Andy Iona

Infobox Person
name = Andrew Iona Long [Smith (1987), p. 10]


caption = Andy Iona in the Royal Hawaiian Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and Museum
image_size = 150px
birth_date = birth date|1902|1|1|mf=yFact|date=March 2008
birth_place = Waimea, Kauai County, Hawaii, U.S. [Ruymar (1996), p. 90]
death_date = death date and age|1966|11|9|1902|1|1|mf=y
death_place = Santa Anita, California, U.S.
spouse = Leimomi Woodds
children = Lanette, Edre, Andrea [ [http://www.huapala.org/Composer/composer_I.html pg composer I ] ]

Andy Iona (1902 - 1966) was an American musician and one of Hawaii's most influential musicians. He was a composer, songwriter, conductor, saxophonist, and steel guitarist. [cite web |title=A Brief History of the Steel Guitar & Artists |publisher=The Royal Hawaiian Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and Museum |url=http://steelguitar.org/history1.htm |accessdate=2007-02-05] 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 and they appeared in films, hotels, theatres, and on records. He toured with Sonja Henie for twelve years. He composed songs for the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers after joining in 1940.

He married Leimomi Woodds and had 3 children.

Trivia

*He lost his right thumb in an accident in machine shop at school, but he adapted his technique and became well-known as a great steel guitarist. [Ruymar (1996), p. 90]
*He is a member of the Royal Hawaiian Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and Museum.
*He recorded hundreds of singles with his band, Andy Iona and his Islanders.
*He recorded several songs with the Sol Hoopii Trio.
*In the 1930s he played ukelele with Louis Armstrong for a handful of Hawaiian songs. [Yanow (2000), p. 10. "Armstrong is heard on four charming if odd Hawaiian numbers with groups led by the ukulele player Andy Iona, and he interacts winningly with the Mills Brothers on "Carry Me to Old Virginny" and "Darling Nelly Gray."] [Delaunay (1948), p. 42. "1A320 On A Cocoanut Island (DLA582a)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG WITH ANDY IONA and HIS ISLANDERS.
New York, 25 March 1937.]
*He recorded several songs with Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards.
*He appeared in the film "Song of the Islands" (1942), starring Betty Grable.

Music

* [http://www.publicdomain4u.com/html/andy_iona_red_hibiscus.htm Public domain song: Andy Iona - Pretty Red Hibiscus ]
* [http://www.publicdomain4u.com/html/andy_iona.htm Public domain song: Andy Iona - Naughty Hula Eyes]
*Box set (6 CDs - 112 tracks): The Andy Iona Collection - Andy Iona and his Islanders, Cumquat Records. [cite web |title= The Andy Iona Collection: Andy Iona and his Islanders |url=http://www.cumquatrecords.com.au/2701.htm |accessdate=2007-02-05]
*Album: Hawaiians In Hollywood: Smooth, Sweet & Swinging 1934-1936: Volume 1 by Andy Iona.
*Album: From Honolulu To Hollywood: Jazz, Blues & Popular Specialties Performed Hawaiian Style by King Bennie Nawahi, Sol Hoopii, Andy Iona.
*Album: Jazz Goes Hawaiian by Louis Armstrong feat. Andy Iona, Challenge Records.

Notes

References

*
*
*
*
*

External links

*imdb name|0409555