Jones was born on the 14th December 1911 in Long Beach, California. He got his nickname by being so thin that he was compared to a railroad spike. At the age of eleven he got his first set of drums. As a teenager he played in bands that he formed himself. A railroad restaurant chef taught him how to use pots and pans, forks, knives, and spoons as musical instruments. He frequently played in theatre pit orchestras. In the 1930s he joined the Victor Young orchestra, and thereby got many offers to appear on radio shows including Al Jolson's Lifebuoy Program, Burns and Allen, and Bing Crosby's Kraft Music Hall. From 1937 to 1942, he was the percussionist for the John Scott Trotter Orchestra, which played on Bing Crosby's first recording of " White Christmas".
The City Slickers evolved out of the Feather Merchants, a band led by vocalist-clarinetist Del Porter, who took a back seat to Jones duing the embryonic years of the group. They made experimental records for Cinematone Corp. and performed publicly in Los Angeles, gaining a small following. The original members of the band included vocalist-violinist Carl Grayson, banjoist Perry Botkin, trombonist King Jackson, and pianist Stan Wrightsman.
The band signed a recording contract with RCA Victor in 1941 and recorded extensively for the company until 1955. They also starred in various radio programmes (1945-1949) and television programmes (1954-1961) on both NBC and CBS.
Jones's second wife, singer Helen Grayco, performed in his stage and television shows. Jones had four children, Linda (by his first wife, Patricia), Spike Jr, Leslie Ann, and Gina. Spike Jr. is a producer of live events and TV broadcasts. Leslie Ann is the Director of Music and Film Scoring at George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch in Marin County.
The very name of Spike Jones became synonymous with crazy music. While he enjoyed the fame and prosperity, he was annoyed that nobody seemed to see beyond the craziness. Determined to show the world that he was capable of producing legitimate, "pretty" music, he formed a second group in 1946. Spike Jones and His Other Orchestra played lush arrangements of dance hits. This alternative group played nightclub engagements and was an artistic success, but the paying public preferred the City Slickers and stayed away. Jones wound up paying some of the band's expenses out of his own pocket.
The one outstanding recording by the Other Orchestra is "Laura", which features a serious first half (played exquisitely by the serious group), and a manic second half (played hilariously by the City Slickers).
Jones died on the 1st May 1965 in Beverly Hills, California.
Hawaiian War Chant
Spike Jones & His City Slickers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That was started by a native down in Waikiki
He would gather a crowd down beside the sea
And they'd play his gay Hawaiian chant
Soon the other little natives started singin' it
And the hula hula maidens started swingin' it
Like a tropical storm that's the way it hit
Funny little gay Hawaiian Chant
Tho it started on an island down Hawaii way
It's as popular in Tennessee or Ioway
If you wander into any cabaret
You will hear this gay Hawaiian Chant
The lyrics of Spike Jones And His City Slickers' song Hawaiian War Chant describe a catchy and popular melody originating from Waikiki in Hawaii. The melody began with a native singing and playing music by the sea, attracting a crowd to play his gay Hawaiian chant. The melody proved to be infectious and soon the other natives started to sing it, and the hula hula maidens began swinging to it, like a tropical storm. The chant is described as funny, sunny, and gay, with an infectious melody that even a big, bad fighting man couldn't resist.
The lyrics suggest that the melody of the Hawaiian War Chant has spread far beyond Hawaii, becoming popular in places as far away as Tennessee or Ioway. It is a melody that can be heard in any cabaret, suggesting its widespread popularity. The lyrics also suggest that the chant is something that brings people together, crossing cultural and geographical boundaries, as people from different backgrounds come together to enjoy its upbeat and joyous melody.
Overall, the Hawaiian War Chant is portrayed as a joyous, upbeat melody that has become popular far beyond its place of origin, bringing people together and spreading happiness wherever it is heard.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a sunny little funny little melody
There exists a bright and amusing melody
That was started by a native down in Waikiki
This tune was conceived by an indigenous person from Waikiki
He would gather a crowd down beside the sea
He would assemble an audience by the shore
And they'd play his gay Hawaiian chant
And they would perform his cheerful Hawaiian song
Soon the other little natives started singin' it
Before too long, other locals began to sing it too
And the hula hula maidens started swingin' it
And the dancers began to sway to the rhythm
Like a tropical storm that's the way it hit
The reception of the song was like a powerful hurricane
Funny little gay Hawaiian Chant
A peculiar and joyful melody from Hawaii
Ow way tah tualan Me big bad fightin' man
A nonsensical phrase repeated in the chorus
Tho it started on an island down Hawaii way
Despite originating on one of Hawaii's isles
It's as popular in Tennessee or Ioway
It is just as well-liked in Tennessee or Iowa
If you wander into any cabaret
If you step into any nightlife venue
You will hear this gay Hawaiian Chant
You will likely hear this cheerful Hawaiian melody
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: JOHNNY NOBLE, RALPH FREED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sheila Green
Played this to celebrate something going right today. Brilliant.
JanawayJ
Is there a video for this?
Boris
un peu raciste