I'd have to say my guess is that Louis was trying to take advantage of the Hawaiian fad during that time period, but that's just my guess. Anything to sell records, right?

------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

quote:

---

Other than the money factor, I still find it strange that a jazz musician of Satchmo's calibre would have considered playing with a Hawaiian ensemble...and Lionel Hampton ? !!!!

---

Satchmo also made a couple of recordings with Jimmie Rogers (the original) back about 1929 or 30. He was not credited on these recordings, but most historians agree that it was definitely Satch's playing.

Even though he was considered somewhat of an idol in the jazz world, he was always just a regular guy in person and to his friends. He never considered himself 'too good' to play just about any type of music.

Hal Aloma,,,

I like to do these,,ever since I learned how,,, After I posted this,,
I received an e mail from George Lake.

George questioned me on my post re; the connection of Louis Armstrong and my mention
of a man by the name of Hal Aloma.

Hal Aloma was one of the very popular hawaiian steel players back years ago,,,and belonged to that "elite circle" of entertainers such as Andy Iona etc,etc.

I knew Hal quite well and would often go to see and hear him at New Yorks Luau 400 located on Madison Ave as well as at the Hawaiian Room at the Hotel Lexington.

Hal was a recording artist on Dot records,,a subsidiary of Decca,& Coral records as well.

He has many LP's out there ,and I know for a fact that he has recorded many movie sound tracks during his career,,,with stars such as Sonja Henie,,Betty Grable,Bing Crosby,,etc

When I saw George's thread,, I typed in the name of Hal Aloma,,I knew he was a friend of Satchmo's as I met Louis Armstrong many years back at the Luau 400.

I was playing opposite Hal's group and Louis came into the club,,it was then that Hal introduced me to Louis Armstrong.

This was back in the very early 1950's,,,,the reason I got the gig in the Luau 400 was because of Hal Aloma.

For those of you who are familiar with the name Hal Aloma,,I hope this clarifies my posting his name.

For those of you who "are not familiar" with the name Hal Aloma,,,,,check him out. He was a very fine hawiian steel player and was second to none.

George,,,,I hope this answers your question & one favor please,,,,,,,keep that snow where you are,,, Aloha ...PS It was Hal who told me he recorded with Louis Armstrong and since Armstrong and Hal were both in the same family of recording labels Decca, Coral,
& Dot,,,I had no reason to doubt his word.

Case closed. No Snow either.....you keep it.

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 25 November 2001 at 07:30 AM.]

Sending snow eh??? with friends like you,,,who needs enemies...Mahalo,,,spelled right? I guess I dont qualify in the Hawaiian
field.

They used to call me Jody Ku Kai...or something like that,,until I found out what that meant, I think you know,,,

Thanks George and keep those cards and letters coming. You are a talented and humorous man. There should be more like you.