A small tribute to Martin Denny

How many of us can remember the bamboo and Tiki bars of the 50s into the early 1960s? Hawaii and other tropical lands were always a popular theme for music, romance and movies depicting the exotic. Many cocktail lounges here in the U.S. had décor themes depicting the exotic isles of Hawaii and Tahiti. The exotic natures of bamboo and grass huts often formed the décor and themes of countless household basement recreation rooms and bars. I played in a few cocktail lounges that were themed with the décor of exotic Hawaii and Tahiti.

One man hands down must be recognized as the father of Exotica music and that man is none other than the late Martin Denny. Dennys orchestra and exotic sounds were heard in popular lounges in Hawaii and his hit song Quiet Village epitomized the music of Exotica.

Denny was a true musical genius and innovator who knew good music. When he was interviewed a few years before his death in 2005, he commented that he felt there was so much good music that is just being forgotten. How true that is.

I have chosen two of Martin Dennys best. Quiet Village is from my 4 track reel-to-reel copy of Exotica played on my Akai 1730D-SS and Martinique from my LP Quiet Village played on my Empire 598 II. The audio results from my digital camera are not the best. My apologies.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Martin Denny
• Exotica
• Hawaiian themes
• Quiet Village
• Martinique
• Akai reel-to-reel
• Empire 598 II
• Tiki
• bamboo hut
• cocktail lounge

[SuperMikeyg]

These 2 offerings are the best of Exotica in my mind.

[HD7100]

@SuperMikeyg Very true. Thanks for watching. Gary

[TheDaxbaby]

Thank you soooooo much for putting this on. My dad had this on reel to reel and my dad passed away and my mom couldn't remember who did this tune.

I've been looking for this for atleast 30 years. Thank you I'm so excited. I let my mom listen and it put a smile on her face.

[HD7100]

@TheDaxbaby I am happy this sparked your memory. Old memorys of our parents are nice to have. Gary

[SuperMikeyg]

Had a machine just like that in the 60s when I was in the USN sailing the South China Sea.

[HD7100]

@SuperMikeyg Thanks for watching. Reel-to-reel decks are kind of paled compared to what we do today with digital but these old machines are fun to have.

[ronpolla]

Wonderful!!

*****

[HD7100]

Thank you for listening Oliver. I keep some of this old equipment alive here where I live. My house is much like a time capsule and I am an anacronysm to be sure. Gary

[olliespsyt]

Thanks! Like a time machine that brought back earlier times. Also missed watching spinning reels and flickering VU meters while the music played.

Best regards, oliver

[HD7100]

I'm glad you liked it. I have the CD of Martin Denny's best which has been remastered. I have it in my Sony MegaDisc player in my dedicated home theatre room. Dolby Prologic II does some interesting channeling to his music when played in surround sound.