Pua Almeida (1922–1974) was a Hawaiian steel guitarist, considered a leading performer on that instrument. Almeida (sometimes given as "Alameida") was born in 1922 in

Honolulu Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island ...

. His musical start began in the band of his father, John Kameaaloha Almeida. He formed his own big band, "The Sunset Serenaders" and performed at several top venues around Hawaii. He relocated to Southern California in 1947, performing in clubs. As the Hawaiian steel guitar achieved international status in the 1940s, Almeida was recognized as a master of the instrument. In 1958 he began a 16-year association with the Surfrider Hotel. He recorded for American Decca Records in 1966 and for MGM Records. For seventeen years he was commonly featured on the

Hawaii Calls ''Hawaii Calls'' was a radio program broadcast live from Waikiki Beach from 1935 through 1975 that reached 750 stations world-wide at the height of its popularity. It featured live Hawaiian music by an 11-piece dance orchestra conducted by Harry ...

radio program. Pua suffered from poor heart health, and died in 1974.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Almeida, Pua 1922 births 1974 deaths Guitarists from Hawaii People from Oahu People of the Territory of Hawaii Steel guitarists 20th-century American guitarists American male guitarists Decca Records artists MGM Records artists 20th-century American male musicians American people of Portuguese descent