Sol Hoopii

Sol Hoopii

Source: Stereorama

Born in Honolulu sometime in 1902, Hawaiian, Sol Hoopii, played guitar, ukulele and probably made the earliest recordings of lap steel guitar referred to as his Hawaiian guitar. His full name at birth was Solomon Hoʻopiʻi Kaʻaiʻai. Hoopii was the 21st child of a family competing with all the names in the Old Testament toward a story of creation. He was playing ukulele at age three, but steel guitar would be his favored instrument. Hoopii's first professional performance was with the Johnny Noble Orchestra in Hawaii prior to moving to the mainland at age seventeen (1924). He and two friends had stowed away on the Matsonia ocean liner. They were discovered, but their fares paid by passengers upon performing music. Hoopi's compatriots returned to Hawaii upon finishing their engagement in Los Angeles, but Hoopii stayed behind, forming a trio with Glenwood Leslie and Lani McIntyre.

Hoopi's first recordings arrived in 1925 with His Hawaiian Trio to include 'Lady Be Good' and 'When My Sugar Walks Down the Street' issued on Sunset 1085.

'Sol Hoopii in Hollywood'   Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiian Trio

Compilation of titles recorded in 1925

Grass Skirt Records GSK1002 / 2007

'St. Louis Blues'   Sol Hoopii and His Novelty Trio

7 March 1927   Matrix W143432   Columbia 1155-D

Composition: W.C. Handy

'Tin Roof Blues'   Sol Hoopii and His Novelty Trio

7 March 1927   Matrix W143433   Columbia 1122-D

Composition: Leon Roppolo / Walter Melrose

'12th Street Rag'   Sol Hoopii and His Novelty Trio

12 Oct 1927 in Los Angeles   Columbia 1189-D

Composition: Euday Bowman / James Sumner

'Hula Girl'   Sol Hoopii and His Novelty Quartette

4 Oct 1933 in Los Angeles   Matrix LA39   Brunswick 6768

Composition: Charles King

'I Like You'   Sol Hoopii and His Novelty Quartette

4 Oct 1933 in Los Angeles   Matrix LA45   Brunswick 6787

Composition: Sol Hoopii

'There's Nothing Else to Do in Ma-La-Ka-Mo-Ka-Lu'   Sol Hoopii

From the film 'Down to Their Last Yacht' released 31 Aug 1934

Composition: Cliff Friend / Sidney Mitchell

Medley   Sol Hoopii w Patricia Ellis and Warren Hull

From the film 'Rhythm in the Clouds' released 21 June 1937   Wikipedia

'Fascinating Rhythm'   Sol Hoopii and His Novelty Five

15 Dec 1938 in Los Angeles   Decca 2280

Composition: George & Ira Gershwin

Hoopii ceased performing secular music in 1938 when he began touring with evangelist, Aimee Semple McPherson. In 1942 he performed a set of gospel tunes with pianist, Phil Kerr, in the film short, 'Musical Moments with Sol Ho'opi'i and His Hawaiian Guitar'.

'Musical Moments with Sol Hoopii'   Sol Hoopii w Phil Kerr (piano)   Film 1942  Part 1

'Musical Moments with Sol Hoopii'   Sol Hoopii w Phil Kerr (piano)   Film 1942  Part 2

After delivering his final performance in Seattle on 28 September 1953 [Blecha] Hoopii there died on 16 November 1953. He was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 1996.