Andy Iona

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Andy Iona (1902 - 1966) was an American musician and one of Hawaii's most influential musicians. He was a composer, songwriter, conductor, saxophonist, and steel guitarist. He went to the Kamehameha School for Boys. He was also educated at Henri Berger's Private School of Music in Honolulu.

He was a member of the radio station KHS staff orchestra. He went on to form his own group called Andy Iona and his Islanders and they appeared in films, hotels, theatres, and on records. He toured with Sonja Henie for twelve years. He composed songs for the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers after joining in 1940.

He married Leimomi Woodds and had 3 children.

Trivia

• He lost his right thumb in an accident in machine shop at school, but he adapted his technique and became well-known as a great steel guitarist.
• He is a member of the Royal Hawaiian Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and Museum.
• He recorded hundreds of singles with his band, Andy Iona and his Islanders.
• He recorded several songs with the Sol Hoopii Trio.
• In the 1930s he played ukelele with Louis Armstrong for a handful of Hawaiian songs.
• He recorded several songs with Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards.
• He appeared in the film Song of the Islands (1942), starring Betty Grable.

Music

• Public domain song: Andy Iona - Pretty Red Hibiscus
• Public domain song: Andy Iona - Naughty Hula Eyes
• Box set (6 CDs - 112 tracks): The Andy Iona Collection - Andy Iona and his Islanders, Cumquat Records.
• Album: Hawaiians In Hollywood: Smooth, Sweet & Swinging 1934-1936: Volume 1 by Andy Iona.
• Album: From Honolulu To Hollywood: Jazz, Blues & Popular Specialties Performed Hawaiian Style by King Bennie Nawahi, Sol Hoopii, Andy Iona.
• Album: Jazz Goes Hawaiian by Louis Armstrong feat. Andy Iona, Challenge Records.

Notes

References

• Lorene Ruymar The Hawaiian Steel Guitar and Its Great Hawaiian Musicians. Anaheim Hills, Calif.: Centerstream Publishing.
• George S. Kanahele (1979). Hawaiian Music and Musicians: An Illustrated History. Honolulu: University Press of Hawaii.
• Richard R. Smith The History of Rickenbacker Guitars. 1st ed edition, Centerstream Publications.
• Scott Yanow Swing : Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion. Miller Freeman Books.
• Charles Delaunay (1948). New Hot Discography: The Standard Directory of Recorded Jazz. Criterion.

External links

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Last updated on Friday March 07, 2008 at 06:47:18 PST (GMT -0800)
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