Harry R. Owens

(1902-1986) born in O'Neill, Holt County. Composer, author, conductor, led a band heard on radio in the 1930s based in Hawaii, had TV show in Hollywood for 12 years, founded a tourism company and music publishing business, recipient of Oscar in 1937 for best song, music and lyrics "Sweet Leilani" used in the Bing Crosby film Waikiki Wedding. Consult Harry Owens, Sweet Leilani: An Autobiography (Hula House, 1970) and Roger D. Kinkle, The Complete Encyclopedia of Popular Music and Jazz 1900-1950, Vol 3 (Arlington House, 1974) 1539-1540 and New York Times Biographical Service, December 1986, p. 1424.

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