Sonny Chillingworth - A look back on the man and his musical career

[@sandramorey2529]

Uncle Sonny was a treasure. I heard him many times in Honolulu and Uncle Saichi Kawahara of the Kapalakiko Hawaiian Band brought him over a few times to San Francisco & we always went. Sonny was the teacherof Makana. We saw the 2 of them at Ke Ano Ahiahi at Bishop Museum when Makana was still a child. I can't thank Kokua films enough for all the archival footage on the greats. Keep it coming. You Tube is the University of the Internet. Mahalo. Oakland CA 2022. His Makee Ailana got me through chemotherapy. Was my favorite to dance to.

[@rossasaurus]

Yeah, thanks for sharing; so rare to see footage of Sonny

[@p7allan]

Love this man. What a voice! I used to go to sleep with his album playing on my phonograph. This very song too, but a different recording.... Thank Sonny. YOU ARE ALL HEART. LOVE IT.

[@caisson71]

Sonny is my favorite old time Hawaii entertainer. His music is authentic.

[@paxukulele]

Wow, this is great! Mahalo for sharing, Boda!

[@22kane45]

I first met Uncle Sonny in 1954 at my Uncle Sam's house in Damon Tract. My Aunty D and Uncle Sonny were brother and sister. Uncle Sam and my dad were brothers. I was 9 years old, and I would sit and listen as he and my mom kanikapila. I'd been playing ukulele for a while then and just started on guitar. At the time, my mom was considered one of the best rhythm guitar player and back up singer, Pahukoa Lucille Morse. I'd figure out fingering and she would tell me what chord, C or 2nd C (G7). But Uncle Sonny hooked me on Kihoalu and his brand of music. I learned steel guitar from my Uncle Benny, who was married to mom's twin sister, Pualeilani. Now at 77 I still play many of the songs he preformed that day, as well the other old timers, Gabby, Atta Issacs Jr, Bla, to name a few. I still play in the old style, with a mosh gosh of progressive.

[@beatricesantiago4061]

Story Time: Sonny was born 1932; me, born 1933. We all came as friends from Petrie Park on Harding Avenue in Waialae-Kaimuki. The gang used to play volleyball at the park until the lights went off at about 9pm. One night, I hear this music coming from my living room and guess who was that singing? Yep, Sonny. After the guys pau play volleyball, sometimes they would come over to my house and have a few and play music. Well, this night here's Sonny in my living room and I hear him singing Makee Ailana. WOW! After that, it was kinda regular where the park guys would come over and have a few and play music once in a while, and the most sane part of all this [now that I'm thinking about it], my father allowed it because he was a very stern person; but I think my father loved hearing Sonny singing. Then, one night I ran across Sonny playing at a luau, and I walked up to him and honi him on the cheek. He looks at me with a question mark on his face like he didn't know who I was. I told him who I was [we hadn't seen each other maybe for 25 plus years] and his face didn't crack a smille. He was in awe. Aloha, Sonny. I still listen to your music, your slack key playing. Have a good one!

[@jaws7794]

His playing was great but his voice was stand alone, one of the best kane singer's in hawaii.

[@danisimpson8863]

Please may I know what the name of the song in the beginning is?

[@danisimpson8863]

Mahalo

[@mewfeuille]

It's Moana Chimes!

[@danisimpson8863]

@@mewfeuille thanks