John kameaaloha almeida biography of mahatma

A prolific composer of songs, many of them Hawaiian language "standards" today, John K. Almeida was ranked among the top composers of Hawaiian songs.

John kameaaloha almeida biography of mahatma: infancy and played with

His defective eyesight from birth and blindness by age ten were determined to be the result of the poisonous maile bush sap. His mother had no time to cleanse her hands before delivering him, alone, on a Pauoha Valley hillside, where she was gathering fragrant maile for leis on the day he was born. At age four, Johnny Almeida was already active in church and school choirs and organized his own "Waianae Star Glee Club" at age This group later became "Johnny Almeida's Hawaiians.

Throughout his long career, he was almost never without a band of his own, and as an instrumentalist had few peers. It was through his radio shows that he was given the title "Dean of Hawaiian Music". Johnny Almeida also left his mark as a teacher and recording artist for 49th State Records, a company he helped to form.

Today, Johnny Almeida is best remembered for his characteristically Hawaiian melodies. He said his song ideas came to him in dreams at night, or when he was outdoors.