Walter Kolomoku (February 14, 1889 – May 6, 1930) was a Hawaiian steel guitar musician, actor, and recording artist. He has a cameo in D. W. Griffith's film The Idol Dancer. He recorded Southern Melodies Waltz No. 1 on Victor Records. He played the steel guitar.[1]

Walter Kolomoku
Birth nameWalter Keaumakalani Kolomoku
Born(1889-02-14)February 14, 1889
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaiian Kingdom
DiedMay 6, 1930(1930-05-06) (aged 41)
Manhattan, New York, New York
Occupation(s)Musician, actor, and recording artist
InstrumentSteel guitar
LabelsVictor Records
SpouseAnita Goldie Segal

His work includes recorded performances as part of the Hawaiian Quintette. He toured with Ernest Kaʻai. He left Honolulu and lived in New York for 20 years. He conducted the Hawaiian Conservatory of Music.[2]

Kolomuku and William Smith's rendition of "Aloha Oe."

He recorded several songs on Victor records.[3] He taught guitar and ukelele via correspondence classes.[2] Musician Bob Dunn took the steel guitar courses as a young man.[4]

Kolomoku recorded the album Southern Melodies in 1928 covering Southern classics on the steel guitar.

He married and had a son.[2]

Discography

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  • "Aloha Oe" (1911) by Queen Liliʻuokalani circa 1878, Edison Blue Amberola Cylinder
  • "Kaua i ka huahuai" - Hawaiian War Chant (April 18, 1913) Victor 65339 Camden, New Jersey" as part of the Hawaiian Quintette
  • "Wailana" (1913) as part of the Hawaiian Quintette
  • Southern Melodies (1928)

References

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  1. ^ "Walter Kolomoku". www.loc.gov.
  2. ^ a b c "Walter Kolomoku obituary". November 15, 1930. p. 2 – via The Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii 15 Nov 1930, Page 2.
  3. ^ "Walter Kolomoku's Honoluluans - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu.
  4. ^ Kienzle, Rich (2015). "Dunn, Bob". Grove Music Online. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2275783. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. Retrieved 2020-11-11.