Remembering Sonny Kamahele

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Sonny Kamahele, named Solomon Kamahele Jr. after his well known police officer and musical performing father was born in Nuuanu (part of upper Honolulu city), on Aug. 28, 1921. He was one of at least 6 children, including three brothers and two sisters. His career started when his father, Sol Sr., who was a famous entertainer, heard him sing "Ka Le E" while he was playing in the front yard of his grandfather's home on nearby School Street. Soon after, his father taught him how to sing and play Hawaiian music. He was just 8 years old when his inherited talent and connection lead him to become a mascot for the Honolulu Police Department's Glee Club, destined eventually to become a professional musician like his father. As the Dept.'s young public focal point he wore a kid size police uniform at functions and soon developed his voice, humor, and stage presence that would serve him well his entire life. He recalled his work there as "good discipline training." But he was still a kid, and with his friends he'd go to Honolulu Harbor on 'Boat Day' to earn spending money by diving into the harbor waters for coins tossed by arriving passengers thrilled to be in Hawaii and eager to appease the local youngsters. As his talents grew, he and others would go out on tugboats to serenade arriving passengers aboard the ocean liners. One of his most memorable youthful performances was greeting President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 when the country's leader made a trip to Hawaii. He taught himself to sing in a broad range, from falsetto to a very low register, danced both proper and kolohe (comic) hula, and played several instruments, including guitar, ukulele and steel guitar. Like many other aspiring Hawaiian musicians of his generation, Sonny got most of his early training watching and listening to older musicians. He tried a few other jobs over the years, but whenever he had to choose between music and doing something else, the music won, providing "enough income for me". After his schooling and the end of World War II, he moved to the US mainland and spent a decade playing around Hollywood with famed entertainers, including Sam Koki and Pua Almeida, often at the 7 Seas night club, and joined the famous band leader Harry Owens on his TV show which included female greats Hilo Hattie and Napua Woodd. As a self-learner and 'ear' player, he learned to read music "in a hurry" after Owens told him that his job with the orchestra depended on his ability to work with charts. "That's why, when I came home in '56 I was able to work in different areas." He found work in the movies as scenic background, but the money was inconsistant, and eventually Sonny returned home to Hawaii becoming known as 'Mr. Hollywood' by his friends and to the growing world of Hawaiian music lovers. In 1956 he joined his lifelong friend, Benny 'Mr. Hawaiian Music' Kalama, in Alfred Apaka's all-star band who were residing in the now iconic Tapa Room at the new Kaiser's Hawaiian Village, as one of the hearalded Hawaiian Village Serenaders until the untimely death of the rising national star in 1960. Sonny, at his death was the lone survivor of Apaka's Hawaiian Men. The group held together for a while and backed the Hilo Hattie in the new Bucky Fuller built Kaiser Dome, along with the yound and aspiring Danny Kaleikini. Thereafter, he formed his own group and performed at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, and became a booking agent for fellow local talent while occassionally going into the studio to record albums full of timeless tunes, many penned by himself. Sonny was also part of the world reknown "Hawaii Calls" show as it ventured from radio to include film and television until 1974 when the historic program ended it's decades long tenure. "He was an entertainer's entertainer," said longtime friend Nina Kealiiwahamana, who performed with him on Hawaii Calls.
It was once Sonny's statement of "you're one of us" to Jerry Byrd that lead the great steeler to make the stunning decision in '72 to leave his home and legendary country music career in Nashville and move forever more to Hawaii (where his heart always was), and it was in Sonny's band that Jerry's 'new' career first started, on the beach at Waikiki.
Starting in September of 1983, Sonny Kamahele was part of a trio with his buddy Benny on bass/vocals that performed traditional Hawaiian and hapa-haole music at the Halekulani Hotel's 100 year old waterfront House Without a Key restaurant. "When I went to the Halekulani to try for the job, which was in 1983, Sept. 3, I said to myself that I'd play the same stuff that we always played when I was younger, and we took it from there. We played Hawaiian music and we stayed like that. We never changed the music, and we never changed the style of our uniforms." Kamahele's immaculate all-white uniforms, a traditional look for musicians during the territorial era, became the standard at the Halekulani and spread beyond for many years. The hotel became an oasis of traditional Hawaiian and hapa-haole music even as other hotels experimented with video game rooms and karaoke. Kamahele and his contemporaries played an important part in making traditional music accessible for visitors and kamaaina alike. His stay there lasted just shy of 2 full decades. Their final gig together at the Halekulani was in 1998, when Kalama retired; he died the following year. Sonny lamented,"I've worked with so many musicians, and the funny thing is, they're all gone. All of the people I worked with, men and women, unbelievable, they're all gone. All of them are dead." His chugging 'on the 8th's' style of rhythm guitar was learned from the Western musicians he heard in Hollywood, and utilized the distinctive old school swing beat til the end of his career. Vocally, he had a range stretching from a sweet falsetto to a smooth baritone, even utilizing a basso profundo at times just for fun and emphasis. As a multi-dimensional talent, he also wrote many wonderful songs and put out LPs and CDs that will stand as superior long past his life. Steel wise, he was most unique, nobody had a dreamy style like Sonny's. He stuck with the D9th for the most part, often using his old Rickenbacher Bakelite B6, but also having Barney Isaacs' E13 on top of his D8 Stringmaster (Mel Abe's old blonde). He could be a one-man-band when he had to, utilizing his steel in an flicking rhythmic strum that kept the songs flowing while interjecting his melody steel lines and accompanying it all with his fabulous singing. In later years he'd do this for residents in care homes nearby. "He was so giving and caring," said wife Margaret Kamahele.
He earned Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts in both 1993 and 1996.
After his early retirement, he and wife Margret moved to the big island of Hawaii and too soon after passed away at age 82. Moments before he died, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom (grand daughter of Napua Woodd) sang "Sweet Little Baby" over the phone and were the last words he heard from those outside his family. The song was composed by Sam Koki, Gilliom's step-grandfather and Sonny's longtime compatriot. Soria said Kamahele sang the song with Koki while he was living in Los Angeles. Earlier, singer Melveen Leed sang "Kanaka Waiwai" to Kamahele over the phone yesterday. "It was one of his favorites," said Leed, a noted talent herself, and longtime friend of Sonny.
For all who knew or saw him perform, he was the epitome of the grand Hawaiian trouper in the Golden Age of Hawaiian music. They no longer exist except in fading memories and recordings, and there was nobody quite like Sonny Kamahele. He was a special guy, in a special place, during some special times that will never be seen again.

