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Momi
Lokahi
402 Posts |
 Posted - 09/30/2014 : 06:38:49 AM
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Or, maybe I'll start a new thread in the same subject area!
I was practically speechless the first time I remember meeting Led Kaapana. He was sitting in the shadows in his (now usual) pre-show seat at the back of the Triple Door in Seattle. He was so low key and down-to-earth, but I was still so star struck. My dad's the biggest Hui Ohana fan on the planet, and I had grown up listening to Led's sweet falsetto and unbelievable guitar licks. (My dad says I first met Led when I was 12 at the Oceania in Honolulu, but I don't remember.)
I've admired Keola Beamer almost as long as I have Led. He and Moanalani are so charming and wonderfully earthy that they put me at ease right away. Mark-O introduced me and Retro to them at a show in Kent, Washington, about 8-10 years ago. I never saw him and his brother at Territorial Tavern (I was too young to get in while they were performing).
But I've wanted to play like Ohta-san for almost my entire life. I can't remember a time before my parents had his "Cool Touch of Ohta-san" album, and they played it often. He was the reason I wanted to learn to play `ukulele in the first place. When Susie Kagami brought him to Seattle to play Town Hall with Herb Jr., I had butterflies in my stomach for weeks. But Mr. Ohta is so humble and so approachable that I soon got over my shyness.
I love it when my idols are nice human beings!
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sirduke58
`Olu`olu
USA
993 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2014 : 07:26:01 AM
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I met Gabby when I was 19 years old in 1977 & even got to play a song with him. My long time ki ho'alu buddy Jonathan Castillo told me "Eh brah Gabby stay teaching slack key classes up the rec center ( Kauluwela where I live now & the name of my new band) Jon & I played the "hook" from "Opihi moemoe" & Gabby went off!!! Then afterwards he said "By da way, wat song was dat?" AMAZING!!!
I met Ledward about 25-30 years ago but he didn't know me from John Doe until about 5 years ago. Now we're buddies & he's called me up to play a couple at his Kona Brewing gig many times. I still haven't sat in to kanikapila with Led yet though. He's constantly inviting me to kani with him & I really need to take him up on his offer. I knew Led's sister Lei Aken really well for about 30 years through bowling
I was lucky enough to become friends with Ozzie Kotani about 7 years ago. He has offered to share all his ki ho'alu mana'o with me since day one. Like Ledward, Ozzie is a really down to Earth humble man. Oz is the most generous & pono man I know. He got integrity coming out of his ears!!!
Mahalo for starting this thread Momi, it's a good one!!!......Come on everybody, pipe in with your own personal chicken skin experiences. |
Hoof Hearted?...Was it you Stu Pedaso? |
Edited by - sirduke58 on 10/01/2014 06:59:16 AM |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2014 : 08:09:56 AM
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| I met Led through my buddy, Kory (thumbstruck, to y'all). I had just been fired from a country band (insubordination, as usual) where I played pedal steel. Thumbs introduced me to Hawaiian steel big time (I had loved it for a long time), btw. He asked me if I'd like to go to a picnic at Mac McBride's (Led's cousin) in Auburn, WA. I took my 8 string Dobro and soon was jamming with Led. I was so thrilled that I never looked back and started playing Hawaiian non-pedal steel. My favorite recollection of the jam was when Led played an amazing descending run down the middle strings of his guitar. I was stunned and stopped playing! Led asked "Whazamaata, Jack?" I said "How DID you do that?" Led giggled and said "I dunno." I've been a great fan ever since. |
keaka |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2014 : 10:46:36 AM
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Since I didn't grow up with Hawaiian music & only discovered it in the past 20 years (mostly through Momi & her family), I didn't have any idols. But my career has led me to meet great musicians from all genres, including dozens of the top names in Hawaiian music - and I've found nearly every single one of them to be gracious, down-to-earth & genuinely pleased to meet "fans."
I'm not going to list names, but it's been a joy to meet & work with several Island musicians after learning (through Momi & others) how influential they are. And a kick to watch HER meet her afore-mentioned idols. |
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salmonella
Lokahi
240 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2014 : 1:07:42 PM
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Lots of stories to tell but I will stick to just one. My very first intro to learning slack key was a small book of tabs and an accompanying CD by Keola Beamer. Before he even tunes to taropatch he talks about playing with aloha in your heart and how important that is. There is also a lot of humor on the CD (lots of interactions with the recording engineer, my favorite quote being "before mango season pau eh).
