My version of Andy Iona's classic composition...a tune that every steel guitar artist  should have in his or her repertoire. C6 or B11 tunings are each distinct. This is performed on B11 lap steel. Accompaniment here by Gerald Ross.

Steel Soul

Sand

Foot Tapper is one of the Shadows first famous tunes, played here on steel guitar

Shades of Gentle

Foot Tapper

Steel guitar goes to India. Song from Bollywood movie "Madhumati" titled...."aajare pardesi" from my CD " Distant Shores".

Distant Shores

aajare pardeshi

This tune needs no introduction. I play it frequently at shows and kanikapilas but have never recorded it. About time...

Played on West Coast steel guitar, C6 tuning.

2017 - 1

blue hawaii

"Heartbeat" was the last of Buddy Holly's singles to be released during his lifetime. It was a minor hit in the United States but more popular in the UK, Asia, and Australia. Written by  Bob Montgomery and Norman Petty in 1958.

This is my instrumental version on steel guitar from the CD album "Shadows on Steel" released in 2008. An acoustic steel guitar on D maj tuning and a Steelocaster, A6 tuning, were used for the lead. John Daniels played all guitar accompaniments.

Shadows On Steel

Heartbeat

"Makin' Whoopee!" is a jazz/blues number from the 1928 musical  Whoopee!. Gus Kahn wrote the lyrics and Walter Donaldson is credited with the composition.  Eddie Cantor sung it first and then performed subsequently by many including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole. Played here on C6 steel guitar with a music minus one backing track. Recorded in 2008.

Steelography

Makin' Whoppee

"Ei Nei" was written and composed by Lena Machado, known as "Hawaii's Songbird". This version features my good friends and talented artistes "Mana" comprising Glenn and Joice Alapag of the Big Island, Joice does the vocals and plays ukulele , Glenn is on slack key and bass, myself on steel guitar, rhythm guitar and sampler keyboard. This was recorded in my home studio in April 2017, just got to mixing it down. Key of F.

"Ei Nei" is a Hawaiian term of endearment and love. Opening lyrics: "Aloha wau ia 'oe, e ku'u aloha ei nei (I love you my beloved).... As evening shadows fall...I hear your sweet melody...That brings me fond memories of you..

2017 - 2

Ei Nei

Hawaii Calls was a radio program that ran from 1935 through 1975 that featured live Hawaiian music conducted by Harry Owens for the first two years.  It was broadcast each week, usually from the courtyard of the Sheraton Moana on Waikiki Beach but occasionally from other locations, and hosted by Webley Edwards for almost the entire run. Each show opened with the sounds of the pounding surf and the voice-over of Webley Edwards proclaiming, "The sound of the waves on the beach at Waikiki."Sadly, the courtyard has now been converted to an outdoor restaurant. However, the music must live on. Here is a tune, "Tradewind Island" that featured often. It was introduced to me some years back by Frank and Donna Miller who had a show of their own with Donna singing it beautifully. This is an instrumental version on steel guitar, A6 tuning. All accompaniments by me.

Tradewind Island

Steel guitar in Indonesia....and a tribute to the music of the islands of the South Pacific..

The music of Indonesia demonstrates its cultural diversity, the local musical creativity, as well as subsequent foreign musical influences that shaped contemporary music scenes of the south Pacific. There are hundreds of different forms of music, notably the kronjong. Indonesia was once part of the Dutch empire.

This tune comes from the island of Ambon, home to many Indonesian musicians. Duet with guitar played by my Dutch friend Klaas Kramer, steel guitar by me. From my CD "Shadows on Steel".

Sarinande

Steel guitar on a lonesome tune inspired by Hank Marvin.... with strings backing by Andrew McGarrick. I was surprised to learn that  it was written in 1926.  Roy Turk and Lou Handman were the composers/writers. Elvis made it a hit in 1960. Played on Steelocaster A6, additional accompaniments by me on Martin custom rhythm acoustic guitar, E-09 sampler keyboard.

2018 - 1

are you lonesome tonight

Guitar instrumental played originally by Hank Marvin and The Shadows. Composed by Jerry Lordan. This is a steel guitar version.

Singapore Green

Atlantis

2018 - 2

My_Sweet_Lord_M CloudBounce

La Paloma", The Dove,  is a popular Spanish song that has been produced and reinterpreted in diverse cultures, settings, arrangements, and recordings over the last 140 years. Composed by the Spanish composer  Sebastián Yradier "La Paloma", sends a message of peace, It belongs to a genre called Habaneras, a musical style developed in 19th-century Spain. This version is played, with some improvisations, on the steel guitar

2009 - 1

La Paloma

Medley from Rogers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific". The work premiered in 1949 on Broadway. The plot is based on James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 book "Tales of the South Pacific".

