Wikipedia article "'Sweet Leilani'" is a song featured in the 1937 film, 'Waikiki Wedding'. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and Bing Crosby's record became one of the biggest hits of 1937.[[http://tsort.info/music/yr1937.htm Songs from the Year 1937]][[http://www.allmusic.com/song/sweet-leilani-t1363186 Allmusic "Sweet Leilani" Bing Crosby with music sample]]
Harry Owens wrote the song on October 20, 1934 for his daughter Leilani, who was born the previous day. Leilani is a popular Hawaiian name, meaning "heavenly garland of flowers" (not "heavenly flower"). It also has a figurative meaning: Small Hawaiian children were carried on their parents' shoulders like a 'lei' (garland), so the name took on the meaning "heavenly child."
Prior to 'Waikiki Wedding', the song had been recorded by Sol Hoopii under the title "Leilani" as the B-side of "Hawaiian Honeymoon" (Brunswick Records 55085).[[http://www.78discography.com/BRN55000.htm Brunswick 55000 series The Online 78 rpm Discographical Project] 55085][[http://www.hulapages.com/covers_4.htm Hulapages: The Covers: 193039] 1936, "Leilani."]
Harry Owens and his Royal Hawaiians performed "Sweet Leilani" in the 1938 film 'Cocoanut Grove' starring Fred MacMurray.[[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030000/ Internet Movie Database: 'Cocoanut Grove']]
Other versions
"Sweet Leilani" became a standard of popular and Hawaiian music, easy listening, and to some extent jazz; and has occasionally been performed by country and rock artists. The following list is not intended to be exhaustive:
Albums
* Harry Owens, 'Hawaii' (1945)[[http://www.bsnpubs.com/capitol/78-10/01capitol1-149.html Capitol Album Discography, Part 1: The 78-rpm Albums: 1 to 149] A-4][[http://www.bsnpubs.com/capitol/78-10/02capitol150-299.html Capitol Album Discography, Part 2: The 10" Albums: 150 to 299] H-166][[http://www.allmusic.com/song/sweet-leilani-t2514056 Allmusic "Sweet Leilani" Harry Owens with music sample]]
*Andre Kostelanetz, ' Motion Picture Favorites' (1948)
* Rosemary Clooney with Harry James, 'Hollywood's Best' (1952)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/ring-around-rosie-hollywoods-best-r488676 Allmusic 'Ring Around Rosie/Hollywood's Best' Rosemary Clooney Review with music sample]]
* Bing Crosby recorded the song again in 1954 for his album 'Bing: A Musical Autobiography'.
* Eddie Fisher, 'Eddie Fisher Sings Academy Award Winning Songs' (1955)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/sings-academy-award-winning-songs-sings-irving-berlin-broadway-classics-r586914 Allmusic 'Eddie Fisher Sings Academy Award Winning Songs/Sings Irving Berlin/Broadway Classics' Review with music sample]]
* Frank Chacksfield, 'South Sea Island Magic' (1957)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/south-sea-island-magic-in-the-mystic-east-r685926 Allmusic 'South Sea Island Magic/In the Mystic East' Frank Chacksfield Review with music sample]]
* The King Sisters, 'Aloha' (1957)[[http://www.bsnpubs.com/capitol/previews/600-2999.pdf http://www.bsnpubs.com/capitol/previews/600-2999.pdf Capitol Records Discography, Continued] T 808, p. 14.][[http://www.allmusic.com/album/aloha-r984235 Allmusic 'Aloha' The King Sisters with music sample]]
* Marty Robbins, 'Song of the Islands' (1957)[[http://www.allmusic.com/song/sweet-leilani-t14337151 Allmusic "Sweet Leilani" Marty Robbins with music sample]]
* Arthur Lyman, 'Hawaiian Sunset: The Sounds of Arthur Lyman' (1958)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/hawaiian-sunset-the-sounds-of-arthur-lyman-r240922 Allmusic 'Hawaiian Sunset: The Sounds of Arthur Lyman' with music sample]]
* Andr Kostelanetz, 'The Lure of Paradise' (1959)[[http://www.discogs.com/Andr%C3%A9-Kostelanetz-Lure-Of-Paradise/master/324805 Discogs Andr Kostelanetz 'Lure of Paradise']][[http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-lure-of-france-the-lure-of-paradise-r732272 Allmusic 'The Lure of France/The Lure of Paradise' Andr Kostelanetz with music sample]]
* Les Paul and Mary Ford, 'Lovers' Luau' (1959)[[http://www.discogs.com/Les-Paul-And-Mary-Ford-Lovers-Luau/master/188176 Discogs Les Paul & Mary Ford 'Lovers' Luau']][[http://www.allmusic.com/album/lovers-luau-compilation-r387640 Allmusic 'Lover's Luau' Les Paul & Mary Ford Review with music sample]]
* Billy Vaughn, 'Blue Hawaii' (1959)[[http://www.discogs.com/Billy-Vaughn-And-His-Orchestra-Blue-Hawaii/release/1714050 Discogs Billy Vaughn And His Orchestra 'Blue Hawaii']][[http://www.allmusic.com/album/sail-along-silvry-moon-blue-hawaii-r835444 Allmusic 'Sail Along Silv'ry Moon/Blue Hawaii' Billy Vaughn Review with music sample]]
* Andy Williams, 'To You Sweetheart, Aloha' (1959)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/to-you-sweetheart-aloha-bonus-tracks-r545999 Allmusic 'To You Sweetheart, Aloha' Andy Williams Review with music sample]]
* George Greeley, 'The Most Beautiful Music of Hawaii' (1960) Warner Bros. WS-1366 (LP)
* 101 Strings, 'In a Hawaiian Paradise' (1961)[[http://www.discogs.com/101-Strings-In-A-Hawaiian-Paradise/release/1647976 Discogs 101 Strings 'In a Hawaiian Paradise']][[http://www.allmusic.com/album/romantic-songs-of-the-sea-r75366 Allmusic 'Romantic Songs of the Sea' 101 Strings Orchestra Review with music sample]]
* Nelson Riddle, 'Love Tide' (1961)[[http://www.discogs.com/Nelson-Riddle-Love-Tide/release/1691782 Discogs Nelson Riddle 'Love Tide']][[http://www.allmusic.com/album/sea-of-dreams-love-tide-r689182 Allmusic 'Sea of Dreams/Love Tide' Nelson Riddle with music sample]]
* Percy Faith, 'American Serenade' (1963)[[http://www.pelstream.co.uk/pfalbum.htm Percy Faith Original Albums], 'American Serenade'][[http://www.allmusic.com/song/sweet-leilani-t5884383 Allmusic "Sweet Leilani" Percy Faith with music sample]]
* Burl Ives, 'On the Beach at Waikiki' (1965)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/little-bitty-tear-the-nashville-years-1961-1965-r245924 Allmusic 'A Little Bitty Tear: The Nashville Years 19611965' Burl Ives Review with music sample] Disc 5, Track 19.]