Years later I finally got to meet Keola at a seminar he gave before a concert in the SaN Fran Bay Area. The same aloha, the same humor, the entire room was filled with it. It still inspires me even more years later.
Dave |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2168 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2014 : 3:07:02 PM
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| Back in '74, I met a guy on the Mainland who was from Kaua'i (he delivered laundry to the place where I was a pot washer/cook in the Hudson Valley - both of us were from places no moa jobs). I got him to show me ki ho'alu (ony get 3 lessons). Years later, back in Seattle, I had found the local Hawaiian community. Soon I was jamming with some guys. I did a few small gigs. I got called from Ken Levine (one of the producers of Led's Triple Door album) and he had Tiko Kaeo and me play for his daughter's wedding reception. There I met Gordon Bowker (the other producer of Led's album). We stayed in touch. Led was coming through Seattle and Gordon had him over to the house and called me up to jam with him. Too cool! Later, through Duke, I met Ozzie, more chicken skin! Also through da 'patch, I met and jammed with Peter Medeiros. Again, too good! Also met Doug Fitch, again too cool. Shoots! I get ony good fun! |
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Russell Letson
`Olu`olu
USA
504 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2014 : 06:29:22 AM
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| Back in 1994,I got a really good assignment from Acoustic Guitar magazine (actually, I lobbied hard for it): do a feature on this Hawaiian guitar music stuff. I interviewed everybody who was on Dancing Cat's Slack Key Masters tour that year--Keola, Cyril, Led, Uncle Ray. I got to meet a lot more players in person over the next few years, either at mainland workshops or in the course of doing more interviews, notably a couple of week-long workshops with George Kahumoku in West Virginia. I only wish I'd been able to talk to Sonny and Leonard before they passed away. (Music journalism wasn't on my horizon when Gabby died in 1980. *That* would have been beyond cool.) |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2014 : 03:07:11 AM
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| Because of the time that I spent with KAPU radio in the central coast of California, I have had the opportunity to meet and do in person and phone interviews with so many wonderful Hawaiian artists Going to all the concerts and being allowed to film so many concerts over the years has allowed me to meet and get to know even more. As I look back and reflect on all the interactions over the years It seems that I spend more and more time thinking about the ones I got to know that are so sadly no longer with us. The earthyness and mana of Charles Ka'upu. The friendliness, dedication and love that Ronald Kanahele had for the people in his life was inspiring. The dedication and sense of history and responsibility that Uncle Dennis Kamakahi had for his music was a revelation. And the joyful, welcoming attitude of Chino Montero will always bring me a smile. |
"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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dagan
Aloha
37 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2014 : 8:49:33 PM
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| I feel fortunate that growing up on the Big Island, all these great musicians were always just around you and you never really "idolized" them. I do remember seeing George Na`ope at the Kona Lagoon was I was really little and just being fascinated with his voice. It wasn't until later when I met him in person as an adult and I got a whiff of his cologne that I was taken right back to those days in the early 80s in Kona. |
www.daganb.wordpress.com
www.paniolomusic.com |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2014 : 08:24:27 AM
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| Oh - I forgot to mention Alan Akaka, a fabulous Hawaiian steeler, my kumu mele, great teacher of Hawaiian music and a good friend. On Thumbs and my first trip to Hawaii, I was moaning about the fact that Alan had cancelled his Seattle trip to give lessons. We went to the Moana Terrace our first night there to see Genoa Keawe, and the steel player and fromt man for the band looked alike Alan. At the break, I went up and asked "Are you Alan Akaka?" He sais he was, and I immediately asked him for lessons. The rest, as they says, is history. |
keaka |
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ArtSap
Lokahi
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2014 : 10:56:35 AM
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Well said Uncle Norman, well said...
quote:
Originally posted by markwitz
Because of the time that I spent with KAPU radio in the central coast of California, I have had the opportunity to meet and do in person and phone interviews with so many wonderful Hawaiian artists Going to all the concerts and being allowed to film so many concerts over the years has allowed me to meet and get to know even more. As I look back and reflect on all the interactions over the years It seems that I spend more and more time thinking about the ones I got to know that are so sadly no longer with us. The earthyness and mana of Charles Ka'upu. The friendliness, dedication and love that Ronald Kanahele had for the people in his life was inspiring. The dedication and sense of history and responsibility that Uncle Dennis Kamakahi had for his music was a revelation. And the joyful, welcoming attitude of Chino Montero will always bring me a smile.
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Art
SF Bay Area, CA / Mililani, HI
"The real music comes from within you - not from the instrument" |
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When did you first meet your Hawaiian music idols?
