King of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar
Sol  Ho'opi'i (1901-1953) is regarded as the foremost Hawaiian steel guitarist of all times.  No other steel guitar player has been emulated more around the world than Ho'opi'i.  He is considered a genius and possibly has the greatest picking hand of all time.  Many have said that his speed and dexterity have rarely been duplicated.  In the early 1920's Ho'opi'i formed a trio with Lani McIntire and Glenwood Leslie in Los Angeles.  The Novelty Trio recorded for Columbia and Brunswick and also began performing in Hollywood movies, in nightclubs, and in theaters for silent movies.  The "Hollywood Hawaiian" as he was dubbed went on to play the steel guitar in "Bird Of Paradise", "Waikiki Wedding", "Song of the Islands", and other Hollywood sound films.  The distinctive features he developed in his early career remained with him always; improvised blues like melodic ornaments, fast runs, syncopated rhythms, and various sound effects in chording and plucking.