15 Facts About Harry Owens

Harry Robert Owens was an American composer, bandleader and songwriter best known for his song "Sweet Leilani".

Harry Robert Owens was born April 18,1902, in O'Neill, Nebraska.

Harry Owens learned to play the cornet in a small band on an Indian reservation in Montana.

Harry Owens studied for a career in law, but then started a band in 1926, when he was booked into the Lafayette Cafe in Los Angeles and auditioned a young Bing Crosby.

Harry Owens tried to learn all he could about the local culture by mixing and working with native Hawaiians.

Harry Owens learned many traditional and more modern Hawaiian songs and tunes which he wrote down and orchestrated using Western notation for the first time.

Harry Owens reorganized the Royal Hawaiians by splitting the band into Hawaiian and haole instrumental sections.

Harry Owens's band featured the steel guitar, which had a trademark sound, producing tuneful and rhythmic dance music with a strong Hawaiian flavour.

Bing Crosby and Harry Owens began their friendship when both played the Lafayette Cafe in Los Angeles in 1926.

In 1934, Harry Owens wrote "Sweet Leilani" to celebrate the birth of his daughter, and made it the signature song of his Royal Hawaiian Hotel Orchestra.

Harry Owens made regular appearances in California, both in person and on television.

Harry Owens established the hapa haole style of Hawaii music which was developed by Sonny Cunha and Johnny Noble, and he enjoyed significant commercial success with this style of music-making.

Harry Owens is credited with about 300 hapa haole songs, many of which remain popular with musicians playing in this style.

Harry Owens was a great advocate of Hawaii and things Hawaiian.

Harry Owens founded a tourism company and music publishing business.