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Author
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Topic: A Roland Peachey fan
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Scott Thomas
Member From: Oregon, USA
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posted 03 August 2000 01:14 PM
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I first became aware of Roland's work on a compilation of vintage Hawaiian music. His tone and swingy style really impressed me. A native of Montreal, he was active in England around the time of WW 2. He's best known for his work with Felix Mendelssohn, a famous Hawaiian music impressario of the time. While Peachey is probably best known for his Hawaiian work, close listening will reveal a unique musical personality, and I'm just beginning to appreciate the subtle differences between the way he plays a tune vs. the way a native Hawaiian would. Several compilations feature Roland's playing, but for the uninitiated, I recommend "Felix Mendelssohn and His Hawaiian Serenaders" (Harlequin HQ CD 93). He was playing his own hand-built T-8's early on. (see Ruymar p. 138) |
Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 04 August 2000 07:19 AM
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There is also a reissue of Roland Peachey's work that is available through Collector's Choice Music. Very nice stuff. He even sings on a number of cuts. I like his style and his selection of material. Not only did he play Hawaiian melodies but he also covered latin, swing and popular melodies with equal skill and taste. |
Scott Thomas
Member From: Oregon, USA
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posted 06 August 2000 01:18 PM
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Thanks! I was hoping to turn up additional material I'm missing. After a web search, I found this at CDNOW. |
Ron Whitfield
Member From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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posted 22 November 2002 06:01 PM
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Having recently seen film of Roland playing a huge Rick(?) triple 8, I was curious what year/model he was using. He gets a great sound while using an old blade style bar. Does anybody have the scoop on this great player or the man who took over his chair, Harry Brooker? I do know he died too young and left a young son,(Gary Brooker, of Procal Harum). Who might have a collection of the Pathe' music reels that featured the Mendelssohn troupe available for copy/sale? British Pathe' does offer them, but are costly and have an ID mark visible. I did find a small amount of info in a SGF search from 2 yrs. ago and am hoping for more. Thanx! ------------------
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George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 22 November 2002 10:48 PM
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For the BEST source in regards to career of both Roland and Harry, contact John Marsden in Sheffield, England. (Or, possibly Basil Henriques is a very good source of information).
Basil can be found on the Forum, however John has yet to purchase a computer. Hopefully, one day he will and we will all enjoy his contributions to this Forum. |
Ron Whitfield
Member From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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posted 23 November 2002 04:04 PM
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Thanx George, I've been meaning to correspond with Mr. Marsden for over a year now concerning Felix and such. Sure wish he had a 'puter, maybe it's time to get over my letter writing phobia. Basil is always full of info, maybe I'll reach him thru the HSGA forum. Take care! ------------------
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Bruce Clarke
Member From: Spain
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posted 24 November 2002 08:27 AM
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Ron--This thread caught my interest because I have a clear memory of hearing Roland Peachey playing "12th street Rag" on BBC radio in 1936 or thereabouts.This was probably the first steel playing that I heard, and it obviously caught my attention.In the early 40,s I had several of his 78 rpm records and I know that at one time he fronted a band in a London night club.
Harry Brooker and Harry Pahene were one and the same (I think) and I'm pretty sure I still have some sheet music with his picture on the front. Other steel players broadcasting in England around that time were Ronnie Joynes, Al Shaw, Ray Higgins, Kealoha Life, and Sammy Mitchell. It certainly would be nice to get news of these guys who turned me onto the steel guitar. |
Ron Whitfield
Member From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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posted 24 November 2002 04:48 PM
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Aloha Bruce, thanx for chiming in with some info. It must have been captivating to hear such a player in a time and place as you did. Not hard to imagine why the Mendelssohn troupe garnered such attention. Roland certainly had a unique sound and style of playing, any idea what his tunings were? I'm almost positive Kealoha Life is still alive, I havn't heard to the contrary, I really enjoy his style and panache. I have the ukulele lessons he released years ago on tape and are a different and interesting angle on appreciating this fine performer, I wish I'd had the good fortune to have seen him. If you are interested, I have his address. The other players you mentioned I recognize only by name. Thankfully, much of the Mendelssohn material is out on various CDs, but there's still some more that's not. Any other thots out there?------------------
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basilh
Member From: United Kingdom
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posted 25 November 2002 04:22 AM
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Hi Lads,
Just got off the 'phone with John Marsden . This is the info that we have to date .Roland Peachey's last know address was opposite "grauman's" Chinese Theatre in L.A.
He is using his real name of R.J.Piche' The 3 neck guitar was an "ABBOTT" made for him by a London Manufacturer Named Jack Abbott.
(John also has one of his guitars in the attic) An Album of Roland Peachey and his Royal Hawaiians is available on Empress(The original Decca recordings transfered to C.D. but NOT reprocessed) Edward Kirkman has much more info if you e-mail him eddie@kuuipo.fsnet.co.uk John Marsden has a 3 1/2 (Three and a half) page article about Felix Mendelssohn, (With mention of Roland Peachey) in the winter 2002 edition of "Memory Lane" a U.K. mag available from
PO Box 1939
Leigh on Sea
Essex SS9-3UH
U.K. (£3:00 +p+p) That's all the info I gleaned from john this morning.and at this moment in time, it's all our loss that he is adamant about not having a computer BUT he asked me to post his address and 'phone # he said ALL correspondence is most welcome and always answered. John Marsden
218 Bannerdale Road
Sheffield
S11-9FE
U.K. phone int+ (0)114-255-1907
That's it for now.
Aloha Nui
Basil.
www.waikiki-islanders.com
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quote:
Steel players do it without fretting
http://www.waikiki-islanders.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk [This message was edited by basilh on 25 November 2002 at 04:40 AM.]
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Bruce Clarke
Member From: Spain
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posted 25 November 2002 02:02 PM
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Ron--no, I don't know anything about the tunings Roland Peachey used,I feel sure that he developed his own, to cope with his style
of playing. Guys that knew him (Kealoha life for one)might know. He may have been influenced by Alvino Rey, (I had even seen Mr. Rey in the movies,) but it was 1945 before I managed to find one of his records.
I saw the Felix Mendelson stage show, and had a chat with Sammy Mitchell Backstage. There was a girl who played steel in the show, but the name escapes me.
There was an outfit called A P Sharpe's Honolulu Hawaiians that broadcast regularly around that time, but I don't know whether they did any recording. Mr. Sharpe was the editor of a monthly mag Called B.M. G. ( Banjo Mandolin Guitar) and clearly a great enthusiast for things Hawaiian, he wrote a book about the Islands. I lent my copy, big mistake! |
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