Andy Iona

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, songwriter, conductor, saxophonist, and steel guitarist. 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; 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.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 1, 1902 (Waimea), Died November 9, 1966 (Santa Anita Park)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, ukulele, vocalist, steel guitar

Notes: Also known as Andy Iona Long.

= 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-97725 10-in. 8/18/1936 South Sea island magic Eddy Duchin Orchestra ; Lew Sherwood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-104068 10-in. 8/7/1936 South Sea Island magic George Hall ; Hotel Taft Orchestra ; Johnny McKeever Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor PBS-042293 10-in. 12/11/1939 Sand Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Bill Stoker Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-058332 10-in. 12/9/1940 A million moons over Hawaii Hawaiian Musical Ambassadors ; Ray Kinney Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (Hawaiian) composer  
Decca 62070 10-in. 3/24/1937 On a little bamboo bridge Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, ukulele, vocalist  
Decca 62071 10-in. 3/24/1937 Hawaiian hospitality Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, ukulele, vocalist  
Decca DLA 581 10-in. 8/18/1936 To you sweetheart, Aloha Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, ukulele, vocalist  
Decca DLA 582 10-in. 8/18/1936 On a cocoanut island Louis Armstrong ; Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, ukulele, vocalist  
Decca DLA 1394 10-in. 8/12/1938 Song of the islands Eddie Dunstedter ; Andy Iona instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca DLA 1395 10-in. 8/12/1938 Aloha Oe Eddie Dunstedter ; Andy Iona instrumentalist, steel guitar  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Iona, Andy," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109042.

Iona, Andy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109042.

"Iona, Andy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109042

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