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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
 Posted - 02/06/2006 : 6:47:18 PM
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Basilking,
Welcome! Thanks for sharing your story. |
Andy |
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Tonya
Lokahi
USA
177 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2006 : 12:29:42 PM
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I've heard slack key as "background sound" for years (my folks love Hawaiian music), but I didn't really pay attention to it until during the Christmas season of 1998 (or was it '99?), when my husband and I went to see George Winston perform at Chico State (California). He did his usual piano favorites (did you know he plays in stocking feet?--white socks, nonetheless), then, mid-show, brought out his guitar and proceeded to give us an introduction to his "new" passion, slack key guitar.
The sounds were lovely and it was especially telling that slack key had affected George a great deal because he became very vocal and warm in his explanations--the other concerts I've seen him at he was a bit aloof, as he was during the piano portion of this one. But when he brought out the guitar he became animated and fully engaged with the audience. That was when I decided to investigate it more--and it wasn't until last summer that you guys gave me the courage to try to make some music of my own by picking up Ozzie's book/CD. Thank you! I'm still on Manuela Boy, but I'm loving it! |
http://www.uketreasures.com
http://www.ukuleletonya.com |
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Slackhead
Aloha
USA
20 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2006 : 7:36:15 PM
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I had a couple of Hui Ohana albums I had bought on a trip to Hawaii, and I really enjoyed listening to them. I didn’t play the guitar, but I loved the music. One day on a trip to Oahu (this was around 25 years ago) I was in a music store and a TV mounted on the wall showed a grey-haired man playing slack key. I went over to a clerk to ask the normal dumb questions a malihini asks about slack key (e.g. Can you play it on a regular guitar?) The clerk said he didn’t know, but the guy in the video was standing right over there and I could go ask him. I went over talked to the musician for a while (I only realized years later that it was Uncle Ray Kane) and bought some more music.
Around 15 years later I still didn’t own a guitar, but I had made many trips to Hawaii and still loved slack key music. My wife bought us a couple of tickets to a concert at UCLA and we went to listen to Keola Beamer, George Kahumoku Jr, Bob Brozman and Led Kaapana. I’d never heard slack key played live before and I was transfixed. I got to talking story with George during the intermission and I was hooked. George and I became friends over the next few years and we wrote a book together. Then I started working as road manager on the annual mainland tours with George, Led, Cyril, Dennis, Ozzie, Keoki, Keola, Owana, Daniel Ho and others. Clearly, somewhere along the way I had died and gone to slack key heaven.
I think because of my friendship with these top artists I felt inadequate to try playing music myself. Finally, though, around three years ago, I bought my first guitar. As I had anticipated I play it inadequately, but I’m having fun. I now live on Maui and produce a slack key show along with my partners, George Kahumoku and Wayne Wong. I think you could safely say that slack key music completely changed the direction of my life. One of the very best things that has happened is that I’ve been privileged to meet some of the nicest folks on the planet: my fellow slackheads.
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2006 : 07:13:35 AM
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| I continue to be amazed by the folks that are attracted to this site and to Ki Ho'alu! |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2006 : 07:18:48 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Slackhead
...George and I became friends over the next few years and we wrote a book together.... I now live on Maui and produce a slack key show along with my partners, George Kahumoku and Wayne Wong. I think you could safely say that slack key music completely changed the direction of my life...
But why do they call you Slackhead? LOL!
Great to see you posting, Paul. |
Andy |
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slkho
`Olu`olu
740 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2006 : 10:41:04 AM
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I discovered slack key like most people. One late night there was a knock at my door, and when I went to open it, no one was there. But there at my feet was a little basket, and in it was a little baby slack key guitar wrapped in a blanket. I took it in and decided to raise the little Ki Ho'alu as my own.
~slkho |
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Gary
Aloha
USA
43 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2006 : 7:35:49 PM
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Vacationing on Maui/Hula Grill/Whalers Village.
Never been the same since! |
http://www.stylesupportmidi.com
Bass and Drum MIDI Tracks |
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sandman
Lokahi
USA
181 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2006 : 8:11:44 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by slkho
I discovered slack key like most people. One late night there was a knock at my door, and when I went to open it, no one was there. But there at my feet was a little basket, and in it was a little baby slack key guitar wrapped in a blanket. I took it in and decided to raise the little Ki Ho'alu as my own.
