Benny Kalama (1916–1999) was a celebrated Hawaiian musician renowned for his honey-voiced falsetto and mastery of the ukulele, bass guitar, and steel guitar. Born in Kohala on the Big Island of Hawai'i, he began his musical journey in the 1930s with Leonard "Red" Hawk and the Waikikians. Kalama's ability to read music distinguished him, leading to collaborations with prominent bands and artists, including Alfred Apaka, whom he discovered and mentored. As musical director for the "Hawaii Calls" radio program for 22 years, he played a pivotal role in popularizing Hawaiian music globally. His contributions were honored with the 1993 Na Hoku Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Kalama?utm_source=openai))