Waikiki service Sunday for Arthur Lyman, 70

Advertiser Staff

Funeral services for musician Arthur Lyman, who died this week after a long battle with throat cancer, will be held Sunday morning in Waikiki.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. at the Honolulu Elks Lodge, with services at 10 a.m.

The ashes will be scattered in the waters fronting the Elks Lodge at 10:45 a.m.

Lyman was 70 when he died Sunday at the hospice at St. Francis Medical Center-West in 'Ewa.

Lyman's love of music lasted nearly his entire life. He began his musical career playing "You Are My Sunshine" on a toy piano when he was 5.

At age 8 he made his public debut on the "Listerine Amateur Hour" on radio station KGMB. He won a bottle of Listerine for his rendition of "Twelfth Street Rag."

He became a professional musician at 17. He'd attend high school during the day and perform at night in a Kaka'ako club called Leroy's. He earned $45.

After graduating from McKinley High School in 1951, Lyman quit music and went to work as a desk clerk at the Halekulani Hotel. There, he met Martin Denny, who persuaded him to return to music. Denny, Lyman's longtime friend and colleague, recorded "Quiet Village" in 1959 with Lyman.

Lyman formed his own group in 1956 with John Kramer on bass, Allan Soares on piano, Harold Chang on drums and Augie Colon on bird calls. They played across the country.

Lyman recorded 33 albums, 396 songs and three gold records.

He is survived by his wife, JoAnn; sons, Arthur "Ditto" Jr. and Aaron; daughter, Kapiolani; stepdaughter, Jan Aganos; stepson, Michael Manago; sisters, Emily "Tweedie" Rabe and Margaret Speegle of Alaska; brother William "Billy"; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Borthwick Mortuary is handling arrangements.

Illustration by Dick Adair • The Honolulu Advertiser