Alfred apaka biography
- "Alfred Aloha Apaka (1919–1960) was.
- Alfred Aholo Apaka, Jr. was a Hawaiian singer whose romantic baritone voice was closely identified with Hawaii between the late 1940s and the early 1960s.
- Alfred Aloha Apaka (1919 -- 1960) was one of the influential performers in the history of Hawaii's popular music.
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Alfred Apaka
His rich baritone voice was captivating and it made him the foremost interpreter of Hapa Haole music ( blending Hawaiian music with traditional pop arrangements and English lyrics). His songs and his voice conveyed a strong imagery of the Hawaiian Islands. He toured the mainland and performed with Bob Hope. His TV appearances included the Ed Sullivan Show. When Hawaiian Village ( now Hilton Hawaiian Village ) was built, developer, Mr. Henry J. Kaiser, specifically created the mammoth geodesic dome ( which no longer sits on the property ) for Alfred Apaka. At one time Mr. Kaiser wanted to buy the Island of Molokai and he intended to rename it "Apaka Island."
Alfred performed regularly on the radio program,"Hawaii Calls. In the years before air travel, his beautiful voice was heard all over the world on the radio program. He made people dream of coming to the Hawaiian Islands through his enchanting voice and music. Alfred Apaka is considered the first to introduce the world to Hawaiian Music. He only recorded for less than a decade but he set a standard. His
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Born into a musical family, Alfred Apaka, Jr., came from Hawaiian royalty. His great-aunt, Lydia Aholo, was an educator and the hanai daughter of Queen Lydia Liliʻuokalani. Apaka’s father, Alfred, Sr., was himself an accomplished musician and later recorded with his son for Capitol Records; his son, Jeffrey, is also a musician.
Alfred Junior’s great talent eventually landed him a spot as a featured singer on the famed “Hawaiʻi Calls” radio broadcasts – and then came regular shows with the Moana Serenaders at Waikīkī’s Moana Hotel. From there, he moved to Don the Beachcomber’s where, in 1952, Bob Hope “discovered” him. Appearances on Ed Sullivan’s prestigious “Talk of The Town” and “The Dinah Shore Show” followed, giving national television exposure for both Apaka’s golden voice and for Hawaiʻi.
George Kanahele, a critical observer of Hawaiian music later wrote, “Alfred Apaka possessed one of the most remarkable voices to ever come out of Hawaiʻi.”
Apaka was indeed the most influential Hawaiian performer of his time, setting the standard for all modern Hawaiian music. Pe
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Alfred Apaka
Alfred Aholo Apaka, Jr. (March 19, 1919 – January 30, 1960) was a Hawaiian singer whose romantic baritone voice was closely identified with Hawaii between the late 1940s and the early 1960s. Alfred Apaka was arguably the foremost interpreter of Hapa haole music, which melded Hawaiian music with traditional pop music arrangements and English lyrics to convey Polynesian imagery and themes. |
Birth and Death Data: Born March 19, 1919 (Honolulu), Died January 30, 1960 (Honolulu)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1964
Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 1-25 of 130 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | BS-056466 | 10-in. | 10/9/1940 | Moon over Burma | Alfred Apaka ; Hawaiian Musical Ambassadors ; Ray Kinney | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (Hawaiian) | vocalist | |
| Victor | BS-058330 | 10-in. | 12/9/1940 | U
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