerton was not invloved with the strat,,,Bill Carson and Freddy had most to do with their input to Leo,,,,Hey guys lets not forget DONALD D> RANDALL the marketing genius and brains of FENDER SALES and MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS,,,this man never got the full credit for Fenders success,,,he was Da Man,,,,always was always will be,,,buy the Fender book by Richard Smith,,,Fender The sound Heard Round the World,,,,most accurate book on the market,,,others are good ,,,but much "hearsay" comments,,,,Its great to be getting old,,,,ya know all these things and they are ACCURATE,,,,Fullerton was active at G&L as far as design ideas,,,do you guys know who designed the head stock of Leo Fender Music man Bass????? Just ask Ill tell you.No Charge for this info. Any of you know anything about Don Randall other than he owned Randall amps????? how about some letters from Randall and leo dating back to 1949 when Fender was part of Radio & Tel company with F.C.Hall Im older than dirt. [This message was edited by Jody Carver on 11 March 2001 at 11:31 AM.] another PS Noel Boggs had the final say on the Stringmaster along with Tavares....[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 11 March 2001 at 11:33 AM.] This info is 100% accurate so there ya go[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 11 March 2001 at 11:35 AM.] Copyright(c) 2001 by Jody Carver"All Rights Reserved" [This message was edited by Jody Carver on 16 May 2001 at 03:01 PM.] |
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Ray Montee Member Posts: 4090 |
posted 11 March 2001 11:52 AM
Jody....all you do is brag, brag, brag! "Older than dirt!" eh, that just proves it. Serously, do you have any other records with that guy on them that are of the same session as "Anytime"? Sometimes they do three or four at a time and I'd sure like to hear more of this guys western swing stuff. I KNEW it wsn't Murphy but couldn't hang a hat on anybody with whom I was familiar. THANX for the info' and let me hear regarding the other records. Thanx to the rest of you as well. |
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Jason Odd Member Posts: 2665 |
posted 11 March 2001 04:29 PM
He also worked with Wade Ray & His Ozark Mountain Boys. In 1949, Wade Ray was working with the band of Rex Allen, and relocates to California. He worked the clubs from Bakersfield to the Valley, forming his own Western Swing band that year, Ray moved his group to a residency at the Cowtown Club at Vermont on 107th Street, where Hank Penny also worked with a smaller version of his dancehall band. In 1949 Ray recorded for Red Redfern's Cowtown label, the resulting 78 rpm six song release featured his group with Bob Morgan (bass), Dick Morgan (guitar), Jimmy Madrid (drums) and Freddie Tavares (steel). He then moved to Capitol Records before signing with RCA Records in 1951. During the early 1950s he became a fixture at the Cowtown, with a group that included Bob Morgan, Freddie Tavares and later added Muddy Berry on drums. Forumite Mitch Drumm suggested that during the RCA period, Noel Boggs was used as the steel player on most of the sessions, his playing is showcased on RCA material like 'It's Your Fault.' |
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Jody Carver Member Posts: 7455 |
posted 11 March 2001 05:08 PM
Jason,,,great information,,,,and " I rest my case" thank you and AMEN. |
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ROGER SHACKELTON unregistered Posts: 7455 |
posted 11 March 2001 07:55 PM
If anyone is interested in Hawaiian Music, Freddy and Ernie Tavares are on a CD entitled "Hukilau Hulas." GNP/Crescendo # GNP 35. There are 24 songs on the CD, but no instrumentals. I believe it is still available. Roger |
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Jimmie Misenheimer Member Posts: 273 |
posted 12 March 2001 04:48 PM
Jody - I don't how old you are, but By-God, you be "da man"!!! I'm 51, and don't see how ANYBODY could beat that! A Proud Noble..... Jimmie Misenheimer
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c c johnson Member Posts: 1353 |
posted 13 March 2001 04:38 AM
The guy that replaced Tex Williams at the Riverside Rancho, he sang "Remember Me" with a growl in his voice, T Tx Tyler? Stu Hamblin? had not done any great amount of dance music so Deuce Spriggins was hired to form the band and to arrange for it. Ernie Tavares, Freds brother was the steel player. ------------------ |
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c c johnson Member Posts: 1353 |
posted 13 March 2001 04:45 AM
I believe that it was in 1954, I ordered a dbl 8 from Fender with A6 and e7 tunings. It arrived with the two bottom strings on each neck being treble strgs. I called Fender and Freddy answered. He told me that that was what Herb Remington had come up with and was using. Several other west coasters were using these tunings. I said if it was good enough for Herby it was good enough for me. ------------------ |
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CrowBear Schmitt Member Posts: 6016 |
posted 13 March 2001 07:31 AM
