Dick Sanft

Tongan born steel guitarist of Tongan and German background: Dick Sanft, the nephew of well-known musician and bit part Hollywood actor Charlie Sanft who was also from Tonga. Dick came to New Zealand and spent some time with fellow Tongan musician Bill Wolfgramm. Another one of his contemporaries was Bill Sevesi. In 1959 Dick Sanft moved to the United States. Dick led the ensemble Dick Sanft & His Islanders. His album 3568407 which he recorded with Tilei Sanft was released on Viking in 1979. An earlier release of his for the Viking label was Hawaiian Paradise. He also played on Back To Aloha Land by Ernie Menehune. In later years he and his family were the featured Polynesian act for the World of Disney. He also resided in Florida. A small section about him and his uncle Charlie "How Did The Steel Guitar Travel To Tonga" (pages 44 to 45) is in the book The Hawaiian Steel Guitar and Its Great Hawaiian Musicians, edited by Lorene Ruymar.