Nani Wolfgramm was a Tongan born Steel guitarist and recording artist who released multiple albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Biography
Wolfgramm was born 1 November 1939 in Neiafu, Vava’u, Tonga. His parents were Konrad Uhi Wolfgramm, and Alilia Funaki Toutai Fulivai. He was of Tongan and German descent.
He was the nephew of pioneering Steel Guitarist
Bill Wolfgramm
Bill Wolfgramm (7 October 1925 — 25 September 2003) aka Bill Wolfgramme was a musician specialising in lap steel guitar and popular Hawaiian music. He was born in the island kingdom of Tonga and was also of German descent. He is the former lead ...
who along with
Bill Sevesi
Wilfred Jeffs (28 July 1923 – 23 April 2016), better known by the stage name Bill Sevesi, was a musician and master of the steel guitar who helped popularise Hawaiian-style music in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
Tongan-born Sevesi ...
made many recordings on the
Viking Records
Viking Records was an independent record label that featured many New Zealand and Polynesian recording artists.
Background
The company was founded in 1957. In the 1960s, the company was the largest locally owned record label in the South Paci ...
label.
Nani had albums released on Viking, the same label as released his uncle Bill's albums. Nani's releases included ''The Sounds Of Hawaii'', ''Hawaiian Cocktail'' and Hawaii Calls
He died on 26 August 2012.
Releases
Nani Wolfgramm and the South Pacific String
LP
* Hawaiian Cocktail - Viking SPVP 168
Nani Wolfgramm and the Islanders
LP's
* Hawaii Calls - Viking SPVP 152, 1976
* The Sounds of Hawaii - Viking SPVP 465
Compact Disc
* 20 Golden Hits of Hawaii - Monitor Records MON61804
* Polynesian Girl - Monitor Records MON00826 - 1986
[Smithsonian Folkway]
Hawaii: Polynesian Girl
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolfgramm, Nani
Tongan people of German descent
Viking Records artists
Steel guitarists
1939 births
2012 deaths