Martin Denny
Acknowledged as the ‘father of Exotica,’ Martin Denny – born in New York City,
New York on April 10, 1911 – was a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger,
and bandleader. His unique brand of lounge music that celebrated tiki culture
became very popular in the 1950s and 1960s and saw a resurgence in popularity in
the 1990s. Raised in Los Angeles, California, he studied classical piano but
became interested in Latin music as well. After serving a stint in the US Army
Air Force during World War II, he returned to studying piano. After he was hired
to perform in Hawaii for two week...
