Barney Isaacs
Celebrating the centennial of a steel guitar master… …
When you consider that…
He had the longest tenure in the steel guitar chair on the once wildly popular weekly Hawaii Calls radio broadcasts;
He was a Waikiki showroom steel guitarist for much of his career backing such vocalists/hosts as Ed Kenney, Haunani Kahalewai, Sterling Mossman, and Danny Kaleikini; and
He was an in-demand session player who has recorded with a veritable “who’s who” of Hawaiian music legends (including Charles “Kaipo” Miller, Marlene Sai, Ohta-San, Genoa Keawe, Billy Hew Len, Benny Kalama, Gabby Pahinui, Andy Cummings, George Kuo, Chick Floyd, Charles K.L. Davis, and even Tennessee Ernie Ford, to name but a few)
…Barney Isaacs is likely the most heard steel guitarist from Hawai`i in the history of the instrument.
The steel guitar was once the signature sound of Hawaiian music, and Barney Isaacs was one of its most capable practitioners. Ho`olohe Hou Radio honors Barney on his centennial with a three-part radio program focusing on Barney’s rarest recordings, particularly those on which he was not identified as a participant and which you have likely heard but never knew you were listening to Barney. You will hear him both in the studio and in rare live performances. More than 100 songs over nearly 6 hours – only a dozen of which remain in print in the digital era, making these recordings rarities deserving of being heard again.
Click “PLAY” below on one of the segments to start listening. Enjoy!
~ Bill Wynne, HOST, Ho`olohe Hou Radio
PART ONE – A Tribute to Barney Isaacs (1948-1963)
PART TWO – A Tribute to Barney Isaacs (1964-1969)
PART THREE – A Tribute to Barney Isaacs (1970-1995)
Barney Isaacs – A Selected Discography
Alan Akaka & The Islanders – Islands Call (Cosmo)
Charles K.L. Davis – At Home (Hula)
Jack De Mello – Steel Guitar Magic Hawaiian Style (Music of Polynesia)
Chick Floyd – Hula La (Liberty)
Chick Floyd – Little Brown Gal (Liberty)
Tennessee Ernie Ford – Aloha from Tennessee Ernie Ford (Capitol)
Hawaii Calls – Blue Skies of Hawaii (Capitol)
Hawaii Calls – Hawaii Today (Capitol)
Hawaii Calls – More Greatest Hits (Capitol)
Hawaii Calls – Hawaiian Shores – Favorite Instrumentals of the Islands – Volume 2 (Capitol)
Hawaii Calls – Hawaiian Strings – Favorite Instrumentals of the Islands – Volume 3 (Capitol)
Hawaii Calls – Hit Island Melodies (Hawaii Calls)
Hawaii Calls – Romantic Instrumentals of the Islands – Favorite Instrumentals of the Islands – Volume 5 (Capitol)
Hawaii Calls – Soft Hawaiian Guitars – Favorite Instrumentals of the Islands – Volume 6 (Capitol)
Hawaii Calls – Songs of the Golden People 1975 (Lehua)
Hawaii Calls – The Stars of Hawaii Calls (Capitol)
Hawaii Calls – Waikiki After Dark (Capitol)
Hawaii Calls – The Young Hawaiians (Capitol)
Alvin Kaleolani Isaacs & Sons – Alvin Kaleolani Isaacs & Sons (Lilinoe)
Barney Isaacs – Hau`oli (Sounds of Hawaii)
Barney Isaacs – E Mau – Take One (Aloha)
Barney Isaacs and George Kuo – Hawaiian Touch (Dancing Cat)
Barney Isaacs, Jr. and His Hawaiian Islanders – Aloha From Hawaii (Polydor)
Haunani Kahalewai – Aloha from Haunani (Decca/MCA)
Haunani Kahalewai – Haunani! Hawaii’s Favorite Singing Star (Capitol)
Haunani Kahalewai – Island Spotlight on Haunani (Decca)
Haunani Kahalewai – Moon of the Southern Seas (Capitol)
Haunani Kahalewai – Trade Wind Islands (Capitol)
Haunani Kahalewai – The Voice of Hawaii (Decca)
Charles Kaipo and His Happy Hawaiians – Easy Hulas (Mahalo)
Charles Kaipo – The Heart of Hawaii (GNP Crescendo)
Charles Kaipo and His Happy Hawaiians – Sophisticated Hulas (Mahalo)
Danny Kaleikini – Danny (Trim)
Danny Kaleikini – Hula Eyes (Trim)
Danny Kaleikini – I Am What I Am (DK)
Danny Kaleikini – Live! (Hula)
John “Squeeze” Kamana – Pua Maeole (Sounds of Hawaii)
Eddie Kekaula – Sings Alfred Apaka Favorites (Kekaula)
Ed Kenney – Ed Kenney’s Hawaii (Decca/MCA)
Ed Kenney – Royal Hawaiian Luau (Decca)
Ray Kinney – Remember Waikiki (Liberty)
The Maile Serenaders – Evening In The Islands (Hula)
Sterling Mossman – At The Barefoot Bar (Decca)
The New Hawaiian Band – Hawaii’s Greatest Hits (Decca/MCA)
The New Hawaiian Band – Hawaii’s Greatest Hits – Volume 2 (Decca/MCA)
Ohta-San – Hawaiian Musical Treasures
Ohta-San – Instrumental Hawaiian Favorites
Gabby Pahinui – Hawaiian Slack Key – Volume 1 (Waikiki)
Marlene Sai – Authentic Hawaiian Songs (Sounds of Hawaii)
The Stars of Hawaii Orchestra – Hawaiian Guitar (RCA)
Various Artists – Do The Hula (Waikiki)
Various Artists – Happy Hulas for Your Luau (GNP Crescendo)
Various Artists – Hawaii Stars (Decca)
Various Artists – Hawaii World’s Fair Album (Sounds of Hawaii)
Various Artists – In Hawaii The Story Starts (Waikiki)
Various Artists – Ku`uipo (My Sweetheart) (Waikiki)
Various Artists – Love Songs of Tahiti (Waikiki)
The Waikiki Boys – Hawaiian Holiday (Tops)