One day in the mid 1890's, according to sources, a student
at Kamehameha School for Boys, Joseph Kekuku, discovered
a unique sonic experience by accidentally dropping a (pick
one):
a. comb
b. pocket knife
c. fork
d. railroad spike
on the strings of his guitar . As the (insert choice here)
slid down the strings the resultant glissando captured his imagination,
and he began to experiment with creating this effect intentionally.
Thus was born the Hawaiian Steel Guitar!!!
Some dispute the account as apocryphal, but many say they were there and saw it happen, or at least chanced upon the scene shortly afterward.
Who knows who was really responsible?
Perhaps this link to Brad's Page of Steel will further enlighten the reader as to the disputed origins of the Hawaiian guitar...
Surely the concept of playing stringed instruments with a device other than fingertips has existed for hundreds of years - two Indian instruments, the gotuvadyam and the vichitra vina, are played with glass balls or wooden dowls, and definitely pre-date Hawaiian Steel. The Japanese Koto player slides the whole bridge of a particular string.
But as far as this page is concerned it was Joe Kekuku!
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