Arthur Lyman
Arthur Lyman | |
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Birth name | Arthur Hunt Lyman |
Born | Kauai, Hawaii | February 2, 1932
Died | February 24, 2002 Honolulu, Hawaii | (aged 70)
Genres | jazz, Hawaiian, exotica |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Marimba, xylophone, percussion |
Years active | 1948–2002 |
Arthur Hunt Lyman (February 2, 1932 – February 24, 2002) was a
Biography
Arthur Lyman was born on the island of Kauai in the U.S. territory of Hawaii, on February 2, 1932. He was the youngest of eight children of a Hawaiian mother and a father of Hawaiian, French, Belgian and Chinese descent. When Arthur's father, a riveter, lost his eyesight in an accident on Kauai, the family settled in
Exotica
After graduating from
When Denny's Exotica album was released on record in 1957 it became a smash hit, igniting a national mania for all things South Pacific during the lead-up to
Later career
That same year, Lyman was persuaded by Henry J. Kaiser to leave The Martin Denny Group to form his own group, continuing in much the same style but even more flamboyant. For decades Arthur and Martin did not speak to each other, but eventually came together (with many of their former bandmates) on Denny's 1990 CD Exotica '90 and remained friends since.
Death
Lyman died from esophageal cancer in February 2002.[9]
Arthur Lyman Group personnel
1957–1965 |
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1965–1966 |
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1966–1975 |
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1975–1978 |
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Recording details
Most of Lyman's albums were recorded in the aluminum Kaiser geodesic dome auditorium on the grounds of the Kaiser Hawaiian Village Hotel on Waikiki in Honolulu. This space provided unique acoustics and a natural 3-second reverberation. His recordings also benefited from being recorded on a one-of-kind Ampex 3-track 1/2" tape recorder designed and built by engineer (and Hi-Fi Records label owner) Richard Vaughn. All of Lyman's albums were recorded live, without overdubbing.[10] He recorded after midnight, to avoid the sounds of traffic and tourists, and occasionally you can hear the aluminum dome creaking as it settles in the cool night air.[11] Lyman noted that he did not like recording in the dome because of the echo and the outside noise but did so because it was free. At night, after playing in the lounge the band would wheel their instruments over to the dome and record all night. They knew their recording session was over when morning came and the trash trucks started making noise.[12] The quality of these recordings became even more evident with the advent of CD reissues, when the digital mastering engineer found he didn't have to do anything to them but transfer the original 3-track stereo masters to digital.[13] The recordings remain state-of-the-art nearly 50 years later.
Discography
Original LPs
- Taboo, Hi-Fi Records SR806, 1958
- Hawaiian Sunset, Hi-Fi Records SR807, 1958
- Bwana A, Hi-Fi Records SR808, 1958
- Legend of Pele, Hi-Fi Records SR813, 1958
- Leis of Jazz, Hi-Fi Records SR607, 1959
- Bahia, Hi-Fi Records SR815, 1959
- Arthur Lyman on Broadway, Hi-Fi Records SR818, 1959
- Taboo 2, Hi-Fi Records SR822, 1959[14]
- Percussion Spectacular! (reissued as Yellow Bird), Hi-Fi Records L-1004, 1960
- The Colorful Percussions of Arthur Lyman, Hi-Fi Records L-1005, 1962
- Many Moods of Arthur Lyman, Hi-Fi Records L-1007, 1962
- I Wish You Love (reissued as Love for Sale), Hi-Fi Records L-1009, 1963
- Cotton Fields, Hi-Fi Records L-1010, 1963
- Blowin' in the Wind, Hi-Fi Records L-1014, 1963
- At the Crescendo, Crescendo GNP605, 1963
- Paradise (reissued as Pearly Shells), Crescendo GNP 606, 1964
- Cast Your Fate to the Wind, Crescendo GNP 607 (reissue of At the Crescendo), 1965
- Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas), Hi-Fi Records L-1018, 1964
- Isle of Enchantment, Hi-Fi Records L-1023, 1964
- Call of the Midnight Sun, Hi-Fi Records L-1024, 1965
- Hawaiian Sunset Vol. II, Hi-Fi Records L-1025, 1965 (compilation)
- Polynesia, Hi-Fi Records L-1027, 1965
- Arthur Lyman's Greatest Hits, Hi-Fi Records SL-1030, 1965 (compilation)
- Lyman '66, Hi-Fi Records SL-1031, 1966
- The Shadow of Your Smile, Hi-Fi Records SL-1033, 1966
- Aloha, Amigo, Hi-Fi Records SL-1034, 1966
- Ilikai, Hi-Fi Records SL-1035, 1967
- At The Port of Los Angeles, Hi-Fi Records SL-1036, 1967 (compilation)
- Latitude 20, Hi-Fi Records SL-1037, 1968
- Aphrodisia, Hi-Fi Records SL-1038, 1968
- The Winners Circle, Hi-Fi Records SL-1039, 1968
- Today's Greatest Hits, Hi-Fi Records SL-1040, 1968
- Puka Shells, Crescendo GNPS-2091, 1975
- Authentic Hawaiian Favorites, Olympic Records 6161, 1979 (compilation)
