Lani McIntyre (sometimes spelled Lani McIntire, 15 December 1904 - 17 June 1951) was a Hawaiian guitar and steel guitar player who helped to popularize the instrument, which eventually became a mainstay in American country and western music.[1]
McIntyre achieved fame playing with Sol Hoopii in his "Novelty Trio" before heading his own acts, "Lani McIntyre and his Aloha Islanders" and later, "Lani McIntyre and his Hawaiians." His work with Jimmie Rodgers pioneered the Hawaiian guitar sound that laid the foundation for the steel guitar as a standard country instrument, influencing the likes of Hank Williams and Elvis Presley.[2] McIntyre and his band also did a lot of work with Bing Crosby, notably on the original version of Blue Hawaii as well as Sweet Leilani, which was popularized in the 1937 movie, Waikiki Wedding, and won an Academy Award.[3][4] McIntyre appeared in the films Dreams of Old Hawaii (1944), You're the One Rose (1943), Maui Chant (1943), and [[Paradise Isles (1943).[5]