King Ben Nawahi
Encyclopedia
"King" Bennie Nawahi was an American steel guitar master from Hawaii
, well-known throughout the country in the 1920s and 30s. Celebrated as a virtuoso during his lifetime, his body of work has not garnered the accolades as have other Hawaiian musical stars of the era.
Nawahi learned to play in the parks of Honolulu for pennies, often teaming with Sol Hoʻopiʻi, who would become his rival for the title "King of the Hawaiian Guitar", along with that of Sam Ku West
. Bennie was also known as "King of the Ukulele".
In 1919, Bennie played with his brother Joe's band, the Hawaiian Novelty Five, on the Matsonia
passenger liner that sailed between Honolulu and San Francisco. The group eventually became a staple on the Orpheum vaudeville circuit's North America tour.
Bennie separated from the group and embarked on a solo career as a singing ukulele player. Master showman Sid Grauman
proclaimed Bennie "King of the Ukulele".
In 1920, an act of the United States Congress
established Hawaii National Park
, shining a spotlight on the islands. The Roaring Twenties
was an era for shedding the sacrifices of a recent world war to celebrate life. The 1920s became a heydey for all things Hawaiian, and novelty acts of the vaudeville genre. Among Nawahi's stunts was playing Turkey in the Straw on Hawaiian guitar with his feet. Tin Pan Alley
went with the craze and between 1915 and 1929 produced such ditties as Hello Hawaii How Are You?(1915) (when many pronounced the state's name as How-Wah-Yah), Oh How She Could Yacki Hacki Wiki Wacki Woo(1916), Hula Hula Dream Girl(1924) and That Aloha Waltz(1928).
There is evidence Bennie also used the name "J. Nawahi", as the Victor Library lists the tune Hula Blues Regents of the University of California by "J. Nawahi (instrumentalist : steel guitar)".
By 1928, Nawahi had begun recording for multiple record labels, including Columbia, Victor, Q.R.S. and Grey Gull, under multiple names (including Red Devils, Q.R.S. Boys, Slim Smith, Hawaiian Beach Combers, Georgia Jumpers, Four Hawaiian Guitars and King Nawahi & the International Cowboys), with band mates that included soon to be Sons of the Pioneers
, Tim Spencer (singer) and Leonard Slye (later to become cowboy star Roy Rogers
).
Nawahi set a remarkable swimming record for blind people in 1946. He swam the 22 miles of choppy Pacific Ocean
waters from San Pedro, California to Santa Catalina Island
in just over 22 hours, guided only by coach John Sonnichson and a bell on a lead boat.
Kawahi appeared briefly in the 1985 Academy Award-nominated documentary film on Roy Smeck, Wizard of the Strings.
Bennie Nawahi died in Long Beach, California on January 29, 1985.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, well-known throughout the country in the 1920s and 30s. Celebrated as a virtuoso during his lifetime, his body of work has not garnered the accolades as have other Hawaiian musical stars of the era.
Biography
Benjamin Keakahiawa Nawahi was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, one of 12 children. While not of royal birth, Nawahi came by the title in the way many show business personalities do for their particular genre.Nawahi learned to play in the parks of Honolulu for pennies, often teaming with Sol Hoʻopiʻi, who would become his rival for the title "King of the Hawaiian Guitar", along with that of Sam Ku West
Sam Ku West
Sam Ku West was an American steel guitar player from Honolulu, Hawaii he died in Neuilly sur Seine near Paris, France.-Career:West first performed professionally as a member of Irene West's touring band, adding the "West" surname to his birth name, Sam Ku, Jr....
. Bennie was also known as "King of the Ukulele".
In 1919, Bennie played with his brother Joe's band, the Hawaiian Novelty Five, on the Matsonia
Matsonia
Matsonia may refer to:*Matsonia passenger steamship built for Matson Lines. Served as USS Matsonia in 1918-1919. Renamed Etolin in 1937 and served as USAT Etolin in 1940-1946. Scrapped in 1957....
passenger liner that sailed between Honolulu and San Francisco. The group eventually became a staple on the Orpheum vaudeville circuit's North America tour.
Bennie separated from the group and embarked on a solo career as a singing ukulele player. Master showman Sid Grauman
Sid Grauman
Sidney Patrick Grauman was an American showman who created one of Southern California's most recognizable and visited landmarks, Grauman's Chinese Theater. He was the son of David Grauman who died in 1921 in Los Angeles, California and Rosa Goldsmith...
proclaimed Bennie "King of the Ukulele".
In 1920, an act of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
established Hawaii National Park
Hawaii National Park
Hawaii National Park may refer to:* Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, formerly part of Hawaii National Park* Haleakala National Park, formerly part of Hawaii National Park...
, shining a spotlight on the islands. The Roaring Twenties
Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties is a phrase used to describe the 1920s, principally in North America, but also in London, Berlin and Paris for a period of sustained economic prosperity. The phrase was meant to emphasize the period's social, artistic, and cultural dynamism...
was an era for shedding the sacrifices of a recent world war to celebrate life. The 1920s became a heydey for all things Hawaiian, and novelty acts of the vaudeville genre. Among Nawahi's stunts was playing Turkey in the Straw on Hawaiian guitar with his feet. Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley is the name given to the collection of New York City music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century...
went with the craze and between 1915 and 1929 produced such ditties as Hello Hawaii How Are You?(1915) (when many pronounced the state's name as How-Wah-Yah), Oh How She Could Yacki Hacki Wiki Wacki Woo(1916), Hula Hula Dream Girl(1924) and That Aloha Waltz(1928).
There is evidence Bennie also used the name "J. Nawahi", as the Victor Library lists the tune Hula Blues Regents of the University of California by "J. Nawahi (instrumentalist : steel guitar)".
By 1928, Nawahi had begun recording for multiple record labels, including Columbia, Victor, Q.R.S. and Grey Gull, under multiple names (including Red Devils, Q.R.S. Boys, Slim Smith, Hawaiian Beach Combers, Georgia Jumpers, Four Hawaiian Guitars and King Nawahi & the International Cowboys), with band mates that included soon to be Sons of the Pioneers
Sons of the Pioneers
The Sons of the Pioneers are one of America's earliest Western singing groups whose classic recordings set a new standard for performers of Western music. Known for the high quality of their vocal performances, musicianship, and songwriting, they produced finely-crafted and innovative recordings...
, Tim Spencer (singer) and Leonard Slye (later to become cowboy star Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
).
Blindness and later life
One night in 1935 while driving home from a performance, Bennie was suddenly struck blind. No medical cause was ever found. The loss of vision was permanent, but Bennie never allowed it to impede his life as he continued performing and touring through the 1970s when he was partially paralyzed by a stroke.Nawahi set a remarkable swimming record for blind people in 1946. He swam the 22 miles of choppy Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
waters from San Pedro, California to Santa Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island, California
Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The island is long and across at its greatest width. The island is located about south-southwest of Los Angeles, California. The highest point on the island is...
in just over 22 hours, guided only by coach John Sonnichson and a bell on a lead boat.
Kawahi appeared briefly in the 1985 Academy Award-nominated documentary film on Roy Smeck, Wizard of the Strings.
Bennie Nawahi died in Long Beach, California on January 29, 1985.
Discography
- From Honolulu To Hollywood: Jazz, Blues & Popular Specialties Performed Hawaiian Style (2008) CD (The Old Masters)
- Hawaiian String Virtuoso: Steel Guitar Rec 1920's (2000) CD 2055 (Yazoo)