19 Facts About Johnny Noble

John Avery Noble was an American musician, composer and arranger.

Johnny Noble was one of the key figures behind the development of the hapa haole style of music in Honolulu, and played a leading role in introducing Hawaiian music to the United States.

Johnny Noble was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on September 17,1892.

Johnny Noble was exposed to music from an early age, listening to band concerts on Sunday afternoons in Kapiolani Park, and traditional singing in local churches.

Johnny Noble attended Kaiulani School, and in his spare time sold newspapers on the streets of Honolulu and entertained passers-by whistling popular tunes.

Johnny Noble graduated from school in 1911 and went to work at the Mutual Telephone Company in Honolulu, where he continued working long after he became a successful musician.

Johnny Noble was of hapa haole or European and Native Hawaiian descent.

In 1917, Johnny Noble was hired by Ernest Ka'ai who was musical director at many Honolulu hotels.

Johnny Noble worked part-time as a drummer at several theaters before meeting Sonny Cunha, a well known Honolulu musician.

In 1918 Johnny Noble became a member of Cunha's band playing drums and xylophone, and soon was well acquainted with the hapa haole.

Johnny Noble adopted Cunha's music to blend jazz and blues with Hawaiian music to produce a new style of hapa haole.

Johnny Noble went on to become an arranger and a band leader.

Johnny Noble later ended up supervising most of Honolulu's hotels and country club entertainment.

In 1924 Johnny Noble was chosen as Hawaii's delegate at a Music Trade Convention in San Francisco, where he took the opportunity to look for new ideas to incorporate in his music.

Johnny Noble played a leading role in introducing and popularizing Hawaiian music in the United States.

Johnny Noble published hundreds of traditional Hawaiian songs in their original form, and reworked many to "Western scale and contemporary instrumentation".

Johnny Noble made over 100 recordings, which included 110 songs for Brunswick Records.

In 1935 Johnny Noble was inducted into the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, the first Hawaiian composer to receive this honor.

Johnny Noble died at the age of 51 in Honolulu on January 13,1944, and is buried in Oahu Cemetery.