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"Mai Poina Oe Ia'u", Sung By Tandy Kaohu MacKenzie

2,499 views · Published 15 January 2012 · 2:52 · Indexed 22 October 2026

Channel: markwitz · 2012 · Music

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"Mai Poina Oe Ia'u", Sung By Tandy Kaohu MacKenzie. The following information is quoted from the album cover of "Tandy Mackenzie, A Rare Hawaiian Experience" Lehua Records SL 7028, 1977. It was written by his second wife and biographer, Jean S. MacKenzie:

"Tandy MacKenzie was born in Hana on the island of Maui. (6/10/1892) His parents were Hawaiian and Scottish. He was the first tenor of Hawaiian blood to achieve world fame on the operatic stage.

He began his career in show business as a member of a quartette in "Bird Of Paradise", a musical play about Hawai'i. Later he achieved fame as a concert singer and traveled throughout the United States and Hawai'i. He recorded for Columbia Record Co., and made many appearances to promote the sales of his records.

A chance attendance at the Metropolitan Opera instilled in him the ambition to become a full fledged opera singer. In this he was encouraged and assisted by Prince Kuhio, The Hawaiian Civic Club, and many prominent Island residents.

After years of intensive study both in America and Italy, he made his debut in Germany. His success was unmatched since the days of Caruso. He sang in all the major opera houses in the world and was acclaimed by critics as one of the greatest tenors of the century. Despite this, he remained steadfast to his Hawaiian heritage.

When he sang the songs of his people. he sang them not as operatic arias, but slowly and with feeling from the heart".

Tandy MacKenzie died 11/09/1963. I also found a reference that said that he was the first entertainer to visit the Leper colony at Kalaupapa on the island of Moloka'i.

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