William L. Baptiste | royalhawaiianband

Photo credit: Y. Ishii, The Honolulu Advertiser, Photo has been edited and enhanced

William Lawrence Baptiste

February, 1955 - January, 1957

(b. 1893 - d. 1984)

Appointed by Mayor Neal Blaisdell

The son of Portuguese immigrants, William Baptiste was born and raised in Honolulu. His father was a successful dairy rancher in Honolulu.

Baptiste grew up during the tumultuous years following the over-throw of the Monarchy. He recalls memories as a young boy of “trudging through fields and pastures with his father” to hear Henry Berger and the Royal Hawaiian Band perform nearly every Saturday. Closely observing Henry Berger leading the Band instilled the desire to become a music teacher and sparked the dream to one day become bandmaster.[1] That boyhood dream became reality when he was appointed bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band at the age of 61.

Baptiste taught himself to play the cornet at 10 years old and began playing in the school orchestra 2 months later. He graduated from St Louis College and attended the University of Hawaiʻi.[2]

As a young man, he performed with Hawaiʻi’s top musicians and went on to become a well-respected music educator in both California and Hawaiʻi. He also “had the good fortune of knowing every bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band”. [3]

In addition to serving as band director at the University of San Francisco, the San Francisco Newscarriers Band, the San Rafael Military Band, Kalākaua Intermediate School, Central Middle School, and Kaimuki High School, Baptiste also had a heart for youth and community bands. In Honolulu alone, he organized the first all-girl orchestra, the Catholic Mission Band, the Kalihi orphanage band, and the Police Activities League band.[4]

Many of his students went on to become professional musicians, including members of the Royal Hawaiian Band. It has been said that he “taught and educated over 10,000 young people in music”. [5]

Baptiste was appointed by Mayor Neal Blaisdell in 1955 with the City Supervisors approving by a vote of 6-1.[6]

While Baptiste’s tenure was relatively short, he guided the Royal Hawaiian Band through several significant events in the life of the Band.

In June 1956, the Band was able to purchase a new truck, complete with special compartments to fit band instruments.[7]
In August 1956, the Band held a special concert to commemorate the birthday of the Band’s most influential bandmaster, (and Baptiste’s boyhood idol), Henry Berger.[8]
In September 1956, the Waikiki Shell was completed and intended to be the new home for the Royal Hawaiian Band. The band members revolted, however as the audience “was too far away”, the afternoon sun angled directly into their eyes, and not as many people attended the concerts. They returned to the old Kapiʻolani Park Bandstand in December 1956.[9]
Also in December 1956, the Honolulu supervisors moved to define and consolidate the Royal Hawaiian Band’s status, administration, and responsibilities, establishing it as a department of the City.[10] Passed on January 15, 1957, the ordinance formally established in municipal law “a City and County Band to be known as the Royal Hawaiian Band”.[11]

Baptiste was not reappointed in January 1957, by a vote of 4-3 against by the City Supervisors, even though he was Mayor Blaisdell’s selectee. City Supervisors said they received complaints from the public that the Band was not living up to its high standards, but others suggested that the City Supervisors did not like Baptiste’s politics.[12] In a later interview, Baptiste commented that there had been pressure to hire certain individuals who had gained favor with the government, whom he believed were not compatible with the high standards of the Band, so he refused.[13] Baptiste conducted his final concert with the band on January 2, 1957, for the inauguration of the new supervisors, the same people who voted him out.[14]

Due to illness and subsequent hospitalization of Baptiste in late January[15], assistant bandmaster John Mendiola served as acting bandmaster from January 2 until Earle Christoph was appointed in late February.[16]

As his tenure as Bandmaster came to a close, Mr. Baptiste returned to life as a music educator in Honolulu for another 2 years before retiring at age 65. He relocated to San Jose, California in the early 1960’s where he remained an active figure in the music education scene until his death after a long illness at the age of 90.[17]

Bandmaster William Baptiste’s unwavering dedication and passion for music education undoubtedly shaped the lives of countless numbers of young people. This legacy combined with his tenure as Bandmaster has been interwoven into the Royal Hawaiian Band’s own enduring and distinguished legacy. In fact, Baptiste’s life mission, to educate young people in music, is still reflecting today through the Band’s current mission: to promote and foster music, preserve the Hawaiian musical culture, INSPIRE YOUNG MUSICIANS and enrich the lives of the people of Hawai’i.

Footnotes:

M.R., “W.L. Baptiste Has Taught 10,000 To Play In Bands,” The Honolulu Advertiser, August 16, 1953, 55, Newspapers.com
Ibid.
“Isle Band Leader William Baptiste To Retire June 13,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, May 28, 1958, 15, Newspapers.com
Ibid.
M.R. “Baptiste Has Taught 10,000”, The Honolulu Advertiser, August 16, 1953, 55, Newspapers.com
“Baptiste Takes Over as Director of Royal Hawaiian Band”, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 9, 1955, 33, Newspapers.com
“New Band Truck,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 26, 1956, 13 Newspapers.com
“Band Program Honors Memory of Capt. Berger,” The Honolulu Advertiser, August 5, 1956, 48, Newspapers.com
“Bandshell Off-beat for Royal Hawaiians,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, December 29, 1956, 2, Newspapers.com
“Royal Hawaiian Band Soon to Be Made Official,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, December 14, 29, Newspapers.com
“Bill No. 68 (1956),” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 18, 1957, 19, Newspapers.com
San Jose Mercury News, January 20, 1984, findagrave.com
“Board 4 to 3 Against Confirming Band Leader,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, January 12, 1957, 3, Newspapers.com
“Royal Hawaiian Band Tootles On Despite City Hall,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 20 January, 1957, 8, Newspapers.com
“Baptiste Is Philosophical About Losing Job; New Choice Due Soon,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 6, 1957, 3, Newspapers.com
“Supervisors May Delay Action On Appointment of Bandmaster,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 8, 1957,3, Newspapers.com

San Jose Mercury News, January 20, 1984, findagrave.com