* Roberto Delgado, 'Blue Hawaii' (1965)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-hawaii-r1344225 Allmusic 'Blue Hawaii' Roberto Delgado Review]]
* Henry Mancini, 'The Academy Award Songs' (1966)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/academy-award-songs-r67349 Allmusic 'The Academy Award Songs' Henry Mancini Review with music sample]][[http://forbiddeneye.com/labels/rcavictor.html RCA Victor Discography] LSP-6013]
* Ray Conniff, 'Ray Conniff's Hawaiian Album' (1967)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/ray-conniffs-hawaiian-album-r66424 Allmusic 'Ray Conniff's Hawaiian Album' with chart and music sample]]
* The Waikikis, 'Pearly Shells from Hawaii' (1968)[[http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the_waikikis/pearly_shells_from_hawaii/ Albums by The Waikikis: 'Pearly Shells from Hawaii' Rate Your Music]]
* Don Ho, 'Hawaii's Greatest Hits' (1970)[[http://www.discogs.com/Don-Ho-Hawaiis-Greatest-Hits/release/1533573 Discogs Don Ho 'Hawaii's Greatest Hits']][[http://www.allmusic.com/album/don-ho-hawaiis-greatest-hits-r635822 Allmusic 'Hawaii's Greatest Hits' Don Ho with music sample]]
* Roland Cazimero, 'Waikiki's Greatest Hits, Now!' (1990)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/waikikis-greatest-hits-now-r121275 Allmusic 'Waikiki's Greatest Hits, Now!' Roland Cazimero with music sample]]
* Chris Isaak, 'Baja Sessions' (1996)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/baja-sessions-r241642 Allmusic 'Baja Sessions' Chris Isaak Review with chart and music sample]]
* Dennis Pavao, 'Sweet Leilani' (1996)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/sweet-leilani-r298762 Allmusic 'Sweet Leilani' Dennis Pavao]]
* Ray Anthony, 'Dream Dancing in Hawaii' (1997)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/dream-dancing-in-hawaii-r307488 Allmusic 'Dream Dancing in Hawaii' Ray Anthony with music sample]]
* Daniel Ho, 'Hawaiian Classics' (1998)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/hawaiian-classics-r1310524 Allmusic 'Hawaiian Classics' Daniel Ho with music sample]]
* Sonny Rollins, 'This Is What I Do' (2000)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-what-i-do-r505570 Allmusic 'This Is What I Do' Sonny Rollins Review with music sample]]
* Teresa Bright, 'Tropic Rhapsody' (2008)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/tropic-rhapsody-r1461821 Allmusic 'Tropic Rhapsody' Teresa Bright with music sample]]
Selected compilations* Elton Britt, 'Country Music's Yodelling Cowboy Crooner, Vol. 2' (2007)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/country-musics-yodelling-cowboy-crooner-vol-2-r1083957 Allmusic 'Country Music's Yodelling Cowboy Crooner, Vol. 2' Elton Britt with music sample]]
* Martin Denny, 'Bachelor in Paradise: The Best of Martin Denny' (1996)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/bachelor-in-paradise-the-best-of-martin-denny-r234701 Allmusic 'Bachelor in Paradise: The Best of Martin Denny' Review with charts]]
* Cliff Edwards ("Ukulele Ike"), 'Singing in the Rain' (1995)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/singing-in-the-rain-audiophile-r286657 Allmusic 'Singing in the Rain' Cliff Edwards with music sample]]
* Benny Goodman, 'The Essential Benny Goodman' (2007)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/essential-benny-goodman-bluebird-legacy-r1067700 Allmusic 'The Essential Benny Goodman' Review with music sample]]
* The Platters, 'Four Platters and One Lovely Dish' (1994)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/four-platters-and-one-lovely-dish-r218279 Allmusic 'Four Platters and One Lovely Dish' The Platters with music sample] Disc 7, Track 24.]
* Don Redman, '19361939' (1991)[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/1936-1939-r163379 Allmusic '19361939' Don Redman Review with music sample]]
References
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