Benny Kalama Explained

Benny Kalama
Birth Name:Benjamin Kapena Kalama
Alias:Benny Kalama
Ben Kalama
Birth Date:June 29, 1916
Birth Place:Kohala, Big island of Hawaii
Death Place:Honolulu, Hawaii
Instrument:Ukulele
Bass guitar
Steel guitar
Occupation:Live performer
Years Active:1930–1999
Label:Cord International
Lehua
Universal Geffen
Capitol
Hana Ola
Past Member Of:Leonard Red Hawk and the Waikikians
Alfred Apaka
Malcolm Beelby Orchestra
Don McDiarmid
Wally Lavque
Andry Bright

Benjamin Kapena Kalama (1916 – 1999) was an American singer with a honey-voiced falsetto. He is credited with discovering and nurturing Alfred Apaka, and was part of several groups. Until the day Apaka died, Kalama was coaching and arranging music for him.

Biography

Kalama was born on June 29, 1916. He was born on the Big Island of Hawai'i.

At Kalakaua Intermediate School in 1931, Benny began playing trombone in the band.[1] Upon graduation from McKinley High School where he played in the band, Kalama hooked up with Leonard "Red" Hawk[2] and the Waikikians. Kalama's ability to read music, rather than play by ear, got him hired by the more successful bands. It was Hawk who wrote the lyrics and music to the ubiquitous song [3] May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii. In 1938, Kalama played steel guitar substituting for Sam Kaʻapuni with the Malcolm Beelby Orchestra.[4]

Kalama worked with the Don McDiarmid Sr band at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the Kewalo Inn and La Hula Rhumba on Lulalilo Street.[5] McDiarmid, along with Johnny Noble, had penned Hilo Hattie's signature tune When Hilo Hattie Does the Hilo Hop.[6] During this period of his career, Kalama worked with Alfred Apaka, George Kainapau, Alvin Isaacs Sr and Tommy Castro.

In between his participation with the McDiarmid band, Benny played with the Wally Lavque's[4] band, also at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. He toured the mainland with the Royal Hawaiian Serenaders, appearing in movies and on recordings.

Benny Kalama was with Andy Bright's[7] band the years 1952–1955 at the Moana Hotel in Waikiki.

In 1955, he began working with Alfred Apaka in Las Vegas, followed by 15 years with[8] Henry Kaiser's Hawaiian Village. Kalama's arrangements are credited with helping Apaka's success.

On radio, Kalama was a director and arranger on KGU's Voice of Hawaii[4] program prior to bombing of Pearl Harbor. From 1952 onward, Kalama was musical director and arranger for[9] Hawaiʻi Calls.

Later years

Until before his death, Kalama played at the Halekulani's House Without a Key nightclub with Alan Akaka and Walter Moʻokini's Islanders,[10] and also as part of the stage band for the annual Steel Guitar Hoʻolauleʻa.

Kalama died 21 September 1999.

Discography

Benny Kalama

Ben Kalama's Islanders

Recognition

The Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts awarded Kalama the 1993 Na Hoku Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award[11] for his substantial contributions to the entertainment industry in Hawaii.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kuebeler, Glenn C. Castalia, Cold Creek, And The Blue Hole, OH . 2007. Arcadia Publishing. 978-0-7385-5053-4. 101.
  2. News: Leonard Red Hawk . Tsai . Michael . Honolulu Advertiser. 2 July 2006 .
  3. Web site: May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii . Square One . 19 May 2010.
  4. Book: Ruymar, Lorene . The Hawaiian Steel Guitar and Its Great Hawaiian Musicians. Centerstream Publications . 93 . 1986 . 978-1-57424-021-4.
  5. Web site: Luncheon Menu from La Hula Rhumba – Honolulu, Hawaii . Arkiva Tropika . 19 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110707162412/http://www.arkivatropika.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?item_id=480 . 7 July 2011 . dead .
  6. Web site: When Hilo Hattie Does the Hilo Hop . Huapala . 19 May 2010.
  7. Reviews of New Pop Records . Billboard . Billboard . 14 August 1954 . 38 .
  8. Henry J in Hawaiian Playground . Life . Life . 2 December 1957 . 87–92 .
  9. Web site: Benny Kalama: 1916–1999 . Hawaiian Music History . 19 May 2010.
  10. News: Benny Kalama . Tsai . Michael . Honolulu Advertiser. 2 July 2006 .
  11. Web site: Na Hoku Hanohano Award . Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts . 19 May 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140227155255/http://www.nahokuhanohano.org/cms/index.php?page=Lifetime-awards . 27 February 2014 . Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts