Beyond the Reef
Encyclopedia
"Beyond The Reef" is a song written by Canadian Jack Pitman in Hawaii in 1948. It was first performed by Hawaiian artist Napua Stevens
in 1949. Bing Crosby
covered the song a year later in 1950 and Elvis Presley
recorded his version of the song on May 27, 1966. The Elvis recording was only released on a boxset in 1980/1. The Ventures
also covered the song on their third album, Another Smash, in September 1961. Although it is heavily influenced by Hawaiian music it does not contain any Hawaiian language
words or any mention of Hawaii. It is a slow song in the key of C major
with a 2-5-1 progression with D minor, G major and C major. It features the steel guitar
, typical of Hawaiian music.
Napua Stevens
Napua Stevens Poire was a well-known Hawaiian entertainer, singer, hula dancer, musician, teacher, radio-TV personality, producer and author....
in 1949. Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
covered the song a year later in 1950 and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
recorded his version of the song on May 27, 1966. The Elvis recording was only released on a boxset in 1980/1. The Ventures
The Ventures
The Ventures is an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling...
also covered the song on their third album, Another Smash, in September 1961. Although it is heavily influenced by Hawaiian music it does not contain any Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
words or any mention of Hawaii. It is a slow song in the key of C major
C major
C major is a musical major scale based on C, with pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Its key signature has no flats/sharps.Its relative minor is A minor, and its parallel minor is C minor....
with a 2-5-1 progression with D minor, G major and C major. It features the steel guitar
Steel guitar
Steel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
, typical of Hawaiian music.