The Steel Guitar In The 1950s (Part 1)

This week, two hours of Hawaiian steel guitar from the 1950s featuring more than two dozen steel guitarists.

But this is only half the story.  There were so many great steel guitarists to choose from in this era that we have another two hours of 1950s steel guitar in store for you next week.  So be sure to tune in again.

The track listing below doesn't mention the steel guitarists by name.  So who should you expect to hear?  How about Eddie Bush, Sonny Kamaka, Ernie Tavares, Splash Lyons, Prince Kawohi, Lovey Lui Conn, Benny Rogers, David Keli`i, Joe Custino, Danny Stewart, Jules Ah See, Bernie Ka`ai, and Freddie Tavares?!  Now that is an all-star team.

Enjoy!

SONG TITLE

ARTIST

LP/SOURCE

LABEL

Ku`u Lei Lehua

Joe Kahaulelio and the Hooheno Serenaders

Mele Hula - Volume 2

Noelani

Nani Waimea

The Surfers

Tahiti

HiFi

Haunani Mine

The Richard Kauhi Quartette

78rpm Single*

Bell

That’s The Hawaiian In Me

Julia Nui’s Kamaainas

Souvenir Songs Of Hawaii - Volume 3

49th State

Ke Kaupu

Ernest Tavares

Songs Of Old Hawaii

Waikiki

Evening In The Islands

Splash Lyons and His Hawaiians

Aloha Serenades

Decca

Luau Chant

Prince Kawohi and the Luau Boys

At The Luau

RCA Victor

Selamoku

Pauline Kakahuna and Her Hauoli Girls

45rpm Single

Waikiki

Manu O`o

Pauline Kakahuna and Her Hauoli Girls

45rpm Single

Waikiki

Ala Moana Annie

Pauline Kakahuna and Her Hauoli Girls

Keep Your Eyes On The Hands

Waikiki

Steel Guitar Boogie

Benny Rogers

45rpm Single

49th State

Ku`u Lei `Awapuhi / Maui Moon

Benny Rogers with The Harmony Isles Group

Romantic Hawaii

49th State

Maui Chimes

Benny Rogers with The Harmony Isles Group

Souvenir Songs Of Hawaii - Volume 20

49th State

Moana Chimes

David Keli`i with Hawaii Calls Orchestra

Aircheck (Live Broadcast)

--------

Hula Oni Oni E

Al Perry and The Singing Surfriders

Favorite Hawaiian Chants and Hulas

Decca

My Little Grass Shack

Akoni Lani and His Islanders

Hawaiian Favorites

Tops

Anytime, Anywhere

Chick Floyd’ Orchestra

Have Fun With Lucky

Mahalo

Hilo Hula

Honey Kalima and His Royal Hawaiian Serenaders

Starlight In Hawaii

Decca

Holoholo Ka`a

The Maile Serenaders

Let’s Hula*

Hula

Hanohano Hanalei

Danny Stewart

Songs Of Old Hawaii

Waikiki

Ke Aloha

George Kainapau with Danny Stewart’s Hawaiians

Souvenirs Of Hawaii

Decca

Hapa Haole Hula Girl

Danny Stewart and His Islanders

Song Of The Islands

Coral

Two Shadows On The Sand

Alfred Apaka with Danny Stewart’s Hawaiians

The Hawaiian Wedding Song

Decca

Pagan Love Song

Alfred Apaka with The Hawaiian Village Serenaders

Sing Me A Song Of The Islands

Decca

Na Ali`i

Benny Kalama and The Hawaiian Village Serenaders

Echoes Of Hawaii

Decca

Na Kuahiwi `Elima

Mahi Beamer

45rpm Single

Decca

Rhumba Medley

The Hawaiian Village Serenaders

Aircheck (Live Broadcast)

--------

Maile Lau Li`ili`

The Hawaiian Village Serenaders

Aircheck (Live Broadcast)

--------

Noho Paipai

Danny Kua`ana

Holiday In Hawaii

Capitol

Princess Pupule

The Polynesians

Hawaii Calling

Crown

Hame Pila

Ray Andrade and His Orchestra

My Own Hawaii

RGA

Go Around The Island

The Polynesians

Hawaiian Paradise

Crown

Stars Shining O`er Hawaii

The Polynesians

Lovely Hula Hawaii

Crown

Malihini Mele

William Kealoha & His Orchestra

Hawaiian Luau

Roulette

Little Grass Shack

William Kealoha & His Orchestra

Hawaiian Luau

Roulette

All selections out-of-print unless indicated. (Click on the link to a title to locate a possible distribution source.)

*Remastered and rereleased on CD.

Category:Radio -- posted at: 8:15pm EDT

Coming Attractions - The 1950s

The entire month of January, Ho`olohe Hou celebrates Hawaiian music in the 1950s!

Sunday, January 13th - We revisit the amazing steel guitarists of the 1950s including rarities from Barney Isaacs, Jules Ah See, David Keli`i, Billy Hew Len, Pua Almeida, Jerry Byrd, Danny Stewart, Lovey Lui Conn, Benny Rogers, and Joe Custino.

Sunday, January 20th - We reexamine the influence of 50's mainland jazz on Hawaiian music with such combos as the Richard Kauhi Quartet, the Kalima Brothers, Johnny Spencer and the Kona Coasters, and The Invitations.  We celebrate the birthday of popular 50's vocalist Iwalani Kamahele.  And we dedicate an entire hour to steel guitar wizard Billy Hew Len on the occasion of his birthday.

