Arthur Lyman

Arthur Lyman (February 2, 1932- February 24, 2002) popularized a jazzy style of Hawaiian music during the 50s, and gathered a following as a purveyor of so-called exotic music or Exotica. As a child, Lyman moved to the large Hawaiian city of Honolulu, where he became interested in the music of Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton. He learned to play along with their records on a toy marimba. At the age of 14, he joined a jazz group and by his early 20s was performing with "mood music" king Martin Denny.

Known for his vibraphone stylings, bird songs and bells, Lyman helped turn exotic music into a national trend in the 1950s and 1960s, producing more than 30 albums and almost 400 singles and earning three gold albums.

In 1957, Lyman recorded "Yellow Bird," a Haitian folk song. The song made the Billboard magazine charts, peaking at #4 in 1961.

Lyman's last charting album in 1963 was I Wish You Love, but his music enjoyed a new burst of popularity in the 90s with the easy listening revival. He died from throat cancer in February 2002.