Sonny can be heard here in an interview by Territorial Airwaves' DJ/historian, Harry B. Soria
http://www.territorialairwaves.com/index.php?page=4&start=14

For a fine starter per Sonny's later output that may still be found in print, try his wonderful 'Beautiful Hawaii' CD.

Mike Anderson · From: British Columbia, Canada

Great story Ron, thanks for this. Smile

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Thanx, Mike. Too bad it's just a fraction of the rest of the story.

Jack Aldrich · From: Washington, USA

I have the great pleasure of playing for Iwalani Kamehele, Sonny's little sister, who was a star in Waikiki in the 60's and 70's. She moved here after she retired to be with her daughter and granddaughter. She's still a commanding presence on stage, and she has great stories about Sonny, Jerry Byrd, and other legendary Hawaiian entertainers.

Mac McKenzie · From: Auckland, New Zealand * R.I.P.

It was nice reading about Sonny. We got over to Hawaii in 1989 and I had written to Jerry hoping to meet him. He replied that he was going to Nasville to visit Lani Jo, but if I went to the Halekulani he had a couple of pupils playing there, Alan and Casey and he thought I would be impressed. He was right there and even if I was a nuisance I was determined to talk to as many as possible. Until then, they were just names and pictures, now they were real. I was there every night my music was playing. Sonny and Benny were there as often as I was and we got talking quite often. After all, I had hundreds of questions and who better to ask?

