Home of The Wacky Keys

Back when Hawaii was occupied by sugar plantations, many unit trains of raw cane would travel around the state. Local young people would jump on the trains and steal sugar cane to eat. The railroad companies hired train detectives to rout these bandits. One such fellow was missing the first, second, and third fingers of one hand and only had a thumb and pinky. Would-be cane thieves had a hand signal to warn each other of the detective's presence. They would hold their first, second, and third fingers folded in to their palm and only wave their thumb and pinky to mimic the bull's hand. After a while the real meaning lost but the signal remains as a symbol of brotherhood and unity. To that desolate detective we offer up this song.

Jimmie Rodgers is known as the "Father of Country Music." His career lasted from 1927 to1933 when he died of tuberculosis in New York City. During his short career he never dreamed that he was defining a new genre, he just wanted to make popular records. One of the things he felt would help him achieve this was to use Hawaiian bands to back up his vocals on many of his records. Hawaiian music was all the rage back in Jimmie's time and he felt having a Hawaiian feel would help his records sell. His music was so popular that after his death, many artists -- Gene Autry and Ernest Tubb among them -- copied his sound and Country and Western music was born. Many new records included steel guitar (or "Hawaiian guitar", as it is known) because Jimmies used them so much, and steel guitar found a home in country music. Here is a Hawaiian song from the pen of the great Jimmie Rodgers.

This song, The Stars Fell On Alabama, has been recorded by many famous artists since it was written by Frank Perkins and Mitchell Parish back in 1934. Most recently, it was recorded for the sound track of the movie Sleepless In Seattle by Jimmy Buffett but The Wacky Keys don't want to hold that against such a good song.

Any husband who has to wait for hours while his wife decides which string of freshwater pearls and flower lei goes with the serape she is wearing to the luau will appreciate this next song sung by the Wacky Keys bassist, Mike Warfell.

Beautiful traditional Hawaiian tune after which was named half of the cartoon making team that brought us such classics as The Flintstones and Yogi Bear and Cartoon Network.

A Hawaiian band without a steel guitar player is like a foot without a big toe. This tune was made up by The Wacky Keys' big toe, Dave "DK" Kolars. This recording was made the first time the rest of the band had ever heard the tune. When we asked if he'd given it a name he said, "Not yet"...

6.) Not Yet
But then, when?

Another traditional Hawaiian tune taught to us by our bestest buddy and big toe, DK.

7.) Wehiwehi 'Oe
We High, We High, Oy

Not quite a Hawaiian island song but a song from another island also know for their own special brand of music.

8.) Jamaica Farewell
We high, we high, oy

A special song dedicated to the region of the islands where they grow all those brassieres for all those grass-skirted hula dancers

9.) Coconut Grove
Now, about that bridge...

A Bahaman song taught to us by Blind Blake Higgs, the great goombay tenor banjoist and sung by our irreverent bass player, Mike Warfel. Parental discretion is advised.

10.) Sloop John B
The cook, he had the fits...

Bassist Mike Warfel sings this one in the style of the great falsetto singers.

10.) Aloha Oe Blues

And in the style of the great Elvis Presley, guitarist Diane Norman sings this one.

11.) Blue Hawaii

And ukulele player Pete Norman sings this old Ink Spots and Bugs Bunny tune.

12.) Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat