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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
 Posted - 06/20/2007 : 12:30:34 PM
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Hey since you guys "hijacked" my post about Feet Rogers and started talking about all those tunings (might as well be Greek to me, and I really don't mind about the hijack LOL), I have a quick question.
Is Benny Rogers, Feet's father? I kinda figure that you are the guys that might know.
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"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 02:32:52 AM
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Sorry, Norman. It is, however a universal trend in newsgroups. It is sorta like cocktail party conversation - it drifts and circles around the subject. But, think of it this way: you made some interesting info pop out of the woodwork, even though it wasn't interesting to you. You are a Public Benefactor (tm). Thanks, Norman.
...Reid
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 03:01:15 AM
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Reid, No problem at all with how the party drifted. Glad it sparked some interest. But I am curious about Benny Rogers as being Feet's father. I kinda think that it is so but I just thought someone here could confirm it. Don't know why it matters so much to me except for the fact that I love the way Feet plays his Steel so much.
The little bit that I have learned about Feet so far, mostly from Eddie Kamae's movie about The Sons of Hawaii, just makes me want to find out more about his life. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 05:52:28 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by markwitz
Reid, No problem at all with how the party drifted. Glad it sparked some interest. But I am curious about Benny Rogers as being Feet's father. I kinda think that it is so but I just thought someone here could confirm it. Don't know why it matters so much to me except for the fact that I love the way Feet plays his Steel so much.
The little bit that I have learned about Feet so far, mostly from Eddie Kamae's movie about The Sons of Hawaii, just makes me want to find out more about his life.
My info says Benny was "Feets's" uncle. I'll look it up when I get home. The style they both played is called "Rogers Family Style". My apologies about the tuning thing. I DO get carried away, sometimes (maybe often). |
keaka |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 10:21:54 AM
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| Keaka, A very much, no apology needed from any of you guys. I was just trying to find a way of engaging you all on the guestion regarding Benny Rogers. Let me know what you find out. What source are you looking it up in, if I might ask? I am surprised to hear that it might be an uncle. Gee, how many steel players do they have in the Rogers clan? Eddie Kamae's movie referred to Feet's father as a Steel player also, but I don't think he mentioned his name, so I had just assumed it may have been Benny. But maybe I assume too quickly. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
Edited by - markwitz on 06/21/2007 10:28:52 AM |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 11:27:26 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by markwitz
Keaka, A very much, no apology needed from any of you guys. I was just trying to find a way of engaging you all on the guestion regarding Benny Rogers. Let me know what you find out. What source are you looking it up in, if I might ask? I am surprised to hear that it might be an uncle. Gee, how many steel players do they have in the Rogers clan? Eddie Kamae's movie referred to Feet's father as a Steel player also, but I don't think he mentioned his name, so I had just assumed it may have been Benny. But maybe I assume too quickly.
My sources are Loraine Ruymer's book on Hawaiian Steel Guitar and the liner notes for one of the steel guitar anthologies on Cord records. Loraine is one of the founders of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association. He book has an alphabetical listing of many, if not most, of the noted Hawaiian style steel players from the beginning. Even though he wasn't famous, I believe that the liner notes for the album state that Feets' dad played steel as well. |
keaka |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 2:04:33 PM
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Jack and Norman, Not only do I have Lorene's book(s), I have her email address and, in the next day or two, I will email her and ask her about this. She is a very nice lady and most helpful. Although her history book is a compilation of various authors, and she is the editor, I hope she can, at least help to answer this question or point in the right direction. Be patient, OK, because I have a couple of serious things going on right now. I promise to get back to you.
...Reid
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Edited by - Reid on 06/21/2007 2:04:48 PM |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 2:12:13 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by slipry1
quote:
Originally posted by markwitz
Keaka, A very much, no apology needed from any of you guys. I was just trying to find a way of engaging you all on the guestion regarding Benny Rogers. Let me know what you find out. What source are you looking it up in, if I might ask? I am surprised to hear that it might be an uncle. Gee, how many steel players do they have in the Rogers clan? Eddie Kamae's movie referred to Feet's father as a Steel player also, but I don't think he mentioned his name, so I had just assumed it may have been Benny. But maybe I assume too quickly.
My sources are Loraine Ruymer's book on Hawaiian Steel Guitar and the liner notes for one of the steel guitar anthologies on Cord records. Loraine is one of the founders of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association. He book has an alphabetical listing of many, if not most, of the noted Hawaiian style steel players from the beginning. Even though he wasn't famous, I believe that the liner notes for the album state that Feets' dad played steel as well.
OK. I'm home now. From Lorene's book :The Hawaiian Steel Guitar":
Rogers, Benny: Brother of George Rogers. One of the great Rogers family of steel players. Played steel for Genoa Keawe [AHA!!!] for many years in the 1940's and 50's, played on almost all of her recordings until his death [Alan Akaka does it now]. His wife also played rhythm guitar and sang with Genoa. Benny had a style typical of the Rogers family, very Hawaiian, with excellent harmonics. Deceased.
Rogers, David "Feet" = born 1935, son of George Rogers, died 1983. "Feet" was steel player in Eddie Kamae's Sons of Hawai'i, known for his use of the D tuning [although Fred Lunt says it was E]and excellence in harmonics. Much-recorded, highly successful group, organized in 1960. Eddie [bless his soul] said the steel enhanced the natural beauty of their music [Gawd, do I agree!!!!], made it distinctive at a time when the steel was no longer popular. The group did not perform when "Feet", a merchant seaman, was not in town, so great was their respect for his contribution to their sound [this is a band with Gabby - a great steel player]. His music was a simple pure Hawaiian style always delicately played and beautifully expressed, etc. [Boy, do I agree. Alan Akaka, when I took some lessons from hime, said "If you want to play Hawaiian, especillay fills, you have to listen to Feet"]. [Quotes in brackets are mine] |
keaka |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 3:11:51 PM
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Keaka, Thank you so much for the info. Did you catch the feed from the Ala Moana Hotel this last Tuesday night? Auntie Genoa played the last set and standing behind her was Alan Akaka, just as you mentioned.
I agree, Feet, in my opinion was like the foundation of The Sons of Hawai'i and that foundation let all the others build upon him, and even carry on with out him after he died. I think some one should write a screenplay based on Eddie's documentary movie and do something like what they did with the movie "Ray" about Ray Charles. I think that there is a lot of mystery in the life of a guy like Feet, who was such a musical genius but at the same time had to leave it from time to time because of his need to go to sea. Maybe it's what makes his steel so piercing to the heart. And so perfect and pure. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2168 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 11:06:50 PM
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| In a video Jack got from Eddie Kamae, Joe "Gang" Marshall says that Feet had a great ear. He said that during a recording session just after Feet had come back from sea, the group played one time through a verse on all the songs for him and Feet nailed the session. |
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