Andy Iona

Andrew Aiona Long[1]
Born(1902-01-01)January 1, 1902
 Waimea, Kauai County, Hawaii, U.S.[2]
DiedNovember 9, 1966(1966-11-09) (aged 64)
Santa Anita, California, U.S.
SpouseLeimomi (Lillian) Woodds
ChildrenLanette, Edra, Andrea Iona Sheehan[3]

Andy Iona (born Andrew Aiona Long, January 1, 1902 – November 9, 1966) was an American musician and one of Hawaii's most influential musicians. He was a composer, songwriter, conductor, saxophonist, and steel guitarist.[4] He went to the Kamehameha School for Boys. He was also educated at Henri Berger's Private School of Music in Honolulu.

He was a member of the radio station KHS staff orchestra. He went on to form his own group called Andy Iona and his Islanders, which mixed traditional Hawaiian melodies with American swing; the band appeared in films, hotels, and theatres, and on records. He composed songs for the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers after joining in 1940, and recorded the music for two Soundies in 1941. Long toured with Sonja Henie for 12 years.

He married Leimomi Woodds and had three children.

  1. ^ Smith (1987), p. 10
  2. ^ Ruymar (1996), p. 90
  3. ^ pg composer I Archived July 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "A Brief History of the Steel Guitar & Artists". The Royal Hawaiian Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on 2006-09-17. Retrieved 2007-02-05.