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Gabby Pahinui

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Gabby Pahinui was a Hawaiian slack-key guitarist and singer. He was born on 22 April 1921 in Lahaina on Maui, as Charles Kapono Kahahawai Jr., in a poor family that sold leis. Later he was informally adopted by Emily and Philip Pahinui, from whom he took the surname. He married at seventeen and had thirteen children. He first worked as an accompanying guitarist with Charley Tiny Brown and quickly learned steel guitar, even to read music. The nickname Gabby is said to come from the gabardine trousers that were the costume for an orchestra.

Music and breakthrough

Pahinui recorded in the 1960s and 1970s, including Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Instrumental Vol. II in 1962, Gabby in 1972 and Pure Gabby in 1978. He also became known as Pops Pahinui and died on 13 October 1980. His son Cyril Pahinui carried the tradition on. Hi'ilawe from 1978 is on Pure Gabby.

Influence

Slack key is a Hawaiian way of playing the guitar, in which the strings are loosened to an open tuning. The thumb plays a continuous bass line while the fingers play the melody, so that one guitar sounds like a small band. Pahinui also sang in Hawaiian, with a warm, relaxed voice. He is seen as one of the most important voices of Hawaiian music and as a source of inspiration for later generations of guitarists and singers from the islands.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Hi'ilawe and notice how the thumb plays a calm bass line while the fingers lay the melody on top of it. Does it sound as if more than one guitarist is playing?

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: ArtistsHawaiian slack key and steel guitar