Nani Wolfgramm
Good morning.
Today we’re listening to Nani Wolfgramm, a Tongan steel guitarist from Vava’u. Wolfgramm was born in 1939, his uncle Bill then known for his steel guitar work on Viking Records, who taught young Nani the six-string.1 Nani went on to record several records on Viking. Today, we’re playing the 1993 collection organized by The Smithsonian’s Folkways, called The Seductive Sounds of Hawaii. While we question the federal government’s sexualization of island music, we straightforwardly endorse the musicianship and performance of the record. Its joyful, crepuscular Polynesian melodies played against an on-the-mark backing band are essential listening.
The Seductive Sounds of Hawaii: Polynesian Girl - Nani Wolfgramm (70m, no vocals)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube Music / Amazon Music / Tidal
Have a great Wednesday.
The music is great and the sexualization of Hawaiian/Polynesian women is disgusting. Thanks for not normalizing it.