Gene Rains
Encyclopedia
Gene Rains is a vibraphonist and leader of the Gene Rains Group, a jazz quartet from Hawaii
that played a musical style known as Exotica
. Rains' short career spanned the early to the mid-1960s and consisted of 4 LP recordings released on Decca Records
and the Vocalion label. These LPs were released during the golden era of Hawaiian and Exotica music and the Tiki culture in the United States. The Gene Rains Group repertoire featured popular Hawaiian and Polynesian Island melodies as well as popular American tunes of the era.
Gene Rains was "discovered" by the enormously popular Hawaiian crooner of the era, Alfred Apaka
. At the time, Apaka was the talent director for the Hawaiian Village Hotel in Waikiki, Hawaii. Apaka recruited the Gene Rains Group to perform in the Shell Bar at the Hawaiian Village, which was THE hot spot for the Island's top performers, including Martin Denny
and Arthur Lyman
. It was also Alfred Apaka who introduced Rains to Decca Records.
Today, Rains is considered the third man of Exotica, behind Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman. Although he did not achieve the level of notoriety of Denny or Lyman, Rains' albums nonetheless are textbook examples of the style of Exotica. With the resurgence of the Tiki culture in the late 1990s and into the early 2000s, Gene Rains' albums have become much sought after by collectors of the genre.
Call of the Tropics was a compilation album containing tracks from the 3 previous LPs.
None of Gene Rains Group LPs have been reissued on compact disc or other digital forms as of 2011.
After the release of Lotus Land, pianist Paul Conrad left the Gene Rains Group and released an Exotica LP under his own name on the Mahalo Records label. The album was titled Exotic Paradise is also an extremely rare and much sought after collector's item.
"Hipwax"
"Space Age Pop Music Listener's Guide"
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
that played a musical style known as Exotica
Exotica
Exotica is a musical genre, named after the 1957 Martin Denny album of the same title, popular during the 1950s to mid-1960s, typically with the suburban set who came of age during World War II. The musical colloquialism, exotica, means tropical ersatz: the non-native, pseudo experience of Oceania...
. Rains' short career spanned the early to the mid-1960s and consisted of 4 LP recordings released on Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
and the Vocalion label. These LPs were released during the golden era of Hawaiian and Exotica music and the Tiki culture in the United States. The Gene Rains Group repertoire featured popular Hawaiian and Polynesian Island melodies as well as popular American tunes of the era.
Gene Rains was "discovered" by the enormously popular Hawaiian crooner of the era, Alfred Apaka
Alfred Apaka
Alfred Apaka was born Alfred Aholo Apaka Jrin Honolulu, Hawaii to vocalist Alfred Aholo Apaka Sr. Alfred was a graduate of President Theodore Roosevelt High School where he was an athlete and ROTC cadet captain...
. At the time, Apaka was the talent director for the Hawaiian Village Hotel in Waikiki, Hawaii. Apaka recruited the Gene Rains Group to perform in the Shell Bar at the Hawaiian Village, which was THE hot spot for the Island's top performers, including Martin Denny
Martin Denny
Martin Denny was an American piano-player and composer best known as the "father of exotica." In a long career that saw him performing well into his 80s, he toured the world popularizing his brand of lounge music which included exotic percussion, imaginative rearrangements of popular songs, and...
and Arthur Lyman
Arthur Lyman
Arthur Lyman was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. His group popularized a style of faux-Polynesian music during the 1950s and 1960s which later became known as exotica...
. It was also Alfred Apaka who introduced Rains to Decca Records.
Today, Rains is considered the third man of Exotica, behind Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman. Although he did not achieve the level of notoriety of Denny or Lyman, Rains' albums nonetheless are textbook examples of the style of Exotica. With the resurgence of the Tiki culture in the late 1990s and into the early 2000s, Gene Rains' albums have become much sought after by collectors of the genre.
Discography
- Lotus Land: Decca Records-catalog no.: DL74064 [1960] (Stereo LP); D4064 (Mono LP)
- Far Across The Sea: Decca Records-catalog no. DL74164 [1961] (Stereo LP); D4164 (Mono LP)
- Rains In The Tropics: Decca Records-catalog no. DL74348 [1962] (Stereo LP); D4348 (Mono LP)
- The Call Of The Tropics*: Vocalion Records-catalog no. VL73785 [year unknown] (Stereo LP)
Call of the Tropics was a compilation album containing tracks from the 3 previous LPs.
None of Gene Rains Group LPs have been reissued on compact disc or other digital forms as of 2011.
Band Personnel
- Lotus Land: Gene Rains-vibes; Paul Conrad-piano; Archie Grant-bass & flute; Alan Watanabe-percussion
- Far Across The Sea & Rains In The Tropics: Gene Rains-vibes; Allen Watanabe-drums; Archie Grant, Jr.-bass; Bryon L. Peterson-piano
- The Call Of The Tropics is a compilation featuring selections from the first three LPs
After the release of Lotus Land, pianist Paul Conrad left the Gene Rains Group and released an Exotica LP under his own name on the Mahalo Records label. The album was titled Exotic Paradise is also an extremely rare and much sought after collector's item.
See also
- ExoticaExoticaExotica is a musical genre, named after the 1957 Martin Denny album of the same title, popular during the 1950s to mid-1960s, typically with the suburban set who came of age during World War II. The musical colloquialism, exotica, means tropical ersatz: the non-native, pseudo experience of Oceania...
- Tiki cultureTiki cultureTiki kitsch culture is a 20th-century theme used in Polynesian-style restaurants and clubs originally in the United States and then, to a lesser degree, around the world...
- Martin DennyMartin DennyMartin Denny was an American piano-player and composer best known as the "father of exotica." In a long career that saw him performing well into his 80s, he toured the world popularizing his brand of lounge music which included exotic percussion, imaginative rearrangements of popular songs, and...
- Arthur LymanArthur LymanArthur Lyman was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. His group popularized a style of faux-Polynesian music during the 1950s and 1960s which later became known as exotica...
- Les BaxterLes BaxterLes Baxter was an American musician and composer.Baxter studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory before moving to Los Angeles for further studies at Pepperdine College. Abandoning a concert career as a pianist, he turned to popular music as a singer...
- Decca RecordsDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
External references
"Tiki Central Web Forums""Hipwax"
"Space Age Pop Music Listener's Guide"