Jody's right ! "The Sound heard round the World" is a great book.+ a must have for Fender Buffs ! there's a great picture of BE page 194 ! Fender debut was all built round Steel. Steel what ?  |
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Jason Odd Member Posts: 2665 |
posted 13 March 2001 04:24 PM
C.C. I belive it was T. Texas Tyler, who recorded 'Remeber Me' a couple of times at least. |
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Al Johnson Member Posts: 255 |
posted 13 March 2001 07:51 PM
Yes, the man with the growl was of course T. Texas Tyler who used Remember me as his theme. The song was written by Scott Wiseman who also wrote Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (a hit for many singers in the 1940s) T. made a number of records for a label 4-Star with Noel Boggs on many of them. A good showman and rowdy fellow, who became a minster in his later years. His big hit was the original "Deck of Cards." |
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Herb Steiner Member Posts: 6119 |
posted 13 March 2001 08:37 PM
Freddie Tavares was also the steel player with Harry Owens and His Royal Hawaiians when they had their TV show in LA in the mid-50's. Remember Hilo Hattie, anybody? That show, along with the Curt Massey/Martha Tilton Show and the Spade Cooley Show, were my favorites when I was a kid. Also Ranch Party. Of course, when I was a teenager, it was Country Music Time, Star Route, and Cal's Corral. One last thing on Freddie. John Ely and I were working on our Stringmasters a few years ago when he pulled his tuning assembly pan and said "check this out." Pencilled in the assembly cavity were the initials "FT." Way cool, I thought. ------------------ |
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Jason Odd Member Posts: 2665 |
posted 14 March 2001 06:45 AM
Herbster, I like the initials, and I have heard that Mr. Tavares passed away in 1990. Herb, did you ever watch Doye O'Dell's Western Varieties produced weekly by Paramount's TV station, KTLA Channel 5, and featured Ernie Ball on steel guitar. KTLA was also the home of Tim McCoy's Wild West show (1950 ton 1952), at 7:00-8:30 pm Saturdays.. McCoy was practically a real cowboy. |
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Herb Steiner Member Posts: 6119 |
posted 14 March 2001 08:37 AM
Jason I remember Doye as having a mid-day kiddie show on TV that showed western B-films, like Republic features. This was in the 50's. Undoubtedly on Channel 5, KTLA. When I would later work for Doye (1970-72), usually filling in for Noel when NB had to go to Nevada with Jimmy Wakely, I would bring up the kiddie show and Doye would usually act embarrassed, as if he would like to have been remembered for something other than that. I also have an album by Doye with some un-named western band backing him on a real budget label. I'll have to dig it out to give it a re-listen. ------------------ |
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c c johnson Member Posts: 1353 |
posted 14 March 2001 11:00 AM
glad to see someone remembers Doye Odell. Hegave me my start at age 14 and I got to sub in Spades band on Doyes recomendation. Both Freddy and Doye have passed on. Freddy shortly after his second yr of playing at the HSGA conv in Honolulu. He played a black fender pedal steel with a white top, a 700, 800? Played great! ------------------ |
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Dave Mayes Member Posts: 221 |
posted 24 June 2001 10:36 AM
A big thank you to Ray Montee for "hippin'" the forum to "Anytime". I found a copy recently and boy - Freddie Tavares could swing with he best of them. Beautiful volume pedal work. Any guesses on his tuning/s ? I think I read somewhere that he played a custom made 9 string National - even though he was working for Leo. (?). |
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Mitch Drumm Member Posts: 299 |
posted 24 June 2001 03:32 PM
I just dug out the cassettes of the Hawaiian recordings that CC mentioned above. Freddie Tavares played at the May 1985 Ho'olaule'a at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu, doing "Lei Aloha Lei Makamae", "Malahine Mele", and "Sleep Little Baby". On the May 1986 show he did "Million Moons Over Hawaii", "I Want To Learn To Speak Hawaiian", "When Hilo Hattie Does The Hula Hop", "Do The Hula", and "Song Of The Islands". He does not appear on the 1987 show, and may have passed away by then?? The 1985-87 shows were released on cassette, although i cannot remember where i got mine--from Scotty's maybe? Hosted by J Byrd, these are wonderful examples of Hawaiian playing and feature Jerry, Barney Isaacs, Billy Hew Len, Herbert Hanawahine, and a number of the then younger players that had been Jerry's students. Bobby Black appears on the 1987 show, doing "Sand", and "That's The Hawaiian In Me". |
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Rick Schmidt Member Posts: 1596 |
posted 24 June 2001 04:09 PM
I've always wondered if it was just a coincidence that the rounded contours of a Stratocastor were so similar to the softly turned down "rails" on a surfboard? [This message was edited by Rick Schmidt on 24 June 2001 at 04:12 PM.] |
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