I've devoted more than 40 years of my life to Hawaiian music, as a researcher, writer, reporter, editor, translator, a singer/songwriter, performer, band leader, arranger, record producer, producer of radio programs and television specials, student and teacher. I have produced more than 30 Hawaiian recordings, composed more than 200 songs, have dozens of credits on
other recordings as a translator, liner note writer, composer, etc. I served
as an officer of the non-profit Hawaiian Music Foundation, a writer and member of the editorial board of Ha`ilono Mele, the Journal of Hawaiian Music, and as an officer of other Hawaiian music
organizations, including HMPI (Hawaiian Music Productions Inc.) as one of the early promoters of Hawaiian music in a concert setting -- including steel guitar, slack-key guitar, falsetto singing, etc.

I conceived the award-winning "Na Mele Hawai`i" television series; wrote,
narrated, and co-produced "Christmas Time with Eddie Kamae and the Sons of Hawai`i," which won an IRIS award and a medal in the New York Film Festival, and I have won two Na Hoku Hanohano awards for albums I produced. I was on the board of governors for the Hawai`i Academy of Recording Arts when it was in its infancy, and have served on its language committee, judging the
Hakumele award. I was a judge of the first Clyde "Kindy" Sproat Falsetto and
Storytelling Contest, and have served as a judge and emcee at many other events over the past decades. I'm a former
entertainment editor for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, experienced at listening to and reviewing artists of every rank and station.

I've been performing regularly in Waikiki for more than 30 years, often as one of the few remaining all-Hawaiian shows anywhere. I've performed with some of the best of them -- including some non-Hawaiian steel players from foreign lands who excel on the instrument --Palani Baum of Germany, Kenny
Kitching of Australia, George "Keoki" Lake of Canada, and many others. I currently perform at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel (for the past 17 years) -- my regular gig since March 1986.

I created the award-winning "Ke Aolama," the first-ever Hawaiian language radio news program, "The Hawaiian Word of the Day," the first-ever program of its type, which is now being imitated by other broadcast mediums, and such programs as "A Hawaiian Sunday" and "The Music of Hawai`i," an award-winning radio program devoted to the best of Hawaiian music. I've produced many
radio programs devoted entirely to the steel guitar, featuring many of the greats and have one of the biggest collections of recorded Hawaiian steel guitar music. And I've listened to every one of them.

I earned my degree in Hawaiian Language, Music & Culture from the University
of Hawai`i at Manoa; taught Hawaiian music classes at the UH for about ten years; and have been teaching music and Hawaiian language for the past ten years. I've conducted dozens of workshops and seminars on Hawaiian language, music, composing, and related subjects. I've taken Hawaiian music to dozens of states and many foreign countries.

I am often sought out as an expert on things related to Hawaiian music, even to the extent of testifying twice as an "expert witness" in things related to
Hawaiian music in court cases.

I do know that we all hear music
differently. The older person who didn't
think Jerry's playing sounded Hawaiian might be comparing him to a favorite
player of his youth, perhaps a Hawaiian musician whom he greatly admired,
someone whose sound was very Hawaiian to him. That doesn't lessen Jerry's ability one iota. The younger man who raised the question might feel that HIS style is the most Hawaiian. Since I don't know either of them, I would not begin to guess what they think or feel, or why the question, ("Jerry Byrd Rejected by Hawaiians ?"), was raised.

I could continue, but I just want you to know that I've been around, and what I have to say about Jerry Byrd comes from someone with more than just a passing interest.

Jerry Byrd is the best. And Jerry's playing is Hawaiian, VERY Hawaiian, when he wants it to be; or very "country" when that is called for, etc. His versatility on the steel in unequalled. He is at the top of the heap in playing Hawaiian steel, and at the top of another heap in playing steel in
country music.

Over the years, I've known most of the steel players in Hawai`i, and some of
those from abroad. I must admit that I've never met the Steel Guitar Forum contributor who told about hearing someone else who apparently didn't like Jerry Byrd's style, or his teaching methods, or didn't think his music is Hawaiian.

I've performed with many of them, and I too have my favorites. David Keli`i was Feet Rogers favorite steel player and both were favorites of mine. Feet was also the favorite of many others, a genius who never "overplayed," a musician famous for his "ornaments." And who will ever forget Billy Hew Len? Or Barney Isaacs? I love Herbert Hanawahine's playing.

We have favorite "steel" songs that
influence us too. There are none better
or more Hawaiian, in my humble opinion, than David Keli`i's rendition of Danny Stewart's "Whispering Lullaby," or Jerry's steel playing on "Sweet Patuti," a little ditty recorded by Kekua Fernandes, or Feet Rogers -- on anything he played.

The styles of the many fine steel players vary considerably, even among those who play ONLY Hawaiian music. Some may sound more or less Hawaiian, especially to the untrained ear. Where you were born has absolutely nothing to do with how well you perform as a practitioner in the music or culture of your choice. To say that Jerry doesn't play Hawaiian as well because he came here from America is like saying the Rev. Lorenzo Lyons, who came here from
New England as a 19th century missionary, couldn't write Hawaiian lyrics because they were written by someone who came from some other place.

I've listened to the greats of yesteryear; and I've known those of the past half
century -- including some of the very talented steel players of our day.

I don't know anyone who does not respect Jerry Byrd as "the master of touch and tone" and as the best. They don't come any better.

Sure, he plays other music. He was THE recognized master of steel in country music circles (and in the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame). But that does not mean that he cannot play Hawaiian music or that his playing is not as Hawaiian as someone else.

So now, we have someone who heard from an anonymous someone else that once you learn something from Jerry,"you'll never shake it."

