Post #249239 by Lorraine on Wed, Aug 16, 2006 8:02 AM

I'm delighted to have found this 'site and topic as, after thorough research, I wrote extensive career profiles on both Ernest & Freddie Tavares, which were published in various steel guitar mag's during the mid '90s.

When talentd young upright-bass player, Vince Akina was forming a group to perform Hawaiian & Tahitian songs with dancers on a casual base in '54, Fredde & Ernest Tavares made up the trio. 'The South Sea Islanders' performed all over Southern California for 15 years - mostly on the ountry-club circuit and for luaus. They were renowned ofr their professionalism and the versatility of their interesting and fascinating programmes.

They recorded HUKILAU HULAS VOL2 in 1955, but the LP wasn't released until 1964. Ernest plays all pedal steel on thhis album, Freddie plays guitar.
Ernest sings lead vocals on 'MAUI GIRL' and 'HANO HANO HANALE'.
Vince Akina is lead vocalist on 'SWEET SOMEONE' HII LAWE (LP incoorectly credits Freddie, whoh played only guitar on this track) and 'PUPU O NII HAU'.
The trio perform 'HE ONO LA' 'MINOI MINOI E' and 'HUI MAWOHO O KA WAA'.
Bernie Kaai is guest vocalist on the other 4 tracks.

A pioneer of pedal steel guitar, Ernest Tavares designed (in 1942) the unique pedal steel that he played throughout his career, building the instrument in 1946 with help from George Sereno, husband of Ernest & Freddie's sister Hannah.

Christine and Sereno-men, I would love to hear from you.
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