When our Association was arranging for Jerry to visit in 1993 ( that long ago, but I can still hear the sounds and the voices as if it were just last week ) Jerry wrote that Hiram was ill and if he was not able to come the visit would be off. I replied for him to bring Sonny or anybody, he was the one we wanted to touch and hear. Of course, when we heard that smooth combination, we knew what he had meant.
We got over to Hawaii again that Xmas, back to the Halekulani and Sonny and Benny were still there and their vocals seemed so easy you would not think they were singing at all. Sonny did not have a very impressive looking guitar but it made all the right sounds. And on that visit, we met Harold and Mel Abe too. I have a video of Jerry playing at the Ala Moana and Sonny is playing rhythm. It seems that he and Benny may not have been prominent but they were always there to provide for others. Sonny said a young tourist asked if they remembered Hawaii Calls and he said he and Benny just looked at each other and laughed and Sonny told him " We were Hawaii Calls! "
Talented unassuming musician's musician. As Jerry said " memories you will always have with you, nobody can take them from you, not even the tax man."

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Benny, Sonny, and Jerry... you couldn't ask for a more perfect group, Mac. 3 steelers on one stage whom could swap instruments all night and never miss a beat if they wanted, and only Jerry being the odd man out, merely because he couldn't sing!

And that would be Benny KALAMA, a name most here won't know, but was the King of them all. They didn't call him Mr. Hawaiian Music for nothing, and there's no point in writing a remebrance of someone that words simply cannot cover. If you missed it, forget about it.

BTW, Mac, you have gold in the video you mentioned. The world needs to see that! Any chance?

Mac McKenzie · From: Auckland, New Zealand * R.I.P.

Ron, I am a disappointment when it comes to computers - I can type but that is about all. The best I can do is send you a video. To confirm, you mean the one with Jerry at the Ala Moana? I will need an address. We still send our quarterly Gazette to Kaleo, out of respect and gratitude.

Don Kona Woods · From: Hawaiian Kama'aina

Ron,
This was a great article on Sonny. Cool

I have great memories of him. I never met him when I lived in Hawaii but when I became a member of the HSGA and visited Hawaii every other year, I had many opportunities to see him and talk to him and listen to the great Hawaiian music he produced. He was always open to talking and telling stories. He was a good conversationalist.

Between Sonny and Benny, Sonny was the talker. Benny was the quiet one. They both sure could make music. Benny had an exceptionally good falsetto voice.

Mahalo for bringing back some good memories. I miss a lot of these old entertainers who have gone on.

Aloha, Smile

Don

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Mac, that's very generous of you, I can't except your offer quick enuf! With your blessings I'll hope to post it here for all to enjoy. It's unique items like this existing almost in secret that make you wonder how much else is surviving in closets around the world.
You can use Hilo Hatties former mailing address, which is now under my name Very Happy

;
Box 136
Kaaawa, HI 96730

Norman Markowitz · From: Santa Cruz, California

Great information Ron.
His guitar was recently listed on ebay.

http://www.ebay.ph/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330614045893

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

I'm painfully aware of the sale, I would have had it had I not blew my usual ebay check that week. It went for nothing!

But check out the photos of the guitar, the seller plainly exibits Sonny's taped on standards list, w/key! The price it went for was worth it just for the list, and here it's plain to view. I actually meant to post this link, Norman, thank you for doing it.
I did manage to get some incredible photos from this seller straight from Sonny's personal collection that I treasure. I'll try and post them if I ever learn how. This is one of the best http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1950-60-Original-Photo-Hawaiian-Sonny-Kamahele-Waikiki-Show-w-Hat-/330618631326?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item4cfa67f49e
This pic captures Sonny in full flight during his time with Alfred Apaka's '50s band, mentioned as being the best grouping in music history. You also see Benny Kalama/uke, Jimmy Kaopuiki/bass, and David Kupele is hidden behind Sonny.

Here's another great one, it cleaned up well and is an awesome study http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1950-60s-Waikiki-Hawaiian-Original-Photograph-Sonny-Kamahele-Entertain-/330618631742?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cfa67f63e
There are at least 5 steelers in this photo, who can name them, or spot a possible 6th? And check out the amps!

