139:. While Anderson never studied theory or harmony and played a piano mostly by ear, many of his over 100 island songs have become standards. He usually composed away from an instrument, although he sometimes used a piano or ukulele to work out a melody. In 1939, as a result of a chance remark, Anderson was inspired to write his most popular song, "Lovely Hula Hands". After watching a hula dancer at a party, he heard someone say, "aren't her hands lovely?" After it was performed by Harry Owens and his band on a Honolulu radio station, it became an instant hit. It has been recorded by dozens of artists, including
118:. Despite lacking formal training as a composer, he wrote many songs as a student there, including "When Twilight Falls on Blue Cayuga". In 1927, he wrote his first hit song, "Haole Hula". Another well-known song of his was "Punahou" (1966).
125:
involved flying combat missions in France. After being shot down and taken as a prisoner of war by the
Germans, Anderson conceived of a daring and ultimately successful escape. This was later turned into the initial treatment for
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78:) (June 6, 1894 â May 30, 1995) was an American composer who was born and lived most of his life in Hawaii, writing many popular Hawaiian songs within the
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158:" was first recorded by his friend Bing Crosby. "Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai" was written in the 1930s for a party honoring the actor
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where he wrote the school's football song in his junior year and the school song in his senior year. He graduated from
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Although he had a very active business career, he turned his love of songwriting into a very successful
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263:"1998 Hall of Fame Honoree: R. Alex Anderson, The Composer Who Charmed Hawai'i and the World"
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in 1916, where he studied electrical and mechanical engineering and was a member of the
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162:. "White Ginger Blossoms" was written at the suggestion of film star
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Anderson died on May 30, 1995, shortly before his 101st birthday.
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He was called "Andy" by his close friends. Anderson was born in
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Harry B. Soria (22 September 2015). "Anderson, R(obert) Alex".
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90:" (1949), the latter the best known Hawaiian Christmas song.
286:
From a Joyful Heart: The Life and Music of R. Alex
Anderson
180:, using traditional Hawaiian musical qualities and themes.
170:
150:
Several of
Anderson's songs had movie star associations. "
52:
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composers, following in the footsteps of songwriters like
1298:(Dorothy Kahananui Gillett, Barbara Smith and Hui Hanai)
1129:(Alice Fredlund, Sybil Bright Andrews, Linda Dela Cruz)
1343:
Hawaiian Room musicians from the
Lexington Hotel, NYC
301:
The Golden Years of
Hawaiian Entertainment 1874-1974
169:Anderson was considered the "most Hawaiian" of the
1465:Cornell University College of Engineering alumni
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82:genre including "Lovely Hula Hands" (1940) and "
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1510:World War I prisoners of war held by Germany
1525:United States Army personnel of World War I
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283:
333:
319:
219:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2283925
819:Elizabeth "Lizzie" Kahau Kauanui Alohikea
1505:American prisoners of war in World War I
1276:(Dorothy Kahananui and Dorothy Gillett)
257:
255:
253:
198:
196:
1437:
314:
1495:20th-century American male musicians
250:
193:
13:
1289:He Mele Aloha: A Hawaiian Songbook
14:
1541:
1358:Paused due to the global pandemic
244:Creating Hawaii Tourism: A Memoir
1530:Military personnel from Honolulu
1485:20th-century American composers
977:James Pihanui Kuluwaimaka Palea
1520:Escapees from German detention
292:
277:
235:
1:
1220:Jacqueline "Skylark" Rossetti
186:
93:
303:. Tony Todaro Publishing Co.
116:Cornell University Glee Club
7:
1500:American World War I pilots
342:Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame
267:Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame
10:
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1460:American men centenarians
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38:
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23:Robert Alexander Anderson
21:
1490:Burials at Oahu Cemetery
1086:Edith Kawelohea McKinzie
829:Thomas Kihei Desha Brown
242:Robert C. Allen (2004).
1475:Musicians from Honolulu
1455:American male composers
1404:Kawaikapuokalani Hewitt
880:Thomas Sylvester Kalama
546:The Royal Hawaiian Band
486:John Kameaaloha Almeida
211:Oxford University Press
42:May 30, 1995 (aged 100)
1264:(Daddy and Lydia Bray)
1003:Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau
834:Alice Angeline Johnson
460:Alvin Kaleolani Isaacs
1480:Writers from Honolulu
1470:Punahou School alumni
1270:(Richard and Solomon)
1258:(Nona, Keola, Kapono)
1240:Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
1210:The Kanakaâole âOhana
926:Richard Kauhi Quartet
798:John Pi'ilani Watkins
732:The Brothers Cazimero
706:Bill Ali'iloa Lincoln
1295:The Queenâs Songbook
1169:Jean âKiniâ Sullivan
849:Leo Nahenahe Singers
783:Donald McDiarmid Sr.
747:Nina Keali`iwahamana
491:Irmgard Farden Aluli
450:Albert "Sonny" Cunha
299:Tony Todaro (1974).
