This is the logo for the "49th State" label of the Hawaii Record Company in Honolulu. They were named in advance of Alaska beating them to the punch for Statehood (bad timing), but released a huge amount of great Hawaiian records over the years. Some of their stuff is now being reissued, at the rate of about 10 albums a year, by a label in Califonia.One of 49th State's best 1960s artists was Hawaiian radio announcer and comedian Kent Bowman, who I have featured on Christmas in Seufland over the years. I have been lobbying the people to reissue his stuff, which they have "promised" will come in 2009. He did a Pidgin English version of Goldilocks and the 3 Bears" that was oko moi.
Sad to report, Kent will be on CD 3 of Christmas in Seufland 2008
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Dec/25/ln/hawaii712250315.html
excerpt:
"Kent H. Bowman, known to legions of fans as the mythical politico K.K. Ka'umanua and a wizard at transforming fairytale characters with an Island spin, died Dec. 20 at Summerlin Hospital in Las Vegas. He was 84.
"I have lost a good friend and partner, and I shall miss him dearly," said Don McDiarmid Jr., chairman of Hawaii Calls Inc. and president emeritus of Hula Records Inc., who produced Island recordings by the genius businessman-turned-comedian in the 1960s. "I will always cherish his humor and quickness of wit."
Bowman popularized fractured fairy tales with his precise and brilliant mix of classic characters told in Hawaiian pidgin, decades before they became theatrical commerce for the late Lisa Y. Matsumoto and her trilogy of "Once Upon One Time" plays with music.
He was a marvelous storyteller who had the wisdom and wherewithal to juxtapose familiar literary figures into da kine local scene.
"Goldie the Blonde Malihini and the Three Wild Pua'a" ("Goldilocks and the Three Bears"), "Rumple Dakineskin" ("Rumpelstiltskin"), "Little Lei Puahi" ("Little Red Ridinghood"), "Hau Kea and the Seven Menehunes" ("Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs") and "Keaka and the Beanstalk" ("Jack and the Bean-stalk") were driven by his attention to detail, a local accent and his storytelling skills."
Kent's history:
"In 1961, Hula Records' Don McDiarmid Jr. recorded funnyman Kent Bowman telling Pidgin English Stories for Children. While it may not have been a hit with Hawai`i's educators, the album was instantly accepted by the masses.
In 2001, noted Pidgin English author and playwright, Lisa Matsumoto said "What a joy it was to finally hear the work of Kent Bowman. Only recently was I fortunate enough to experience his local fairy tales. I found him to be and incredible storyteller; I loved his characters, local style and flavor! His older style Pidgin English captures a Hawai`i of days past. What a great way to hear where Pidgin storytelling all began!"
AUWE! Aloha, Kent.
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Dec/25/ln/hawaii712250315.html
excerpt:
"Kent H. Bowman, known to legions of fans as the mythical politico K.K. Ka'umanua and a wizard at transforming fairytale characters with an Island spin, died Dec. 20 at Summerlin Hospital in Las Vegas. He was 84.
"I have lost a good friend and partner, and I shall miss him dearly," said Don McDiarmid Jr., chairman of Hawaii Calls Inc. and president emeritus of Hula Records Inc., who produced Island recordings by the genius businessman-turned-comedian in the 1960s. "I will always cherish his humor and quickness of wit."
Bowman popularized fractured fairy tales with his precise and brilliant mix of classic characters told in Hawaiian pidgin, decades before they became theatrical commerce for the late Lisa Y. Matsumoto and her trilogy of "Once Upon One Time" plays with music.
He was a marvelous storyteller who had the wisdom and wherewithal to juxtapose familiar literary figures into da kine local scene.
"Goldie the Blonde Malihini and the Three Wild Pua'a" ("Goldilocks and the Three Bears"), "Rumple Dakineskin" ("Rumpelstiltskin"), "Little Lei Puahi" ("Little Red Ridinghood"), "Hau Kea and the Seven Menehunes" ("Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs") and "Keaka and the Beanstalk" ("Jack and the Bean-stalk") were driven by his attention to detail, a local accent and his storytelling skills."
Kent's history:
"In 1961, Hula Records' Don McDiarmid Jr. recorded funnyman Kent Bowman telling Pidgin English Stories for Children. While it may not have been a hit with Hawai`i's educators, the album was instantly accepted by the masses.
In 2001, noted Pidgin English author and playwright, Lisa Matsumoto said "What a joy it was to finally hear the work of Kent Bowman. Only recently was I fortunate enough to experience his local fairy tales. I found him to be and incredible storyteller; I loved his characters, local style and flavor! His older style Pidgin English captures a Hawai`i of days past. What a great way to hear where Pidgin storytelling all began!"
AUWE! Aloha, Kent.