I love this one too http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1950-60-Autographed-Promotional-Photo-Hawaiian-Sonny-Kamahele-Waikiki-/230674865782?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item35b54b1e76

Martin Curnan · From: Lihue, Kauai

His painted Fender D8 with the masking tape "Fender" logo and case with lot of charecter has a home here on Kauai. The wonderfull posts is a tribute to Sonny. I am blessed to have his steel.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Any chance you've spotted his '60s era natural finish single 8 Magnatone in you ventures, Martin? He needed an single 8 for what turned out to be his last gigs, and got mine. I've always wished I hadn't traded it, but it went where it was needed.

Martin Curnan · From: Lihue, Kauai

Ron you might want to check with the same person who sold the photos his steel and the guitar. He was a freind of the family and may know about your magnatone. I will check if I still have his telephone number.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

I tried repeatedly to entice the seller to call me, to no avail. But I'll give it another shot, and if you find his #...!

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Aloha Ron....
Hey pal, great story of a great artist ! Mahalo ! It's rather sad to think that legends like Sonny, Benny, Walter, et al, were turfed from the Halekulani. It was the end of an era which we will never see again. Crying or Very sad

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Howzit, Keoki, if only the cameras were rolling for the decades of all-stars that graced that little stage by the sea, eh?
I snatched this little bit of old "Key' history recently http://www.ebay.com/itm/250803587273?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
The buildings around it have changed, and the hotel's traditions have since been ignored, but when it does 'really' happen it's like a time warp back into the Golden Age of Hawaiian music that you Mr. Lake are still a part of. http://www.trocadero.ca/GeorgeLake.html
For those that don't know, George Lake backed and jammed with all the legends that can be mentioned here. One of the true connections to the days when it mattered because he helped MAKE it better, has Hawaiian students by the score, helps in any way he can, and hasn't stopped for a second!
Where's the gig tonite, Keoki?!

Mike Anderson · From: British Columbia, Canada

Eh Ron, next time Keoki plays in Edmonton I'm gonna try to be there! Smile

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Eh Ron, Mahalo for your very kind undeserved words. Y'know, I'm just an olde phart of 83 still struggling to understand this stubborn, beautiful instrument, the Hawaiian steel guitar. My love for Hawai'i, it's people and culture, and Hawaiian music cannot be challenged as it is, and always will be there. 28 trips including one memorable, musically employed Royal Carribbean Cruise, must surely prove that point !

My class this year consists of 27 so far with more promising to attend after their vacation. Of the 27,
10 are steel, the balance being ukulele seniors who love Hawaiian music. They are all seniors (55+) and such a great bunch, always doing their best to give me a hard time ! Very Happy

As amateurs, they often amaze me with their skills which most discovered in their later years. None of them ever dreamed they would be performing on a stage!

Therefore, in my own senior years, with the assistance of my lovely wife Mary, we are doing all we can to keep the Spirit of Aloha alive in an area where Hawaiian music is seldom heard, or appreciated.

Again, Mahalo Ron .. you da best

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Thanx Mike. Appreciated. I'm no-hell on steel but hope you'll enjoy whatever happens.

Mike Anderson · From: British Columbia, Canada

I am absolutely certain that I will!

Mac McKenzie · From: Auckland, New Zealand * R.I.P.

Ron,
When you showed an interest in that tape I was hoping not to be embarrassed in not finding it - I hadn't seen it for ages. I did find it and I do not want to disappoint you by sending something you may have or seen already. It is the 6th Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ala Moana, don't know which year, two one hour shows, Sonny on rhythm guitar, Benny, ukulele and Jerry Keawe Aiko? on double bass. Alan introduces the first one, then plays, followed by Herbert and then Jerry. They do another turn each to finish. Harry B. introduces the second show, same format but at the end they line up and do a round robin of Little Grass Shack. Still interested?

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Absolutely, Mac, giv'r a whirl. Thanx again!
That'd be Gary Aiko, one of Hawaii's best al'round talents, and eldest son of Genoa Keawe.

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