284:Scott Stone (2001).
121:His exploits during
1338:Kauʻi Zuttermeister
1328:David âFeetâ Rogers
1200:Richard âBabeâ Bell
1081:Sonny Chillingworth
1037:Kamaka Hawaii, Inc.
957:Sam Li'a Kalainaina
859:James Kaʻupena Wong
824:Anuhea Audrey Brown
1333:Harry B. Soria Jr.
1230:Karen Keawehawaiâi
1117:Lokalia Montgomery
737:Charles K.L. Davis
701:Kahauanu Lake Trio
659:Kamehameha Schools
599:Haili Church Choir
567:Hawaiian Chanters:
394:Helen Desha Beamer
288:. Island Heritage.
206:Grove Music Online
112:Cornell University
1515:American escapees
1432:
1431:
1268:Hoâopiâi Brothers
1205:The Isaacs âOhana
1091:Puakea Nogelmeier
680:Kawaiahaʻo Church
518:Ua Like No A Like
465:Haunani Kahalewai
429:Mary Kawena Pukui
404:Sol K. Bright Sr.
273:on 27 March 2015.
228:978-1-56159-263-0
66:
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44:Honolulu, Hawaii
34:Honolulu, Hawaii
16:American composer
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911:Pat Namaka Bacon
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269:. Archived from
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76:R. Alex Anderson
74:(often given as
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1285:Literary award:
1280:Saichi Kawahara
1244:
1188:
1184:Danny Kaleikini
1152:
1143:Thaddius Wilson
1138:Darrell Lupenui
1105:
1062:
1043:Matthew H. Kane
1039:(ukulele maker)
1025:
998:George Kainapau
981:
967:Alice Namakelua
947:Joseph Ilalaole
935:
931:Keali'i Reichel
899:
890:Ma'iki Aiu Lake
885:Dennis Kamakahi
863:
839:John Keola Lake
802:
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742:Linda Dela Cruz
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711:Henry W. Waia`u
696:Alfred Alohikea
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154:Mele Kalikimaka
129:The Dawn Patrol
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86:Mele Kalikimaka
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108:Punahou School
106:. He attended
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68:Musical artist
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1018:Song honored:
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1008:George Na'ope
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625:Gabby Pahinui
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246:. Bess Press.
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1414:Makua Laiana
1409:David Kalama
1389:Jules Ah See
1373:Jules Ah See
1293:
1287:
1284:
1235:Melveen Leed
1225:Kimo Kahoano
1164:Johnny Noble
1101:Lani Custino
1075:Hawaii Calls
1073:
1021:Hawaii Ponoi
1017:
952:Benny Kalama
921:Ernest Kaʻai
773:Jesse Kalima
631:
571:Ka`opulupulu
569:Keaulumoku,
566:
514:Hawaii Aloha
510:
501:Bina Mossman
495:
455:Sol Hoʻopiʻi
424:Lena Machado
399:Henri Berger
389:Alfred Apaka
300:
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271:the original
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182:
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149:
145:Alfred Apaka
134:
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120:
97:
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32:June 6, 1894
1450:1995 deaths
1445:1894 births
1313:Pua Haʻaheo
1262:Bray âOhana
1179:Mamo Howell
1122:Lei Collins
1096:Beverly Noa
1013:Harry Owens
814:Joseph Ae'a
793:Marlene Sai
778:Eddie Kamae
768:Bill Ka'iwa
727:Mahi Beamer
604:Genoa Keawe
141:Bing Crosby
123:World War I
1439:Categories
1318:Marta Hohu
1133:Jerry Byrd
962:Akoni Mika
788:Peter Moon
752:Emma Veary
639:Kalama'ula
620:Ray Kinney
506:David Nape
409:Keaulumoku
187:References
94:Background
80:hapa haole
59:Occupation
53:Hapa haole
875:Hui Ohana
575:Kapoukahi
562:Maddy Lam
526:Makalapua
137:avocation
583:Hewahewa
530:Na Ali`i
368:Likelike
358:KalÄkaua
100:Honolulu
62:Composer
972:Olomana
895:Kui Lee
350:Patrons
1058:Don Ho
579:Kapihe
225:
104:Hawaii
49:Genres
635:Alika
174:haole
1382:2022
1366:2021
1352:2020
1306:2019
1249:2018
1193:2017
1157:2016
1110:2015
1067:2014
1030:2013
986:2012
940:2011
904:2010
868:2009
807:2008
761:2007
720:2006
689:2005
668:2004
652:2003
613:2002
592:2001
581:and
555:2000
539:1999
528:and
479:1998
443:1996
382:1995
223:ISBN
171:hapa
143:and
39:Died
29:Born
215:doi
1441::
641:,
637:,
577:,
573:,
524:,
520:,
516:,
265:.
252:^
221:.
213:.
195:^
166:.
147:.
102:,
334:e
327:t
320:v
231:.
217::
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