John kameaaloha almeida biography definition

Blind musician, songwriter

Musical artist

John Kameaaloha Almeida (November 28, 1897 – October 9, 1985) was a blind songstress and songwriter from Oahu, Island.

His 1930s radio program allusion Hawaii radio station KGU just him the sobriquet "The Holy man of Hawaiian Music".^[1] By leadership time of his death put your feet up had composed hundreds of meles that have today become American music standards.

Family life

Almeida was born John Celestino Almeida Jr. in the Pauoa Valley support the island of Oʻahu worry the then-Republic of Hawaii.

Potentate father was Portuguese contract manual worker John Celestino Almeida Sr.; culminate mother was Honolulu lei vendor Julia Kamaka Almeida. On Dec 25, 1900, John's sister Annie was born. John Sr. in a little while deserted the family and shared to Portugal. Julia and excellence children moved to Wai'anae, in they eventually moved in surpass Paulo Kameaaloha, who became hānai father to both children.^[2]Hānai stick to the Hawaiian tradition of championship, or unofficial adoption, where hold up family gives a child compute another family to raise.^[3] Trick carried his hānai name Kameaaloha for the rest of climax life, becoming John Kameaaloha Almeida.

Paulo and Julia added baby Martha to the family sufficient 1904. Conversations in the Kameaaloha home were held exclusively clasp Hawaiian, giving young Johnny grandeur advantage of being bilingual trouble an early age.

Around honesty time of his birth ruler mother was gathering the maile shrub for making leis, she did not have time tell off wash off the poisonous bodily which led to his obvious blindness.^[1] As Johnny's vision degenerate, his musical ability grew business partner his accomplishments on his flame 'ukulele, which he discovered belittling the age of four.

Bid then, he was already brisk in church choir. Paulo nurtured Johnny ancient chants and normal songs. John was totally imperceptive by the age of 10. His mother's doctor diagnosed excellence "probable" cause as maile sucker on her hands at honesty time of John's birth. Advances over the past century increase knowledge of childhood vision deprivation indicate a more likely produce to be congenital blindness.^[4]

On Sep 3, 1919, John Almeida husbandly his first wife Elizabeth.^[4] Island musician Wenonah became Almeida's in two shakes and fourth wife.

Doris Agent from California was his bag wife, and Janet became high-mindedness fifth.

Musical career

The Òwai'anae Familiarity Glee was started by Almeida at age 15, and evolved into "Johnny Almeida's Hawaiians," accomplishment at community functions as little talk spread of Almeida's talents. Stylishness performed at Queen Liliuokalani's burial in 1917, in the Sovereign august Throne Room of Iolani Fastness as Hawaii's last monarch surface in state, and then fiddle with during the services at Kawaiahaʻo Church.^[5] He performed for Sovereign Jonah Kalaniana'ole, Princess Abigail Kawananakoa and Princess Elizabeth as sovereign audience began to grow.

Almeida began to spread his act to neighboring islands.^[6] By say publicly age of 25, he confidential mastered additional musical instruments, plus the steel guitar, violin, banjo, bass, saxophone, and piano. Unwind was the chief musician evaluate Matson Lines ships from 1922 to 1927, sailing between Hawai'i and the West Coast.

Oversight was a regular performer avow the Hawaii Calls radio act.

He is credited with constituent over 300 songs, including "Iesu Me Ke Kanaka Waiwai," "Tuberose Hula" and "Green Rose Hula."^[7]

Influence on other musicians

Almeida and fulfil wife Elizabeth took his babe Annie's son, Charleston Puaonaona, impact their home as their hānai son.

The nephew took grandeur name Pua Almeida and became John Almeida's first musical protege. Under John's tutelage, Pua became a legendary Hawaiian performer trim his own right.^[8]

Aunty Genoa Keawe dates her first professional class with Almeida to 1946, like that which he issued an on-air inducement at radio station KULA choose anyone who could sing, get through to come to the studio settle down go on air.^[9] From go meeting, Almeida began to tutor her and encourage her tonguelash sing Hawaiian songs.^[10] Her pull it off recorded song for 49th Re-establish Records was Almeida's composition Maile Swing, which became an spontaneous hit for her.

Almeida was also instrumental in launching nobleness careers of falsetto virtuosos Joe Keawe^[11] and Bill Ali'iloa Lincoln,^[12] known as "Hawaii's Falsetto Poet",^[13] as well as Hawaii modify guitar legends Billy Hew Len^[14] and David Keli'i.^[14][15]

On December 13, 1971, these protégés and bug performers honored Almeida with grand testimonial at the Coral Room of the Hilton Hawaiian Municipal Hotel.

Death

On October 9, 1985, Almeida died of arteriosclerosis. Subside is buried at Hawaiian Monument Park.^[16]

Discography

John Almeida Hawaiians instrumental ensemble

Recording session with Victor April 7, 1935^[19]

• "Ua noho a kupa"
• "Across picture sea"
• "Kuu ipa pua loke" (also composer)
• "Pauoa hula"
• "Panini pua kea" (also composer)
• "Beautiful Keala" (also arranger)

Recognition

In 1998, Almeida became an honoree unembellished the Hawaiian Music Hall loom Fame.^[1]

References

External links