Harry Owens

Harry Owens (18 April 1902 – 12 December 1986) was an American composer, bandleader and songwriter. Owens was born in O'Neill, Nebraska, and started his band in 1926, when he was booked into the Lafayette Cafe in Los Angeles. The big turning point in his career came in 1934 with his arrival in Hawaii and his appointment as music director of The Royal Hawaiian Hotel. He set to learning all he could about the local culture by mixing and working wit... more

Harry Owens (18 April 1902 – 12 December 1986) was an American composer, bandleader and songwriter. Owens was born in O'Neill, Nebraska, and started his band in 1926, when he was booked into the Lafayette Cafe in Los Angeles. The big turning point in his career came in 1934 with his arrival in Hawaii and his appointment as music director of The Royal Hawaiian Hotel. He set to learning all he could about the local culture by mixing and working with native Hawaiians. He learned many traditional and more modern Hawaiian songs and tunes which he wrote down and orchestrated using Western notation for the first time. Many had never been written down before, much less orchestrated. He reorganized the Royal Hawaiians by splitting the band into Hawaiian and haole instrumental sections. His band featured the steel guitar, which had a trademark sound, producing tuneful and rhythmic dance music with a strong Hawaiian flavour. Hilo Hattie was a featured performer with The Royal Hawaiian Hotel... less