Page "Music of Hawaii" Paragraph 34

The influx of thousands of American servicemen into Hawaii during World War 2 created a demand for both popular swing rhythm and country sounds.

The western swing style, popular on the mainland since the 1930s, employed the steel guitar as a key element and was therefore a natural evolution.

Beginning in 1945, the Bell Record Company of Honolulu responded to the demand with a series of releases by the western swing band Fiddling Sam and his Hawaiian Buckaroos ( led by fiddler Homer H. Spivey, and including Lloyd C. Moore, Tiny Barton, Al Hittle, Calvert Duke, Tolbert E. Stinnett and Raymond " Blackie " Barnes ).

Between 1945-1950 Bell released some 40 sides by the Hawaiian Buckaroos, including a set of square dance numbers.