Bobby Holcomb

Bobby Holcomb was a professional musician and painter who wrote popular polynesian tunes.

Bobby Holcomb was born in 1947 in Hawaii. After extensive travels around the world to Asia, Europe and the Americas, he moved to Tahiti in 1976.

In Tahiti, Holcomb settled in Huahine and learned the Tahitian language. He began composing songs in the polynesian language, and combined traditional Polynesian melodies with reggae and popular rhythms. He became known to audiences simply as "Bobby". Most of his songs were written in Polynesian, but he also used French and English for some lyrics.

In addition to music, he was also a painter and painted many murals and paintings.

He was passionate about Tahitian culture, and taught local children their cultural heritage. He campaigned against nuclear testing. For his educational efforts, he was named French Polynesia’s Personality of the Year in 1988.

He died from cancer in 1991. Local Tahitian television stations treated his death as a matter of great national importance.

Collaboration with Jimmy Buffett

Holcomb's most famous tune is "One Particular Harbor", which he co-wrote with Jimmy Buffet in 1983 and appears on Buffett's "Live in Anguilla" album.

Paintings

One of Holcomb's most popular paintings is "The Kites of Mata’Irea" depicting native polynesians flying kites.

External links

• Amazon CD
• YouTube video of Porinetia
• The Kites of Mata’Irea painting
• Holcomb painting