Andy Iona (born Andrew Aiona Long, January 1, 1902 – November 9, 1966) was an American musician and one of
Hawaii's most influential musicians. He was a
composer
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and Defi ...
,
songwriter,
conductor
Conductor or conduction may refer to:
Music
* Conductor (music), a person who leads a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra.
* ''Conductor'' (album), an album by indie rock band The Comas
* Conduction, a type of structured free improvisation ...
,
saxophonist, and
steel guitar
A steel guitar ( haw, kīkākila) is any guitar played while moving a steel bar or similar hard object against plucked strings. The bar itself is called a "steel" and is the source of the name "steel guitar". The instrument differs from a conve ...
ist. 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, which mixed traditional Hawaiian melodies with American
swing
Swing or swinging may refer to:
Apparatus
* Swing (seat), a hanging seat that swings back and forth
* Pendulum, an object that swings
* Russian swing, a swing-like circus apparatus
* Sex swing, a type of harness for sexual intercourse
* Swing rid ...
; the band appeared in films, hotels, and theatres, and on records. He composed songs for the
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers after joining in 1940, and recorded the music for two
Soundies in 1941. Long toured with
Sonja Henie for 12 years.
He married Leimomi Woodds and had three children.
Music
Public domain song: Andy Iona - Pretty Red Hibiscus * 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
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External links
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American male saxophonists
Steel guitarists
1902 births
1966 deaths
Guitarists from Hawaii
20th-century American guitarists
20th-century American saxophonists
American male guitarists
20th-century American male musicians