Sonny Chillingworth
Encyclopedia
Edwin Bradfield Liloa Chillingworth, Jr., known as Sonny Chillingworth, (July 14, 1932 – August 24, 1994) was an American guitarist
. Widely influential in Hawaiian music, he played slack-key guitar
and is widely regarded as one of the most influential slack key guitarists in history.
in Hawaii
, then a U.S. territory. He started playing the guitar at age twelve when he was living with his grandfather, Harry Purdy, on Moloka'i. He learned the Hawaiian style by listening, watching and imitating.
One day his father brought him a Victrola and some records. One of them was Hi'ilawe by Gabby Pahinui
. Chillingworth was inspired. When Chillingworth was fifteen, he visited Honolulu and his mother arranged a meeting with Pahinui. After high school, Chillingworth moved to Honolulu and joined Pahinui, Andy Cummings and others at clubs, lu'aus and all-night jam sessions.
In 1954, Chillingworth made his first record, Make'e 'Ailana, with the legendary Vickie Ii Rodrigues. In 1964, Chillingworth released his first album, Waimea Cowboy, which earned a gold record. In the 1970s, Chillingworth began to share his knowledge with younger performers, such as George Kuo and Ozzie Kotani
, and influenced others through his recordings. Chillingworth helped lead a revival of the slack key guitar style in the 1980s as one of slack key's elder statesman.
Chillingworth was committed to Hawaiian music, but also enjoyed playing other styles such as rock oldies, R&B, blues and folk. He died from cancer at age 62 on August 24, 1994 in Honolulu.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. Widely influential in Hawaiian music, he played slack-key guitar
Slack-key guitar
Slack-key guitar is a fingerstyle genre of guitar music that originated in Hawaii. Its name refers to its characteristic open tunings: the English term is a translation of the Hawaiian kī hōalu, which means "loosen the [tuning] key"...
and is widely regarded as one of the most influential slack key guitarists in history.
Life
Chillingworth was born in OahuOahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, then a U.S. territory. He started playing the guitar at age twelve when he was living with his grandfather, Harry Purdy, on Moloka'i. He learned the Hawaiian style by listening, watching and imitating.
One day his father brought him a Victrola and some records. One of them was Hi'ilawe by Gabby Pahinui
Gabby Pahinui
Charles Philip "Gabby" or "Pops" Pahinui was a slack-key guitarist.Gabby was born Charles Kapono Kahahawaii Jr. and later hānai-ed into the Pahinui family as Charles Philip Pahinui and raised in the Kaka'ako area of Honolulu in the 1920s...
. Chillingworth was inspired. When Chillingworth was fifteen, he visited Honolulu and his mother arranged a meeting with Pahinui. After high school, Chillingworth moved to Honolulu and joined Pahinui, Andy Cummings and others at clubs, lu'aus and all-night jam sessions.
In 1954, Chillingworth made his first record, Make'e 'Ailana, with the legendary Vickie Ii Rodrigues. In 1964, Chillingworth released his first album, Waimea Cowboy, which earned a gold record. In the 1970s, Chillingworth began to share his knowledge with younger performers, such as George Kuo and Ozzie Kotani
Ozzie Kotani
Ozzie Kotani is a slack-key guitar player and a well-respected teacher, arranger, solo performer and accompanist.Kotani was born in 1956 in Honolulu, Hawaii in the neighborhood of Pauoa...
, and influenced others through his recordings. Chillingworth helped lead a revival of the slack key guitar style in the 1980s as one of slack key's elder statesman.
Chillingworth was committed to Hawaiian music, but also enjoyed playing other styles such as rock oldies, R&B, blues and folk. He died from cancer at age 62 on August 24, 1994 in Honolulu.