Sol Ho'opi'i was born in Honolulu in 1902 and was the first of 21 children in his family. He was dubbed a musical genius at the age of 3. At the age of 17 he and his friends stowed away on a boat traveling to San Francisco. He played various nightclubs and recorded with fellow musician Lani McIntire in the group "Novelty Trio". Ho'opi'ii was dubbed "King of Steel Guitar" and "Fritz Kreisler of the Steel Guitar" and it was rumored that he played the first electric guitar on stage in front of an audience. Hollywood also played a role in his success. Known at the "Hollywood Hawaiian", he was often asked to play his music to help actresses prepare for an emotional scene. In later life he dedicated himself to gospel music and though he lost his vision near the end of his life, he continued to play and teach gospel. He died at the age of 51 and was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1979. He had a complex style of music that other musicians tried to match, but his style was the most sophisticated in Hawaiian music.
Ruymar, Lorene. The Hawaiian Steel Guitar and its Great Hawaiian Musicians. California: Center Stream Publishing. 1996. pg 90.
Songs
- Akaka Falls, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartette
- Waialeale, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartette
- Maori Brown Eyes, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartet
- Duke Kahanamoku, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartet
- Maui No Ka Oi (There is None Better Than Maui), Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Five
- Kapuana (Torch Song), Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Five
- To You Sweetheart Aloha, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Five
- Hula Blues, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartette
- Kuu Home (Old Plantation), Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartet
- Opelu, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartet
- Waikapu, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Five
- Hilo Hattie (Does the Hula Hop), Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Five
- Hula Breeze, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Five
- Chimes, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- St. Louis Blues, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Ka Ipo Poina Ole, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Lei Pakalana, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Mi Nei, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Oahu, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Leilani (Wreath Of Heaven), Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartet
- Stack O' Lee Blues, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Farewell Blues, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me), Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Most Of All I Want Your Love, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- He Keeps Me Singing, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Preach The Word, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- End Of The Trail, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Train Song, The, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- To You My Lord Aloha, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Kahala March, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Honolulu March, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Hawaiian March, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Beautiful Christ, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- He Hideth My Soul, Sol Hoopii
- When They Ring The Golden Bells, Sol Hoopii
- Cleanse Me, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Loveliness Of Jesus, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Hawaiian Paradise, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Hilo March, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- No Longer Lonely, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- In The Sweet By And By, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Broadcasting For Jesus, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Hawaii Calls For The Message Of Our Saviour, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Old Rugged Cross, The, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Healer Of Broken Hearts, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Near The Cross, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Nail Scarred Hand, The, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Song Of The Island, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- In The Garden, Sol Hoopii and Novelty Four
- Lepe Ulaula, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Honolulu Harbor, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Alekoki, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Wahine U'I (Beautiful One), Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Ka - Moae (The Moae Wind), Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Meleana E, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Sweet Lei Lehua, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Heeia, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Lehua, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Lei Ilima, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Palolo, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Musical Hawaii Leilani, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartet
- Opuu Lani, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Trio
- Kuu Lei Roselani, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Twilight Blues, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Five
- Aloha Oe Blues, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Five
- Hula Oka Hui Kaawai, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Kai Hawanawana, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Ka Ua Loku, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Hana Hano Hawaii (The Four Isles), Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio with Andrew Aion's Saxophone Trio
- Pua Mamane, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- The Luau Hula, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- The Lei Vendor (The Flower Vendor Song), Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartette
- King Kamehameha, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartette
- A Flower Lei, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartette
- My Isle On Hilo Bay, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartette
- Kaala, Sol Hoopii's Novelty Trio
- Softly And Tenderly, Sol Hoopii
- Ipo Hula, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- For You And I, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- Sweet Lei Lehua, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- Maui Girl, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- Kalima Waltz, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- Pau Okealoha, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- Drowsy Waters, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- Makalapua, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- Hilo Hula, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- Hemanao Koniaoe, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- Iniki Malie, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- Pulupe, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- Hawaii Nei, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- Flower Lei, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- Na Moku Eha, Sol Hoopii and His Hawaiians
- Hawaiian Waltz, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartet
- Meleana E, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartet
- One Two Three Four Waltz, Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Quartet
- Frank Borzage Anniversary Hawaiian Paradise Pt. 1, Sol Bright's Hawaiians
- Frank Borzage Anniversary Hawaiian Paradise Pt. 2, Sol Bright's Hawaiians
- Hula Girl, Sol Hoopii's Hawaiians
- My Hawaiian Queen, Sol Hoopii's Hawaiians
- E Mama E, Sol Hoopii's Hawaiians
- King's Serenade, Sol Hoopii's Hawaiians
- Nancy, Sol Hoopii's Hawaiians
- Song Of The Islands, Sol Hoopii's Hawaiians
- Wahine Ui, Sol Hoppii's Hawaiians
- Palolo, Sol Hoppii's Hawaiians
- Old Plantation, Sol Hoppii's Hawaiians
- Memories Of Hawaii, Episode 1- My Honolulu: Maile Lau Li'i Li'i; Honolulu Tomboy; Hilo Hanakahi; Na Ali'i, Sol Hoopii
- Memories Of Hawaii, Episode 2- Everchanging Hawaii: Ka Lei E; He Mana'o Ko'u Ia 'Oe; Henehene Ko'u Aka; Ho'oipo Hula or Ipo Hula, Sol Hoopii
- Memories Of Hawaii, Episode 3- Hawaii, Land of Beauty: Sweet Lei Lehua; Kalena Kai; Pulupe; On The Beach At Waikiki, Sol Hoopii
- Memories Of Hawaii, Episode 4- Beautiful, Beautiful Hawaii: Mai Poina 'Oe Ia'u; Maui Girl; Pua Ke Aloha; Pua Mamane, Sol Hoopii
- Memories Of Hawaii, Episode 5- Endlessly: Ka Mele O Ku'u Pu'uwai; My Hawaiian Queen; Imi Au Ia 'Oe; Palisa, Sol Hoopii
- Memories Of Hawaii, Episode 6- South Sea Islands: Old Plantation; One, Two, Three, Four; Hula Paha Kakou (Ai Paha Kakou); Hawaii Nei, Sol Hoopii
- Memories Of Hawaii, Episode 7- Tropical Day Has Begun: Makalapua; Na Moku Eha; Mama E; Hapa Haole Hula Girl, Sol Hoopii
- Memories Of Hawaii, Episode 8- Come With Me Tonight My Love: Ahe Nani Kaua'i; Ka Makanai Kaili Aloha; Hu'i E; Come On Nancy, Sol Hoopii with Bob Vierra and Buddy De Silva
- Memories Of Hawaii, Episode 9- Don't Forget Me: Wahine U'i; Waikapu ('Iniki Malie); Mauna Kea; Alekoki, Sol Hoopii
- Memories Of Hawaii, Episode 10- Until We Meet Again: Uluwehi O Ka'ala; Lehua; A Flower Lei; Palolo, Sol Hoopii
- Memories Of Hawaii, Episode 11- Danger in Hawaii: Na Lei O Hawaii; Kalakaua; Ua Like No A Like; Sweet Lei Ilima, Sol Hoopii
- Memories Of Hawaii, Episode 12- Fascinating Hawaii: Be True To Me; Tomi Tomi; Meleana E; Hula Blues, Sol Hoopii
- Memories Of Hawaii, Episode 14- Lovely Hawaii: Hawaiian Love; Kolopa; Royal Hawaiian Hotel; Hanohano Hanalei, Sol Hoopii with Bob Vierra and Buddy De Silva