This year on Saturday, September 4th the Hawaiian, Dobro and non-pedal steel guitar will once again be in the spotlight. Dewitt Scott (Scotty) has graciously provided a meeting room at the convention's Millennium Hotel for us to showcase the lush, tropical sound of the original steel guitar.

We want to feature the beautiful music that can be achieved simply with a steel bar, a few strings, heart and expressive hands.

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association (HSGA) members L.T. Zinn, Doug Smith, Gerald Ross, and Floyd Alexander are planning to perform and provide backup. How about you? Let us know if you'd like to play a few numbers or join in the festivities. Details, contact Doug Smith, mona2582@sbcglobal.net, or Gerald Ross, gbross@umich.edu.

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website

[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 28 June 2004 at 10:24 AM.]

A very receptive audience and some fine playing.

Someboidy drag Rick Aiello down there this year!

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 04 July 2004 at 02:26 AM.]

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Someboidy

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website

I cannot tell you how proud I am of this. What a pleasant and wonderful thing that Scotty is helping this to fruition.

It has been needed since day one. I am soo happy you folks are doing this. And I applaud you Gerald and of course all who are taking part in this endeavor.

When I think back to the 30's and 40's when the Hawaiian guitar could be heard everywhere, it brings back tears to know that in this year of our Lord 2004, you precious folks are bringing back the origin of what many of us dearly love, to the ISGC.

Bravo Gerald, and may Jesus bless this endeavor and all of you,

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website

I would NOT miss it, IF I was going to be there. Sadly I won't. But my heart will be there and if you dim your eyes, I will be sitting on the front row (in spirit) loving every minute of it.

Bless you dear friend,

This friend, for some inexplicable reason, does not like the sound of the pedal steel. It unsettles his digestion and sets his teeth to grinding. On the other hand, he LOVES the sweet sounds that come from non-pedal instruments in just about any kind of music, can't get enough in fact. Maybe he's crazy, but he hears them as two entirely different instruments.

On the other hand, the HSGA Joliet Convention is 99.9% non-pedal, both acoustic and electric. Here's some info on this upcoming October's HSGA Joliet convention.

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website

If a person loves non pedal steel, particularly with a mostly Hawaiian flavor, you will be fulfilled if you attend the Joliet show. And the most blessed part of all is you CAN hear yourself think during the playing.

I had asked before going if it was true that they did play softer at that show. Several emailers and Doug Smith (sound man) assured me that it was indeed true.

Still skeptical (I vowed at my last show in Atlanta I would never go to another loud show again), I reluctantly went. When I walked in, they were playing softly, and I could not believe my ears. I kept waiting the entire two days, for it to break in to Decibel-hell. But it never happened.

Not only that but they had posted a sign up admonishing us about talking when performers were playing. It was truly a throw back in time. And one of THE most pleasurable times I have ever had.

I laud and commend ALL who are responsible for such a beautiful show. The music was absolutely gorgeous as each player took me back to an often tearful and nostalgic time.

I have wanted so much to go back. But each year something happens. And I am unable to attend. I made it as far as StLouis last year, only to show some things in the Excel Booth. Sadly my trip was cut short. (my own stupid fault)

I am hoping I can attend this year's Joliet show. I would like nothing better. Not sure If I can make it. My wife's health is failing fast. And so it may be she can not make the trip. But who knows, maybe?

Again, if you want to hear lap steel as good as it gets, DO make every effort to go to StLouis and hear the Hawaiian event. And if not, by all means attend the show in Joliet in October. If I am not mistaken, it is held the first weekend in Oct.

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website

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Now, would this person find a trip to St. Louis worthwhile?

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St. Louis isn't that loud. Not any worse than any other concert. But I always wear my ER-15 earplugs anyway.

If your friend has only heard 'country' pedal-steel he may be really surprised by some of the other music that the steel is capable of.

I can't say exactly how the genres split at St. Louis, but it's about 50/50 country and jazz. Some rock, pop, and other avante garde stuff once in a while too. And now Hawaiian again! One year there was a Sacred Steel room as well. But I think Scotty's is still a little to 'conservative' to include some of the new SS players on a regular basis. Even still - I think if PBS did a special on Scotty's, or 'Brother Where Art Thou 2' came out with a steel sound track! -the general public would be amazed at what they hear.

I love all kinds of steel music. However, personally if Scotty's were 4 days of nothing but old country shuffles I'd prob. stay for 1 day. As it is - the variety is wonderful and I try and go every year. It's like bluegrass - I can take about 1 day of pure bluegrass before my head explodes, I like it, but without variety you sort of numb out.

As for Joliet? amen brother.!

chris

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Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon" www.book-em-danno.com

[This message was edited by seldomfed on 12 July 2004 at 11:49 AM.]

One month away! Contact us for info on playing in the room.

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website

I must agree totally. I am NOT a good steel guitar player. Or a good pedal steel guitar player either. I am terrible at both. But I will tell you that I play Hawaiian music as good or better on my PSG as my '37 Rick bakelite.

My dear friend Bill Stafford can play Hawaiian music beautifully on his 14 Sring PSG. So can my very close friend Don Fulmer on his D-10 PSG's.

It is not the instrument that makes it Hawaiian, it is how it is played. And these two gentleman can play gorgeous Hawaiian music in their sleep on a pedal steel guitar.

Also, IMO, Stlouis is horridly loud as is every other steel guitar show I have been to, EXCEPT Joliet. I can only assume the Winchester show is the same as Joliet. On a scale of one to 10; where 10 is horridly loud and 1 is the kind of soft music that used to abound EVERY where it was played; Stlouis is a 10+ and Joliet is a definite 1.

If you are sick and tired of music soo loud you can not hear yourself think; where the bass and drums are 50 DB louder than any other instrument on stage; where the softest instument on stage is so loud it hurts your stomach; and you dearly love music played softly and beautifully; as it was before the demise created in the aftermath of Elvis and company; do plan to visit the Hawaiian show in Joliet. I guarantee you will be pleased as punch.

If my wife was able to travel, I would be there myself. I am sad I can't be.

carl

[This message was edited by C Dixon on 04 August 2004 at 05:16 PM.]

[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 04 August 2004 at 05:27 PM.]

I agree with all of your comments about sweet Hawaiian music on a non-pedal steel and even on pedal steel if play from the heart -- Hawaiian expression is the key.
However I have to correct you on your spelling of nahi-nahi. It should be as follows: "nahenahe", soft, sweet as music or a gentle voice. Quote from the POCKET HAWAIIAN DICTIONARY by Mary Kawena Pukui.
Even Hawaiian music at a high decible level can be uppleasant. Hope we can meet up again soon as we have enjoyed many jam sessions together in Winchester, Joliet and Hawaii.

Warren

For my 10th birthday my mother gave me an "acoustic" steel gutar and I was hooked.

By the time I ws eighteen I had the good fortune to be hired by the Grand Ole Opry to play steel on the NBC network Prince Albert radio show and back Red Foley on his tour dates. I have always considered myself one of the luckiest musicians alive.

Over years I have developed a rather unique style of playing the non-pedal steel guitar (I use the term non-pedal only because it seems to be the only way to explain that my steel has no pedals!)

In the last few months I have been working on a new album that takes me back to my roots. It is a Hawiian theme album that features all original material written by my brother Floyd Robinson. As you may know, Floyd played lead guitar with Ray Price, Jimmy Dickens, George Jones, George Morgan and many others. Along the way he also wrote and recorded a million selling pop hit.

If there is room for one more picker on the Hawiian schedule, l would greatly enjoy the opportunity to play some of my favorite traditional Hawiian tunes.

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Bob
intonation help