Frank Ferera & His Hawaiian Orchestra
"When It's Lamp Lighting Time In The Valley / When A Boy And Girl Were Dancing"
Frank Ferera’s final 78 RPM release!
Even though I'm an avid Hawaiian music 78 RPM record collector I won't typically pay more than a dollar or two for most issues by steel guitarist Palakiko “Frank” Ferreira (Ferera). He was so prolific and ubiquitous with the 1910s and 1920s Hawaiian craze that If one were to look inside an acoustic era phonograph anywhere across the U.S. it’s likely they would find copies of his records. And his 78s were widely distributed around the world throughout his career.
Now largely forgotten outside of record collectors and Hawaiian music aficionados, Frank Ferera was a giant of the Steel Guitar and a hugely popular recording artist in his day. In fact he recorded more 78 RPM sides than any other Hawaiian musician and ranks as one of the most prolific artists of all genres in the 78 RPM era. His output (approximately 3000 78 RPM issues) accounts for around 20% of the main discography dedicated to Hawaiian music from 1900 - 1960. A stunning feat!
Frank Ferera and Anthony Franchini (Jonathan Vecchi Collection)
All that being said, the disk I present today is a special one I’m very excited to share! These very rare sides from the depth of the depression, recorded on 2/23/1933 are from the final commercial session he ever did. In fact this is the very last disk ever issued under his name. These recordings which likely feature accompanists, John Paaluhi (guitar) and Franzis Paaluhi (ukulele) with an unknown vibraphone player, were never given a U.S. pressing issue. They were only available on disks pressed in Australia, Japan, and the U.K. I’m unsure why that was.
So many Steel Guitar players that have come since owe him a debt of gratitude. I often wonder what it was like for Ferera as the second generation of hot jazz influenced and vaudeville trickery infused Hawaiian steel guitar players such as Sol Hoopii, King Nawahi, Sam Ku West, and others arrived on the mainland and began to really make names for themselves. Not to mention all the dramatic changes that happened once the electric steel guitar arrived. All of that is fascinating to consider while listening to these final sides from Ferera. Feel free to consider and comment, or simply enjoy these lovely recordings from the very end of Steel Guitar great Frank Ferera’s career!