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A Tribute to Sonny Chillingworth
1932-1994

Slack key guitar master musician Sonny Chillingworth was born on the island of Oahu in 1932 and he was raised on the island of Molokai. He returned to Oahu after graduating from High School and began a professional music career included performing with The Gabby Band, The Sons of Hawaii, and Hawaiian music legends such as Gabby Pahinui and Vickie Ii Rodrigues.

Facts About the Life of Sonny Chillingworth
  • Full Name: Edwin Bradfield Chillingworth, Jr.
  • Known As: Sonny Chillingworth
  • Born: July 14, 1932 on Oahu (raised on Molokai)
  • Ethnic Heritage: English, Irish, Hawaiian
  • Father: Edwin Bradfield Chillingworth, Sr.
  • Grandfather: Harry Purdy, Sr.
  • Began playing guitar at age 12
  • Moved to Honolulu after high school
  • Recorded his first album with Vickie Ii Rodrigues in 1954: Makee Ailana" Performed with The Gabby Band and The Sons of Hawaii
  • Many of his students in 1970's, including George Kuo and Ozzie Kotani, are some of the top slack key guitar musicians of today
  • He began recording for Dancing Cat in the 1980's
  • Sonny's music was most influenced by Gabby Pahinui, Vickie Rodrigues, and two of his uncles, Jimmy "Kimo" Chillingworth, and Harry Purdy, Jr.
  • Died on August 24, 1994

    Recordings of Sonny Chillingworth
  • Waimea Cowboy (1964 and 1995)
  • Sonny Solo (Dancing Cat in 1994) (Dancing Cat in 1994)
  • Sonny (1995, 1998)
  • Endlessly (Windham Hills in 1999)

    Articles About Sonny Chillingworth
  • Wikipedia Sonny Chillingworth article
  • Dancing Cat Sonny Chillingworth Profile

    See also:
  • More Photos of Hawaiian Music Artists
  • Hawaiian Music Artists A to Z


    • Related Links
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    If you have corrections or updates to the any of the information on this page or if you have information or pictures to share about your favorite Hawaii singer or musician please send them to one of the addresses on our contacts page. Note that we can only publish official press photos or other photos for which we have received permission from the photographer. We respect the copyrights of photographers, performers, and writers.


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