Gabby's time was just post-WW2 when he started playing around his home town of Honolulu, and soon became a very sought after musician, mostly for his steel guitar abilities. Steel was his first instrument, but he soon was even more recognized for his style of the Hawaiian 'slack key' guitar playing which he became a local legend for (besides his drinking and carousing). His non-stop weekend jams at his Waimanalo home are now infamous amongst his legions of fans, and these rare videos which include some interviews of Gabby and his sons are just a slight example of how it was done back then in backyards island-wide, and can still be found at times. But nobody does it like Gabby, his beautiful steel and guitar playing, along with his five distinct ways of vocalizing in song will always keep him revered, and his all-too-few years as a founding member of the incredible Sons Of Hawaii of the early 60s will live on forever.
http://www.gabbypahinui.com/
As always, watch the volume levels, some of it is loud.
He does his signature song Hiilawe in this one
Here Gabby is joined at home by fellow legends Peter Moon on banjo, three of his sons, Cyril, Martin, and Bla, and good friend, Atta Issacs, w/Palani Vaughn on autoharp.
Gabby died in 1980 at the young age of only 59. His not-always laid-back Hawaiian lifestyle took it's toll, but how fortunate that he gave us everything he had before leaving.
Unfortunately, legal restrictions have kept more Gabby footage off YT.
http://www.gabbypahinui.com/
As always, watch the volume levels, some of it is loud.
He does his signature song Hiilawe in this one
Here Gabby is joined at home by fellow legends Peter Moon on banjo, three of his sons, Cyril, Martin, and Bla, and good friend, Atta Issacs, w/Palani Vaughn on autoharp.
Gabby died in 1980 at the young age of only 59. His not-always laid-back Hawaiian lifestyle took it's toll, but how fortunate that he gave us everything he had before leaving.
Unfortunately, legal restrictions have kept more Gabby footage off YT.
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