Loyal Garner

Loyal Garner was born on September 28, 1946 and when she started releasing music in her early 30's, little did she realize how popular she would become. Her love of jazz, soul, and rhythm and blues would help her develop her style of music, a combination of Hawaiian and pop, appealing for those who wanted Hawaiiana but accessible for those who wanted a contemporary sound. Her first hint of success was being a co-writer of "Chotto Matte Kudasai" in 1970, which became favored not only by translated Japanese residents throughout Hawai'i, but the Japanese throughout parts of the United States as well as in Japan. Popularity with her compositions lead her to being signed by Hula Records, where she would record and release her debut album, LADY OF LOVE, which immediately became one of her nicknames. She would have a surprise hit in 1981 with "Shave Ice", a soulful dance song that was a combination of Cheryl Lynn's "Got To Be Real" and Teena Marie's 'Square Biz". She appeared on a national Jim Nabors Christmas special and continued recording and performing, including becoming a part of Local Divas, a Hawaiian supergroup featuring Nohelani Cypriano, Melveen Leed, and Carole Kai. During her career, she won two Na Hoku Hanohano awards (the Hawaiian equivalent of the Grammy) for best female vocalist of the year. She died of cancer-related causes on November 15, 2001 at the age of 55. Additionally Garner won a posthumous Na Hoku Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.