- Song of the Islands, PiccadillyASI 5436, 1980 (compilation)
- Island Vibes, Broad Records BRS-1009, 1980 (solo vibes with surf sounds)
Appears as a guest
- Exotica '90 by Martin Denny, Toshiba EMI/Insideout TOCP-6160 (1990)
CD reissues
- Music of Hawaii, Legacy/DNA CD 323, 1990 (compilation)
- Taboo: The Exotic Sounds of the Arthur Lyman Group, DCC Compact Classics CD DJZ-613, 1991 (compilation)
- Pearly Shells, GNP-Crescendo CD GNPD 606, 1993 (reissue with bonus tracks)
- The Exotic Sounds Of Arthur Lyman, Legacy/DNA CD 417 (reissue of Taboo and Yellow Bird), 1996
- Music for a Bachelor's Den, Vol. 5: The Best of the Arthur Lyman Group, DCC Compact Classics CD DZS 095, 1996 (compilation)
- Music for a Bachelor's Den, Vol. 6: More of the Best of the Arthur Lyman Group, DCC Compact Classics CD DZS 096, 1996 (compilation)
- Sonic Sixties, Ryko TCD 1031 CD, 1996 (compilation)
- With a Christmas Vibe, Ryko CD 50363 (reissue of Mele Kalikimaka), 1996
- Taboo, Ryko CD 50364, 1996 (reissue with bonus tracks)
- Hawaiian Sunset, Ryko CD 50365, 1996 (reissue with bonus tracks)
- Taboo, Vol.2, Ryko CD 50430, 1998 (reissue with bonus tracks)
- Leis of Jazz, Ryko CD 50431, 1998 (reissue with bonus tracks)
- The Legend of Pele, Ryko CD 50432, 1998 (reissue with bonus tracks)
- Yellow Bird, Ryko CD 50433, 1998 (reissue with bonus tracks)
- The Very Best of Arthur Lyman, Varèse Sarabande, 2002 (compilation)
- Music of Hawaii, Arc Music, 2002 (compilation)
- Taboo: The Greatest Hits of Arthur Lyman, Empire Musicwerks, 2004 (compilation)
- Songs of Hawaii, Grammercy, 2004 (compilation)
- Puka Shells, BCI Eclipse, 2005 (reissue)
- The Singles Collection, Acrobat, 2007 (compilation)
- Merry Christmas, Essential Media Group, 2007 (reissue of Mele Kalikimaka)
- Hits Anthology, Essential Media Group, 2007 (compilation)
- Essential Gold, Essential Media Group, 2008 (compilation)
- Bwana A / Bahia, Collectors' Choice Music CCM8912, 2008
- Arthur Lyman On Broadway / The Colorful Percussions of Arthur Lyman, Collectors' Choice Music CCM8922, 2008
- The Many Moods of Arthur Lyman / Love For Sale, Collectors' Choice Music CCM8932, 2008
- Cottonfields / Blowin' In The Wind, Collectors' Choice Music CCM8942, 2008
- Isle of Enchantment / Polynesia, Collectors' Choice Music CCM8952, 2008
- Lyman '66 / The Shadow of Your Smile, Collectors' Choice Music CCM8962, 2008
- Ilikai / At The Port of Los Angeles, Collectors' Choice Music CCM8972, 2008
- Latitude 20 / Aphrodesia, Collectors' Choice Music CCM8982, 2008
- Winner's Circle / Today's Greatest Hits, Collectors' Choice Music CCM8992, 2008
- Return to Paradise, Classic Records, 2011 (compilation)
- Eight Classic Albums, Real Gone Jazz RGJCD310, 2012 (compilation of first 8 LPs onto 4 CDs)
- Christmas in Hawaii, Holiday Classic Records, 2012 (re-issue of Mele Kalikimaka, re-sequenced)
- Isle of Golden Dreams, Broken Audio, 2012 (compilation)
- Isle of Enchantment, Essential Media Group, 2013
- Caravan, Digital 45, 2013 (compilation)
- Yellow Bird, Digital 45, 2013 (compilation)
- Taboo, Digital 45, 2013 (compilation)
- Magic-Islands, Broken Audio, 2014 (compilation)
- Hilawe, Vintage Music, 2014 (compilation)
- Vibin' On The Sixties, Essential Media Group, 2015 (compilation)
- Totally Taboo, Jasmine Records, 2021 (Taboo & Taboo Tu reissue on 1-CD)
- Lush Exotica, Righteous 114D, 2023 (Taboo, Leis of Jazz, Bahia, & Bwana Á reissue on 2-CDs)
Related
In May 2014, Alika Lyman, the great-nephew of Arthur Lyman, released a tribute album titled Leis of Jazz, Vol. 2 which featured songs and cover art that paid homage to Arthur Lyman's original Leis of Jazz album.
See also
References
- ^ a b Liner notes to Pearly Shells
- ^ Downes, Lawrence (March 3, 2002). "Arthur Lyman, 70, of Hawaii, King of the Jungle Vibraphone". The New York Times. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ "Profile: Arthur Lyman". Kevdo.com. June 8, 2004. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
- ^ a b Nate Chinen (March 4, 2002). "Good vibes". Star-Bulletin.
- ^ "Mood Merchant". Time. August 17, 1962. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012.
- ^ http://www.spaceagepop.com/lyman.htm
- ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ Liner notes to Music for a Bachelor's Den, Vol.5
- ^ Obituary in Honolulu Advertiser, February 26, 2002
- ^ Liner notes to Hawaiian Sunset CD
- ^ Liner notes to Taboo 2
- ^ Interview conducted with Arthur Lyman in Waikiki circa 1995 by Otto von Stroheim
- ^ Liner notes to Taboo compilation CD
- Rykodisk 2006 and 1998) restores the original sleeve, whose distorted tikified heads were considered 'too gruesome' upon its initial release." The album cover may be viewed here; www.allmusic.com.
External links
- Biography
- Arthur Lyman discography at Discogs
- The Arthur Lyman Group discography at Discogs