Leonard Kwan

about

Leonard Kwan (1931-2000) was one of the most influential Hawaiian slack-key guitarists to emerge in the period immediately preceding the Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance of the 1970s. He made the first LP of slack key instrumentals, co-wrote the second slack key instruction book, and composed a number of pieces that have become part of the standard repertory. Most players will include Kwan, along with Gabby Pahinui, Sonny Chillingworth, and Atta Isaacs, on a list of the most significant players of the older generation. Leonard Keʻala Kwan was born on Oʻahu in 1931. He studied string bass in high school (where he played in the dance band) and learned to play traditional slack key guitar from his maternal grandfather and his Uncle Pete Hauʻoli. He made his first single record, "Hawaiian Chimes," for Island Recording Studio in 1957. He was noticed by Margaret Williams, the owner of Tradewinds Records, who recorded Kwan in her living room. The result, in 1958, was Kwan's first Tradewinds single, the original instrumental "ʻOpihi Moemoe," which would become his signature piece and a standard tune in the slack key repertory. In 1960, Tradewinds released an LP of Kwan's playing, titled simply Slack Key, that included six of his own compositions, including "ʻOpihi Moemoe." It was the first album to consist entirely of slack key instrumentals. A later Tradewinds album that is made up of tracks by Kwan and Raymond Kāne bears the same title, so they are often identified by the colors of t

top songs

albums

The Legendary Leonard Kwan : The Complete Early Recordings

Ke'ala's Mele

Slack Key

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Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters

The Old Way - Slack Key By Leonard Kwan

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Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters, Vol. 2

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Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters, Vol. 1

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The Legendary Leonard Kwan

The Legendary Leonard Kwan: The Complete Early Recordings

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Ke`ala's Mele

Hawaiian Slack Key Christmas

Party Songs Hawaiian Style

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