1920s

1920s The ukulele becomes very popular in the United States and then internationally. A major star is Cliff Edwards, “Ukulele Ike”. 

               

1920 Johnny Wilson becomes Mayor of Honolulu, and Mekia Kealakai returns to Honolulu to lead RHB, returns focus of band to Hawaiian language compositions, Glee Club style string ensembles of Na Lani Eha, Lena Machado gets her start under Mekia in RHB. Mekia returns to teach at Waileʻe Boys School. 

1922 Commercial radio broadcasting starts in Hawaiʻi. Live music is a significant part of programming.

1923 First recordings by African-Americans using the steel guitar-inspired slide guitar technique.

1925 Sol Hoopii makes his first steel guitar records; can perform jazz in addition to Hawaiian music.

1926 The National company’s metal-bodied “Tricone” steel guitar is demonstrated with great success by Sol Hoopii, then is used and advertised by him for several years.

The Honolulu Conservatory of Music opens in Cleveland, Ohio, and soon starts the Oahu Publishing Company. Until its closure in 1985, it franchises approximately 1,200 teaching studios for as many as 200,000 students to learn the steel guitar, mostly in the midwestern USA.

1927-1933 Jimmie Rodgers, the first major country singer and the Carter Family grow up steeped in the sounds of Hawaiian Glee Club string ensembles. Rodgers begins his career as a musician performing on ʻUkulele, and Hawaiian Steel guitar in whites with sash and paper lei. Frequently accompanied by an acoustic steel guitar in his recordings, he establishes the presence of the steel in country music.

1928 Tau and Rose Moe leave Hawaii to tour internationally and do not return until 1982.

1929                            After the start of the Great Depression, guitar sales slump, and the Martin Guitar Company sells more ʻukulele than guitars.