Honolulu, HI; January 20, 2011: The only thing missing will be the blue tarp overhead as 'Kawika Trask and Company' celebrate noted Hawaiian composers Charles E. King and Johnny Noble on January 22, 2011 at 7:30 PM at the Hawaii Theatre. The 'Company' includes Trask, as musical director and on ukulele, Dwight Kanae on guitar, Alden Levi on bass, Jeff Au Hoy on steel guitar, Iwalani Apo on piano, and the Kawika Trask Dancers. Guests dropping by the Saturday evening event will include Robert Cazimero, Cathy Foy, Kealoha Kalama, Mae Kamaʻi, Debbie Nakanelua-Richards, with very special guests Les Ceballos and the Kamehameha Schools Concert Glee.
Charles E. King, the "Father of Hawaiian Composers;" was born January 29, 1874 in Honolulu; was the godson of Queen Emma; was taught music by Queen Liliʻuokalani; graduated in the first class from Kamehameha School for Boys in 1891; taught at Kamehameha School from 1895 to 1899; served in the 1919 and 1921 sessions of the Territorial Senate; wrote the 1925 Hawaiian opera 'The Prince of Hawaiʻi' ; served as the bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band from 1932 to 1934 and 1939 to 1940; and in 1937 labeled the likes of popular composers Sonny Cunha and Johnny Noble as "murderers of Hawaiian music."
King's fame began in 1915 with the success of his composition "Nā Lei O Hawaiʻi" which was his greatest hit for over a decade until he penned "Ke Kali Nei Au." Among is many other compositions are "Kamehameha Waltz," "E Kuʻu Lei," "Mi Nei," "Paʻauʻau Waltz," "Pidgin English Hula," "Nā Lei O Hawaiʻi," and "Imua Kamehameha." He believed that Hawaiian music required Hawaiian lyrics, Hawaiian subjects, and sweet tempos that werenʻt "jazzed up."
"The Hawaiian Jazz King," Johnny Noble, was born September 17, 1892 in Honolulu; graduated St. Louis College in 1911; was so good at whistling that he was nicknamed "The Whistler;" had his first major job as a drummer at the Novelty Theatre on Nuʻuʻanu and Pauahi Streets; worked at the old Bijou and Empire Theatres; wrote his first hit "Hula Blues" with Sonny Cunha in 1920; held a daytime job for most of his life with the Hawaiian Telephone Company; was the first to broadcast on radio station KGU in 1922; was bandleader at the opening of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in 1929; was honored by ASCAP with the first Hawaiian membership in 1935; was celebrated in 1938 when Hawaiiʻi proclaimed "Johnny Noble Day;" helped organize and was a charter member of the Hawaiʻi Musicians Union; and was dubbed the "Irving Berlin" of Hawaiʻi."
Noble's songs, unlike King's melodies, were upbeat, danceable, and distinctly bent toward the non-Hawaiian ear.
While he wrote, in collaboration with many, over 25 Hawaiian hulas, Nobleʻs hapa-haole songs were nation-wide hits starting with "Hula Blues" and solidifying the trend in 1934 when he wrote three hits in a six-month period; "My Little Grass Shack," "King Kamehameha," and "I Want To Learn To Speak Hawaiian." In 1936 Noble penned his greatest nationwide hit, "Hawaiian War Chant." He composed many songs in collaboration with others such as "Aloha Means I Love You," "Ala Moana," "My Tane," and the song Noble wanted to be remembered for, "Pretty Red Hibiscus."
This concert, produced by Burton White, is sponsored in part by; Aston at the Executive Centre, Cox Radio, Hawaiian Springs Natural Water, the City and County of Honolulu, the Mayor's Office of Culture and Arts, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Tickets and information is available from the Hawaii Theatre box office located Downtown at 1130 Bethel Street (between Hotel and Pauahi Streets) during regular box office hours; Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Discount for Hawaii Theatre Members, groups of 10 or more, youth 18 and under, seniors 62 and older, and students and military with valid ID. Charge by Phone during regular box office hours by calling (808) 528-0506. Major US credit cards and JTB cards accepted. Tickets and information also available 24/7 at www.hawaiitheatre.com. Please note that online purchases require additional payment of convenience fees.
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Lokahi 2011: Kamehameha Schools Combined Concert Glee Clubby hawaiiyouthopera1,415 views
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