BUCK GILES SINGER SONGWRITER STEEL GUITARIST

Prior to the 20th century in the mid to late 1800’s Hawaiian music was evolving from The Royal Hawaiian Marching Band format under Henry Berger into that of smaller singing string bands with emphasis prominently on guitars, accompanied by `ukuleles, banjo, mandolins, violins and sometimes flute.  These stringed instruments became one of the most important turning points in Hawaiian music, freeing the lips from wind and brass instruments of current and former members of the Royal Hawaiian Band and enabling the development of a new harmonized singing and string band style that would sweep the islands and influences American music by becoming the first world music craze of the 20th century. The musicians pictured here, the reorganized Kawaihau Glee Club, (Hui Himeni Kawaihau), are little known but are some of the most important musicians in Hawaiian Music History. Over time my mission is to share the true and forgotten histories of Hawaiian music on social media and eventually in a book to keep it alive for future generations.  After 25+ years of digging, researching and hording the golden nuggets of Hawaiian music, it’s time to share the forgotten past of the Pioneers and Troubadours of 19th century Hawaiian music with you and other historians and research enthusiasts.  Join me in my journey as I roll out my blog in 2019. Mahalo