Jerry Byrd Ohana Zoom Call

[Michael Kiese]

Aloha Everyone!

It's my pleasure to share the following video with you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm0ZXr-u_aU

I set up a Zoom call between Luana Byrd (Jerry's Daughter), Bobby Ingano, Casey Olsen, and myself.

We enjoyed ourselves, and recorded the conversation for posterity and I put it up on YouTube for posterity.

Some steel guitars owned by some legends make an appearance.

Hope you like it.

Enjoy!

[Jim Newberry]

Thanks so much for doing that and posting. I really look forward to watching it in detail!

[Michael Kiese]

Thanks so much for doing that and posting. I really look forward to watching it in detail!

Aloha Jim,

It my pleasure and a labor of love.

Some people have gotten back to me and are asking about specific questions on the steel guitars, amps, and other gear some of the old time Hawaiian Steel Guitar Legends used.

Both Casey and Bobby told me the definitely want to do another video, and they can talk gear all length for hours and hours. They'd be the current Subject Matter Experts on Hawaiian Steel Guitar legends.

If you or anybody else has any questions, post them here to this topic. I'll make notes and will be sure to ask them on the next video.

Enjoy!

[Chris Templeton]

Thanks for that Michael, watching it now. The Pic of Billy Hew Len was taken at one of Jerry's Ho'olaule'a's, either '85 or '86.
Billy started playing music as a guitarist. His day job was as an auto mechanic. An engine he was working on fell on his left Hand and he lost it.
He started to have mental problems because he couldn't play guitar, and someone (maybe his minister) suggested he play steel guitar and he became a great Hawaiian player.
At the '86 Ho'olaule'a, I remember Bob Brozman got the biggest ovation.
Does Alan Akaka play out these days? He was a student of Jerry's.
I've mentioned this before, that when I had lessons with Jerry at Harry's Music, on Oahu, he would never play during them, only make comments on my playing,
He'd sometimes tap me on the shoulder saying not to use my shoulder when applying vibrato.
John Ely (Asleep At The Wheel) had to stop playing for a bit because he injured his shoulder by doing that.
Also, Jerry always emphasized when doing a reverse slants kick the bottom of the bar out with the thumb as oppose turning the bar with the hand'

[Michael Kiese]

Thanks for that Michael, watching it now. The Pic of Billy Hew Len was taken at one of Jerry's Ho'olaule'a's, either '85 or '86.
Billy started playing music as a guitarist. His day job was as an auto mechanic. An engine he was working on fell on his left Hand and he lost it.
He started to have mental problems because he couldn't play guitar, and someone (maybe his minister) suggested he play steel guitar and he became a great Hawaiian player.
At the '86 Ho'olaule'a, I remember Bob Brozman got the biggest ovation.
Does Alan Akaka play out these days? He was a student of Jerry's.
I've mentioned this before, that when I had lessons with Jerry at Harry's Music, on Oahu, he would never play during them, only make comments on my playing,
He'd sometimes tap me on the shoulder saying not to use my shoulder when applying vibrato.
John Ely (Asleep At The Wheel) had to stop playing for a bit because he injured his shoulder by doing that.
Also, Jerry always emphasized when doing a reverse slants kick the bottom of the bar out with the thumb as oppose turning the bar with the hand'

Aloha Chris,

Thanks for sharing that picture! Very cool.

Casey Olsen, who's one of the guys in the video, is Billy's grandson. And he also was a star student of Jerry's. So Casey had the benefit of 2 legendary steel players teaching him. Super nice guy, and super humble to boot. We talked a lot about Billy in the video, and Casey showed off a few steel guitars that belonged to Billy and Merle Kekuku.

We'll probably do more videos like that in the future. So if you have any specific questions, I can bring them up in the next video. Just let me know.

Enjoy!

[Chris Templeton]

Ah yes, Casey Olsen, another member of the"The Byrd's Nest", Jerry's Hawaiian students.
Barney Isaacs played at Jerry's show too. He played a doubleneck Maganatone like this.
He didn't use a volume pedal.