R. Alex Anderson

Robert Alexander Anderson (R. Alex Anderson) (June 6, 1894 – May 29 or 30, 1995) was an American composer who was born and lived most of his life in Hawaii, writing many popular Hawaiian songs within the Hapa haole genre including "Lovely Hula Hands" (1940) and "Mele Kalikimaka" (1949), the latter the best known Hawaiian Christmas song.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 6th, 1894, Died January 1st, 1995

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist, songwriter, director

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor PBS-79107 10-in. 3/9/1934 Haole hula Sol K. Bright’s Hollywaiians Instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) composer, lyricist  
Victor PBS-79242 10-in. 6/7/1934 Malihini mele (I played a tune on my sweet okolehao) Charles Amalu Troupe Vocal and instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) composer, lyricist  
Victor PBS-79243 10-in. 6/7/1934 Soft green seas Charles Amalu Troupe Vocal and instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) songwriter  
Victor PBS-79245 10-in. 6/8/1934 Haole hula Sol K. Bright’s Hollywaiians Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo and vocal trio (Hawaiian) composer, lyricist  
Victor PBS-79286 10-in. 7/22/1934 Malihini mele (I played a tune on my sweet okolehao) Sol K. Bright’s Hollywaiians Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio (Hawaiian) composer, lyricist  
Victor PBS-79293 10-in. 7/26/1934 Soft green seas Sol K. Bright’s Hollywaiians Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio (Hawaiian) songwriter  
Victor PBS-79378 10-in. 9/25/1934 As they strolled along the shore Tom Coakley ; Palace Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-89004 10-in. 3/13/1935 Haole hula Royal Hawaiian Girls Glee Club Female vocal chorus, with instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-89041 10-in. 3/20/1935 Malihini mele Louise Akeo ; Royal Hawaiian Girls Glee Club Female vocal chorus (Hawaiian) composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-89113 10-in. 4/6/1935 Honeymoon Isles Bishaw's Serenaders Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo (Hawaiian) composer  
Victor BVE-89114 10-in. 4/6/1935 Tiny ukelele Bishaw's Serenaders Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo (Hawaiian) composer  
Victor BVE-89144 10-in. 4/12/1935 Haole hula Don R. George Organ solo (Hawaiian) composer  
Victor BS-100769 10-in. 7/2/1936 On a coconut island Carmen Lombardo ; Guy Lombardo ; Royal Canadians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor BS-102333 10-in. 7/3/1936 On a coconut island Charles Chester ; Shep Fields ; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-030719 10-in. 12/17/1938 The cockeyed mayor of Kaunakakai Elisse Cooper ; Eddie De Lange Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-048018 10-in. 2/14/1940 Haole hula Charles Kama Moana Hawaiians Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) composer, lyricist  
Victor BS-056469 10-in. 10/9/1940 Lovely hula hands Ray Kinney Hawaiian Quintet Instrumental quintet, with male vocal solo and vocal trio (Hawaiian) composer, lyricist  
Columbia W146729 10-in. 6/2/1928 Hula moon Peggy Center Anderson ; R. Alex Anderson ; Reynold B. McGrew Female-male vocal duet composer, director  
Brunswick LAE626 10-in. 9/18/1929 Aloha land Johnny Noble Hawaiian Music Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick LAE830 10-in. 7/3/1930 Haole hula Johnny Noble Hawaiian Music ; Royal Hawaiian Girls Glee Club Jazz/dance band (Hawaiian), with female vocal chorus composer, lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Anderson, R. Alex," accessed July 30, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107094.

Anderson, R. Alex. (2021). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved July 30, 2021, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107094.

"Anderson, R. Alex." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2021. Web. 30 July 2021.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107094

External Sources

Wikipedia: Robert Alexander Anderson (composer)

Discogs: Anderson, R. Alex

Allmusic: Anderson, R. Alex

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Anderson, R. Alex - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n94057986

Wikidata: Robert Alexander Anderson (composer) - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q7341424

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/9076097/

MusicBrainz: Anderson, R. Alex - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/d0446cd4-b49f-4304-98be-e2dd6373b4e9

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.