Frank Ferera, born June 12, 1885, in Honolulu, Hawaii, was considered the first star of Hawaiian music. He began playing the steel guitar and ukulele at an early age. Ferera first visited the North American mainland to perform at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco as part of the Keoki E Awai troupe. Ferera's breakthrough came in 1916 when he signed a recording contract with Columbia Records, with his wife, Helen, leading to numerous recordings. He also recorded for Victor Records, including the single "Drowsy Waters", which sold over 300,000 copies. Other notable releases include "My Bird Of Paradise", "Along The Way To Waikiki", and "In The Heart Of Hawaii". Ferera passed away on June 26, 1951. He was posthumously inducted into the Royal Steel Guitar Hall of Fame for his contributions to Hawaiian music.
