Jules Ah See was born in Lahaina, Maui on June 19, 1924. He began his musical career by singing in church in Lahaina, Maui at only 5 years old. It would be a few more years before Jules would take up, first, the `ukulele and, then, the standard guitar under the tutelage of Johnny Almeida. Jules was such a fast learner that by 1936 at 12 years old he won a talent contest which earned him a headlining performance at the Paliku Theater in Kalihi.
Jules wouldn’t take up the steel guitar until he was 13 years old in 1937, but he learned quickly on this instrument as well and was soon able to mimic such steel guitar legends as Sol Ho`opi`i, Dick McIntire, Andy Iona, Tommy Castro, Jake Keli`ikoa, and David Keli`i. Jules would eventually also take up the pedal steel guitar – often considered anathema in Hawaiian music, but his approach with the instrument was tasteful and restrained and uniquely Hawaiian. After a stint in the USO from 1941 through 1945, Jules returned to Honolulu and played with Ray Andrade at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, with Herb Low at LeRoy’s, and with Andy Bright at the Moana Hotel. But his heyday would come in the mid-1950s when Jules would join both the cast of the Hawaii Calls radio show and the Hawaiian Village Serenaders backing Alfred Apaka at the then new hotel for which the band was named. While Jules was largely occupied with his roles with Hawaii Calls and backing Apaka and the numerous recordings both generated, he still found time to go into a recording studio a few more times with the likes of Benny Kalama, The Surfers, Mahi Beamer, Japan’s Ethel Nakada, and Felix Slatkin which yielded the unique Paradise Found where Jules was accompanied by a full orchestra.
With all due respect and with no desire to trigger a debate, Jules was arguably the greatest steel guitarist to ever come out of Hawai`i. The word I have often seen with regard to his playing is “versatility.” He could play a romantic ballad with tremendous sensitivity or lead a charging up-tempo number at lightning speeds with his unique musical sense of humor. He could lead the band with aplomb or be content with sitting back in the mix and contributing occasionally like his own section of an orchestra. Steel guitarist Alan Akaka said of Jules, “Jules was my role model. His style and finesse on the steel guitar made a major impact on me and inspired me to go beyond and learn more. I listened to his recordings for hours, mimicked his solos and licks, hoping to reach his level someday.” Alan is the keeper of Jules’ Magnatone steel guitar.
Jules passed away in Honolulu on June 12, 1960 – just a few months after his friend and musical partner Alfred Apaka. He was only 36 years old.
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