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Ernest K. Kaai

Ernest Kaʻai (1881–1962) was considered by many to have been the foremost ukulele authority of his time, cited by some as being "Hawaii's Greatest Ukulele Player". Kaʻai, who was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, was said to have been the first musician to play a complete melody with chords. He was the son of Simon Kaloa Kaʻai, a prominent politician during the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1881 (Honolulu), Died 1961 (Miami)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1911 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, composer, songwriter, vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor PBS-79241 10-in. 6/7/1934 Across the sea Charles Amalu Troupe Vocal and instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) songwriter  
Victor BVE-89122 10-in. 4/7/1935 Across the sea John Almeida Hawaiians Instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) composer  
Victor PBS-026207 10-in. 10/26/1938 Across the sea Kuulei de Clercq ; Nalani de Clercq Female vocal duet songwriter  
Victor BS-058331 10-in. 12/9/1940 Hawaii across the sea Hawaiian Musical Ambassadors ; George Kainapau ; Ray Kinney ; Henry Paul Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio (Hawaiian) songwriter  
Columbia 21287 10-in. June 1911 Mahina malamalama Kaai Glee Club ; Keala Kaai Female vocal solo, with vocal and instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) leader  
Columbia 21306 10-in. June 1911 My Honolulu tom boy Harry Clark ; Kaai Glee Club Male vocal solo, with vocal and instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) leader  
Columbia 21317 10-in. June 1911 A song to Hawaii Kaai Glee Club ; Ernest K. Kaai Male vocal solo, with vocal and instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) vocalist, leader  
Columbia 21320 10-in. June 1911 Wahine ui Kaai Glee Club ; Mr. Toit Male vocal solo, with vocal and instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) leader  
Columbia 21322 10-in. June 1911 Makai ka makani o kohala Kaai Glee Club ; Henry Kailimai Male vocal solo, with vocal and instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) leader  
Columbia 21328 10-in. June 1911 Waialae Harry Clark ; Kaai Glee Club Male vocal solo, with vocal and instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) leader  
Columbia 21329 10-in. June 1911 Ahi vela Kaai Glee Club ; Keala Kaai Female vocal solo, with vocal and instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) leader  
OKeh S-71292 10-in. Feb. 1923 Honolulu hula girl Prince Lei Lani Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) composer  
Brunswick LAE171-LAE172 10-in. Mar. 1928 Hola a pae Johnny Noble's Hawaiians ; Kamakau Glee Club ; Joseph Kamakau Instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian), with male vocal solo and vocal chorus composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kaai, Ernest K.," accessed March 21, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107760.

Kaai, Ernest K.. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107760.

"Kaai, Ernest K.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 21 March 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107760

External Sources

Wikipedia: Ernest Kaʻai

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Kaai, Ernest K. - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n97874920

Wikidata: Ernest Kaʻai - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5393371

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/132149106227468491845

MusicBrainz: Ernest Kaʻai - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/bc8e592b-cc55-46f8-9350-6fafd8c4bdf4

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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