~slkho
The blanket was of tapa and the basket was woven of sennit, right? 
You are a very good person!
Sandy
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Leap into the boundless and make it your home.
Zhuang-zi |
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lopie
Aloha
21 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2006 : 1:25:37 PM
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| stumbled on a concert long time ago in oahu |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2007 : 2:12:17 PM
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Aloha kakou!
I actually discovered ki ho'alu for the first time by listening to the Breeze of Hawai`i when it was broadcast on air from Honolulu. |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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hawaiianmusiclover06
`Olu`olu
USA
562 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2007 : 12:35:18 PM
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| I discovered Ki ho'alu by seeing Hapa (Barry Flannegan and Keli'i Kaneali'i) performed and I purchased their CD. |
Aloha Kakou, maluhia a me aloha mau loa (Hello everyone, peace and love forever) |
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gcolebeck
Aloha
United Kingdom
14 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2007 : 05:13:56 AM
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Now this thread is pretty old but I have just to reinvigorate it!
I've found slack key in the last few months - I've played guitar for years, moving slowly from the forgiving environment of very loud very distorted rock to an acoustic environment where I have to make sure my fingers hit the right frets!
Anyway, like a lot of people here I came via bluegrass and country blues - I bought a banjo last year on a whim (thanks Ebay!), then a ukulele. It was the uke that got me here though - I bought Mark Nelson's fantastic fingerstyle uke book because the only thing "uke" means over here in England is George Formby (think music hall variety).
A quick Google found his tab site and I thought "why not?" and gave Ku'u Ipo a try. I was amazed at how lush the tuning sounded. Got hold of Ozzy's book and worked through that, really loving the sound I was able to get out of my old Washburn - it's just so full and lush!
Getting hold of slack key books and CDs is a little tricky here in England, even our UK Amazon tends to be imports only - I'm waiting for my first CD (the Instrumental Masters compilation) but have struggled to get Mark Hanson's book; it's only available as an import for £30 [that's $60!!].
I'm not brave enough to tackle Keola yet, but I've just bought the PDF of Mark Nelson's Old-time tab.
Now, I've never been to the Islands [I guess the Isle of Wight here doesn't really count] but we're planning on our 10th anniversary over there (January 2010); I'll be out for as much slack key music as I can stuff in a suitcase; looking to catch some Hawaiian waves too, the water temperature here in January is pretty chilly [8 centigrade, being about 46 degrees to you!]
Anyway, thanks for the wonderful music! |
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sm80808
Lokahi
347 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2007 : 08:25:06 AM
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| My dad and uncles play slack key so I grew up with it. |
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DaKineViking
Aloha
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2007 : 05:37:47 AM
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| Old thread, but fun to see! Grew up Hilo, got guitar age 10 (now 64). Left Hilo age 16...never got over that. Friends in itermediate and high school in Hilo taught me first ki ho'alu at recess under banyan tree. Never learned anything except Taro Patch until lately...old man now, still learning. Love old masters AND new...Ozzie, Keola, Cyril...many more. SO...I owe my interest to the great 'ohana in my schools at young age. |
Lona |
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justinalderfer
Aloha
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2008 : 08:08:51 AM
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I was surfing down in Baja. One cool evening I was sitting around a bonfire listening to the Hawaiian son-in-law and grandson of our friend from San Diego. The father was playing while his son strummed along on his uke. First I listened then I tried playing along in standard tuning while trying to mimic the mans's fingering. I put down my guitar in defeat and listened for the remainder of the evening. The following week I was back at San Diego State and stumbled in to the media room where I checked out the Masters of Slack Key vol. 1, this being the only Hawaiian CD they had. The light bulb went off and I realized this was the style I had heard on my surf trip. It has been 8 years and many open tunings later that I find myself a dedicated student to Ki ho 'alu. My most treasured moment since I began this journey into Hawaiian music just occured two days after Christmas Day '07. A Hawaiian friend of mine down here in South Florida where I live invited me to dinner to hang out with Uncle George Kahumoku Jr. along with his wife Nancy. I brought along my new 6-string uke and got to jam a little with one of the greats. The aloha spirit is still with me a week after an evening with Uncle George. Life as a slack key player just gets better.
Justin |
ka loku mele kaona |
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