Beryl Deane Harrell was born on September 23, 1918 in Vancouver, Washington, the family eventually relocated to Los Angeles, California. Hawaiian music was very popular throughout the 1920s, 1930s, and the 1940s-Beryl was taught how to play the steel guitar by Sol Hoʻopiʻi, who was acknowledged to be one of the greatest steel guitarists in history. Hoʻopiʻi taught lessons in Los Angeles which is where he taught Beryl Harrell.