I consider this as a great compliment. I
hope it is true, for it will insure that his great style will be perpetuated forever in the music of Hawai`i.

I am not a steel guitarist. However I did take a few lessons from Jerry about 17 years ago, and he is a very good teacher. I teach music full time and I offer that observation as a teacher. He can be very caustic, we all know that. He is very demanding and pushes his students to excel. Because of that, some of the best steel players in the business today learned well from Jerry -- including Alan Akaka, Casey Olsen, and others, such as Gordon Freitas, (a new JB student).

"Jerry Byrd Rejected By Hawaiians?"

I DON'T THINK SO"!

Keith Haugen
Honolulu, Hawai`i

hakumele@aol.com
1809 Makiki Street, Honolulu, Hawai`i 96822 USA
POBox 1976, Honolulu, Hawai`i 96805 USA (mail)
(808) 951-4332 (home)
(808) 734-0208 (school)
(808) 927-2934 (cellular) www.hawaiiansong.com www.cordellcountry.com
============================================
It's Keoki time again...Jerry has been there, done that, and now well into his eighties deserves a helluva lot of respect for all he has done in reviving the steel guitar in Hawai'i and into Hawaiian music. I vividly recall one of my earlier visits to Hawai'i, prior to JB, finding only 2 steel guitarists actively working the Waikiki scene. Thanks to Jerry, we now have a proliferation of fine steel guitarists all along Kalakaua and elsewhere in Hawai'i. In all my 22 visits to Hawai'i, never once have I sensed any rejections by Hawaiians with whom I have played towards Jerry. Quite the contrary...he is admired for the consumate professional he is.

quote:

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To say that Jerry doesn't play Hawaiian as well because he came here from America is like saying the Rev. Lorenzo Lyons, who came here from
New England as a 19th century missionary, couldn't write Hawaiian lyrics because they were written by someone who came from some other place.

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Actually, the person who says that of Rev. Lyons could indeed have a valid point... not so much in the fact that Lyons was from a foreign land but more so in the fact that he did not fully understand all the nuances of the Hawaiian language. Authorities however will indicate that he did but anyway, this is a discussion about steel guitar...

[This message was edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 20 January 2003 at 08:32 PM.]

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Jerry Byrd is the best. And Jerry's playing is Hawaiian, VERY Hawaiian, when he wants it to be; or very "country" when that is called for, etc. His versatility on the steel in unequalled.

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By this, it has been acknowledged that there is in fact a distinctively Hawaiian steel sound.

[This message was edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 20 January 2003 at 08:39 PM.]

And NO human on this earth has ever come closer to getting it than Jerry Byrd. In fact, for all but an infinitesimaly "small" few, he sounds identical to the true Hawaiian greats.

And since we live in a democratic nation, it is accurate to state that a 99 and 999/1000's percent majority; is so close to perfect; so let it be written,

"So let it be done!

Etceterrra, Etceterrra, Etceterrrra!!!!"

And lest we forget, Hawaii IS part of this nation! One wonders WHY they voted to become a part of it. huh?

Long live Jerry Byrd, and all of you,

carl

[This message was edited by C Dixon on 21 January 2003 at 09:46 AM.]

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Does every player have to have a stamp of approval to be enjoyed? Nobody is "the best" at anything that resembles art.

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Carl, regarding the Hawaiian sound...
You say that no person has ever come closer to it than Jerry Byrd, but then you go on to say that he sounds identical to those "true Hawaiian greats" (I would disagree with this, and it would help if you could provide the names of these players... besides, the greatness of Jerry Byrd lies in the fact that he doesn't sound like anyone else). You've got me totally confused.

Re:

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And since we live in a democratic nation, it is accurate to state that a 99 and 999/1000's percent majority is so close to perfect;

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Re:

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Hawaii IS part of this nation! One wonders WHY they voted to become a part of it. huh?

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[This message was edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 21 January 2003 at 12:11 PM.]

Hehe, nah...I'm just bein' a bonehead.

You are NOT worthy of any more comments. You have shown your true colors with you venom and inuendous missgivings; too much for me to engage any further with your childish and absurd ramblings; trying to malign the world's greatest lap steel player.

I shall not read any more of your verbal diahhrea,

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Personally, it's growing exceedingly tiresome that the JB cultists will accept no fair minded discourse that is counter to their own view without seeing this as an all-out attack on everything they hold dear. This is about music - not accounting; alternate opinions can be valid. On the other hand, JB is clearly in a class of his own and deserves our admiration & respect for all he has accomplished on the instrument. Maligning his personality traits really serves no purpose.

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Personally, it's growing exceedingly tiresome that the JB cultists

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Maybe a less inflammatory term like "JB Enthusiasts or Disciples" describes us better ..... Cultist has pretty negative connotations ...

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will accept no fair minded discourse that is counter to their own view without seeing this as an all-out attack on everything they hold dear.

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When it comes to JB's "Hawaiianess" ... very few threads that bring this topic up are fair minded ...

The fact that JB brought the Hawaiian Steel Guitar to levels that were undreamed of at its conception should not be used as ammunition against his way of playing Hawaiian music .... His first love.

Just my opinions ....

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My Steel Shoes Site

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 22 January 2003 at 07:29 AM.]

You're obviously feeling a little insecure about the love you have for JB's playing to present such a highly-decorated fan letter. I, for one, am not moved. You could have God, himself, give you a handwritten letter, and you're not going to change the opinions of those who just don't think the same way you do about Jerry Byrd. That's just not what life is all about. Just accept not everyone feels the same as you. I've had to come to terms with that, myself, as to my love for Abba -- and the Bee Gees. Long live Maurice.