Sol Hoopii’s Novelty Trio perform Iniki-Malie b/w Mauna Loa

3/23/28, Columbia 1363-D (145900 and 145905)

Later in life, Hawaiian steel guitarist Sol Hoopii became a born-again Christian and spent many years traveling and using music to help him evangelize.  During that time he made several records. Here are a few from my collection. These aren’t as “hot” as his earlier work, but there are a couple upbeat b-sides.

This last side “To You, My Lord, Aloha” was an adaptation of the song “To You, Sweetheart, Aloha”. I found this record on ebay and amazingly it was autographed on the paper sleeve. In trying to verify it’s authenticity, I realized the other signature on the record label itself was a of a man named Ray Odegard who toured with him apparently accompanying him on piano. I found a newspaper clipping in an online archive that dates their tour together to withing a couple months of the date on Sol’s signature. The inscription reads “Aloha Neu Loa (very much love) to Sister Jensen Sol Hoopii 3/17/50 John 15.13“.  Sol died 3 years later on November 16, 1953.

here’s a video clip of him from near this time:

Sol Hoopii and His Novelty Trio perform Eleu Mikiki b/w Ka Ulula

Here’s another Sol Hoopii record I haven’t seen on any compilations:

6/18/1930, 78rpm  record, Columbia #40020-D, (149845), (149846)

Eleu, Mikimiki (King)

Ka Ulua

Sol Hoopii and His Novelty Quartette perform King Kamehameha b/w The Lei Vendor

1934, 78rpm  record, Brunswick #6873, (160), (112)

Sol Hoopii is my favorite artist from this period. This record is rather worn.. but this is a nice couple tracks that don’t appear on any compilations I know of.

Sol Hoopii and His Novelty Five perform Fascinating Rhythm b/w Twelfth Street Rag

1938, 78rpm  record, Decca 1666/1668