Stephen Inglis – Guitar Slinger/Word Singer

Stephen Inglis is a versatile artist. He crosses genres, yet his music always radiates integrity.

Born and raised in Honolulu, he plays Grammy-nominated Hawaiian slack key guitar. He records and tours with the most respected traditional musicians.

Stephen is the 2021 recipient of the Ki Hōʻalu Legacy Award (Honoring those who perpetuate the art if Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar) giving him his third nod at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards; Hawaiʻiʻs highest musical honor.

His duet album with legend Dennis Kamakahi, Waimaka Helelei, is a 2012 winner of the aforementioned award , and the CD is on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Barely out of his teens, Stephen formed a group with legendary Grateful Dead drummer, Bill Kreutzmann.

Along with his strong respect for tradition, Stephen is a creative innovator. His album Slackin on Dylan opened up new territory for slack key, winning him a Hawaii Music Award. He has made three albums of his own singer-songwriter originals, acoustic and electric. His latest album, “Cut The Dead Some Slack” Grateful Dead interpreted Slack Key style, has been garnering rave reviews worldwide.

Stephen lives the music life to the full: club gigs, concerts, festivals, touring, recording. He has played to sold out crowds at esteemed venues such as The Barns at Wolftrap and the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley. Stephen keeps expanding his musical range. And he is a great collaborator, always open to finding common ground in melody and harmony.

Stephen gathered some of Hawaii and the words finest Musicians to form the Stephen Inglis Project. The single and title track of their upcoming album, Music Is a River is out now.

“In 2016, Stephen Inglis followed up a show in Dallas with a private tour of the legendary building at 508 Park Ave.the site of Robert Johnson’s second and final recording session. An acclaimed Hawa’iian slack-key guitarist and vocalist, Inglis had many reasons to feel connected to the legendary Johnson, who listened to a wide array of music. Hawa’iian music was extremely popular when Johnson was recording, and it cross-pollinated with the blues.

The steel bar for lap slide came from the islands along with slack key. His host at 508 Park Avenue was Pat Bywaters, the executive director of the nonprofit Encore Park, which has preserved the building. As they parted, Pat said, “Music is a river, you dip your bucket in, then put some back.” You couldn’t ask for a much better whisper from the universe into the ear of a songwriter. ” Dennis McNally- Grateful Dead publicist, author and historian.

In January 2024, A mutual friend teamed up Stephen for a one off gig with renowned pedal steel/ electric guitarist, Barry Sless. (Bob Weir and Wolf bros, David Nelson Band, Phil Lesh and friends, MoonAlice and more) Right away, it was clear that this was just the start of something special. The duo immediately began booking shows in California and beyond.

Fast forward April 2024: Stephen had the great honor of playing with Keyboardist Rob Barraco during his opening set for Darkstar Orchestra at the Hawaii Theater. (He’s probably most known for his work touring with Phil Lesh & Friends, The Dead, D.S.O., who he’s been touring with since 2005. Rob has one solo CD co-written with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, titled “When We All Come Home”. Barry has been making frequent trips to the islands over the past few decades as a member of)

One song into their soundcheck, both Barraco and Inglis decided that they would collaborate as a Trio with their mutual friend and amazing artist Barry Sless. Longtime friends and musical collaborators, Barry and Rob had already talked about Inglis and Slessʻ recent Duo shows where they set sail with traditional Hawaiian songs, Inglis’s originals, favorites from the Grateful Dead and Dylan songbooks and much more, to a rapturous reception of music loving crowds in California and Hawaii. After the Hawaii Theatre show, it was clear that adding Barraco’s keyboard virtuosity to this delicious musical stew, was an idea too good to pass on. Hence, the Skeleton Krewe Trio was born.

The trio then expanded to a full rotation of amazing players including Pete Sears (Jefferson Starship, Rod Stewart, Hot Tuna) on bass, Wally Ingram (David Lindley, Sheryl Crow) and Jay Lane (Dead and Company, Bob Weir and Wolf Bros) on drums, and Mookie Siegel (David Nelson Band, MoonaAlice) on keyboards.

The lineup settled into the full time quintet of Sless, Inglis, Barraco, Lane and Sears, with winter, spring and fall tours in 2025 and 2026.