He rejected the steel guitar for his first quarter century. But once he relented, Wynne developed a thoroughly Hawaiian touch on what is now one of his favorite instruments… Throughout his teen years Wynne had his hands full with mastering his first loves – `ukulele and slack key guitar – while learning hundreds of classic songs in the Hawaiian language. Despite that his father is a steel guitarist and he grew up around the instrument, Bill did not make the leap to the steel guitar until the age of 23 – acquiring a non-working 1948 Fender Dual Professional steel guitar for $260. “I hesitated to play the steel guitar because I wanted to do my own thing – not appear to be following in my father’s footsteps.”

But follow he would! As with the other instruments he learned, Wynne began his study by attempting to emulate steel guitar greats like Barney Isaacs, Joe Custino, and Billy Hew Len, but quickly found his own style. In just a few short years Wynne would be in demand as a steel guitarist on the East Coast for events hosted by such prestigious organizations as the Hawai`i Visitors and Conventions Bureau. And in 2004 he would be invited by steel guitar legend Alan Akaka to perform at the Halekulani Hotel as part of the Aloha Festivals Steel Guitar Week.

Enjoy Bill Wynne’s steel guitar work by clicking on the titles under “PLAYLIST” below.

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