South Pacific Medley

"Makalapua" or "opening flower"was written by Queen Liliuokalani, a classic Hawaiian "mele". Played here with steel guitar and harp lead. Steel guitar with A6 tuning, Martin and Crown rhythm guitars, and sampled harp, bass and strings from Roland E-09.All tracks by me.

2019 - 1

Makalapua

This Beatles tune needs no introduction. Arrangement  here by Ove Kalander of Sweden. Instruments: Lead guitar by Ove Kalander, steel guitar by Kay Das, sampled horns by Benny Rodriguez. From CD " Shadows on Steel - Encore" available on cdbaby, Amazon, Spotify, and other outlets.

watch out for the last verse, which is a little different..

Shadows On Steel - Encore

Hey Jude

this tune needs no introduction. From my CD album "Acquamarina", lead played on West Coast C6 steel guitar and Charvel Jackson acoustic steel guitar  D maj tuning.  instrumental backing from music minus one.

Acquamarina

in the mood

I was once requested to play this tune on steel guitar for a beachside wedding. Hugh Williams was the composer with lyrics  by Jimmy Kennedy. There have been several cover versions: The Platters, Pat Boone, Elvis Presley, Guy Lombardo, Billy Vaughn....

Harbour Lights

Remembering with nostalgia  the journey to Waimanalo a few days ago....Pu'uanahulu  is one of the many tunes that Gabby Pahinui is remembered by, though not associated with Waimanalo. Here is my version with steel guitar with guitar accompaniment by Peter Korving. Strings and wind accompaniment on a Roland sampler. Gabby liked the idea of a string accompaniment to his slack key.  Pictures were taken on the way to and around Waimanalo Beach Park.

Pu'uanahulu

Hawaii Calls was a radio program that ran from 1935 to 1975 that featured live Hawaiian music conducted by Harry Owens. It was broadcast weekly from the courtyard of the Moana Hotel on Waikiki Beach, hosted by Webley Edwards. The first shows were broadcast to the US West Coast on shortwave radio. At its peak in popularity, it was heard over 750 stations around the world. Here is an instrumental version on steel guitar, inspired by a rendition by Alan Akaka. Three steel guitars are featured: West Coast B11, C6, and A6 (Steelocaster) tunings. A Roland E-09 sampler keyboard, Martin rhythm guitar, and Bradley bass guitar were the other instruments featured. Key of A to Bb.  I play all tracks.

2019 - 2

Hawai'i Calls

First track from my CD album "Distant Shores " of a few years ago. Lead played on West Coast steel guitar C6 tuning with all accompaniments by David Das. Composed by Ken Darby and performed by many including there Makaha Sons, Andy Williams, Hui Ohana, and others... beautiful lyrics:

This is my night of love/ This is the hour of Kalua/ My arms are open now/ My heart has spoken now /Who will be Kalua's only love?/ Before the night is old/ My arms will hold, Kalua/ My beating heart is true /Wanting you (wanting you) /Your beating heart I see/ Wanting me (wanting me)/ And now my song is through/ I give to you, Kalua

Love Song of Kalua

From the album Three Chord Opera, released in 2001, reached #15 in billboard charts.

Leave a Little Room for God

A favourite on steel guitar from the "Hawaii Calls" days from my CD album "Steel Soul" a few years ago. Inspired by Bobby Ingano.

Twilight in Hawaii

During the big band era it was not uncommon for some big bands to incorporate the steel guitar. During the 30's and early 40's, steel guitar could be heard often on popular radio. Here is a sampler generated by myself. You will recognize the tunes, all hits in their own right. All complete tracks are also available. As I could not afford to hire a big band for the recordings, the backing on these tracks is from MusicMinusOne!!

Kay Das's Album

Big Band Sampler

Moana Chimes was my first Hawaiian music love when I was learning to play the steel guitar at age 10 or 11. My mother had started to learn the instrument, probably having heard it on her travels as a nurse during WWII.  Seeing that I was interested, she would take me along to her lessons. She gave it up when she saw that I would carry the torch. I did so, largely self-taught.

Moana Chimes was composed during the 1920s or 30s by M.K.Moke. Later on David "Feet" Rogers created his own distinct version. There are therefore two versions of the "original". This recording by me is the "Feet" version, taught to me by the late Ron Kanahele a few years ago. The ukulele accompaniment is by Roy Durand and the bass by Bernie Endaya, who are both continuing their music in the high heavens..

The picture of a few years ago was taken at Kapiolani Park with Kamuela, Adriana (my better half), and Sebastian Muller, and has no relation to the tune, other than having a Hawaiian touch! I shall post my interpretation of the M.K. Moke version another day.

kay das

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