Sunday, January 27th - We look at the year that capped off the decade: 1959.  Some of the most amazing recordings in the history of Hawaiian music were recorded and released in this single fantastic year including gems from Sterling Mossman, Chick Floyd, The Surfers, Ed Kenney, Pua Almeida, Alfred Apaka, Eddie Kamae, and The Invitations.

Don't miss a minute of our celebration of the fabulous fifties all month long on Ho`olohe HouOnly at 50th State Radio.

Category:Announcements -- posted at: 12:29pm EDT

Happy 1st Anniversary, Ho`olohe Hou!

Can you believe it’s been a year already? This program began as a modest podcast on January 6, 2007. But with the help of 50th State Radio, the number of listeners has grown from single digits to thousands around the globe!

We begin the new year by remembering the humble beginnings of the program and the “charter? - the reason why we’re even doing this at all. Then we’ll spend the remainder of the program exploring Hawaiian music in the 1950s - including a look at falsetto singing in that decade, the great male vocalists of that era, and some comic hulas from the great ladies of song of this period.

We celebrate the birthday - what would have been the 100th birthday - of a Hawaiian boy who made his mark as a steel guitarist in the Big Apple - Hal Aloma. In our “Why In The World Is This Out Of Print?? segment, we revisit 78rpm classics from Andy Cummings featuring Hawai`i’s Songbird, Lena Machado. (Listen for some of the earliest slack key guitar on record by none other than Gabby Pahinui!) And in “Then and Again,? we take a look at two versions of the seldom heard Lani McIntire composition “Kalihi“ - one by the composer from the 1940s and another by The Brothers Cazimero from the 1980s.

Thanks for making it a memorable year! Here’s looking forward to many, many more. This is Ho`olohe Hou! Keep listening…

Bill Wynne 

SONG TITLE

ARTIST

LP/SOURCE

LABEL

Hula La

Chick Floyd

Hula La

Liberty

Hi`ilawe

Haunani Kahalewai

The Voice of Hawaii

Decca

Kumu In A Muumuu

Sterling Mossman

Happy In Hawaii

Decca

Nanakuli

Marlene Sai

Authentic Hawaiian Songs*

Sounds of Hawaii

Hula O Makee

Charles “Kaipo? Miller

Sophisticated Hulas*

Mahalo

Waikaloa

John Pi`ilani Watkins

Songs To Remember Hana Maui*

49th State

Kealoha

George Kainapau with Danny Stewart’s Hawaians

Souvenirs Of Hawaii

Decca

Kaloaloa

George Keoki and His Moana Serenaders

Music For A Hawaiian Luau

Decca

He U`i

Danny Kua`ana

Holiday In Hawaii

Capitol

Hawaiian War Chant

Johnny Spencer’s Kona Coasters

Authentic Music Of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii

Waikiki

Selamoku

Pauline Kekahuna

45rpm Single

Waikiki

(Look Out For) The Girl In The Hula Skirt

Prince Kawohi and the Luau Boys

At The Luau

RCA Victor

Ama Ama/Tomi Tomi

Hawaii Calls Orchestra and Chorus

Waikiki!

Capitol

To Make You Love Me, Ku`uipo

Splash Lyons and His Hawaiians

Aloha Serenades

Decca

Sweet Someone

Alfred Apaka

Sing Me A Song Of The Islands

Decca

Fish And Poi

Pua Almeida

South Sea Island Magic

MGM

Aloha No Hawaiian Style

The Kalima Brothers

45rpm Single

Terk

Wikiwiki Mai

Hal Aloma

At The Luau 400

Dot

Hawaiian Love Chant

Hal Aloma

Lure Of The Islands

Dot

Ku`u Lei Makamae

Hal Aloma

At The Luau 400

Dot

Holo Wa`apa

Lena Machado with Andy Cummings and His Hawaiian Serenaders

Songbird Of Hawaii

Harmony/Columbia

E Ku`u Lei, My Darling

Lena Machado with Andy Cummings and His Hawaiian Serenaders

Songbird Of Hawaii

Harmony/Columbia

Ku`u Wa Li`ili`i

Lena Machado with Andy Cummings and His Hawaiian Serenaders

Songbird Of Hawaii

Harmony/Columbia

Ei Nei

Lena Machado with Andy Cummings and His Hawaiian Serenaders

Songbird Of Hawaii

Harmony/Columbia

My De De

Lena Machado with Andy Cummings and His Hawaiian Serenaders

Songbird Of Hawaii

Harmony/Columbia

Red Opu

Emily De Los Santos

Keep Your Eyes On The Hands

Waikiki

Out On The Beach At Waikiki

Puanani Alama

45rpm Single

49th State

Lulu Get Your Muumuu

Genoa Keawe

45rpm Single

49th State

Holoholo Ka`a

Julia Nui’s Kamaainas with Johnny Almeida

45rpm Single*

49th State

Pidgin English Hula

Hilo Hattie

Souvenir Songs Of Hawaii - Volume 16

49th State

No Huhu

Naughtie Abbie

Souvenir Songs Of Hawaii - Volume 5*

49th State

Ala Moana Annie

Pauline Kekahuna

Keep Your Eyes On The Hands

Waikiki

I’ll Weave A Lei Of Stars

Honey Kalima

Waikiki Sings

Waikiki

All selections out-of-print unless indicated. (Click on the link to a title to locate a possible distribution source.)

*Remastered and rereleased on CD.

Category:Radio -- posted at: 12:13pm EDT