Elmer Lim Jr. , better known as “Sonny” was born and raised in Kohala. Music was a part of his life from a young age. It came to him naturally as a gift the playing of the Ukulele, Guitar, Upright Bass and later the Vibraphone and Steel Guitar.
Highly influenced by Fred Punahoa and Gabby Pahinui he really enjoys playing Slack Key Guitar. He was given a Steel Guitar as a youngster by Uncle Sonny Alapai of Pu’uanahulu and started to play it all the time. It led him to play the Steel Guitar with the Makaha Sons Of Ni’ihau from 1975 to 1978.
In 1977 the Lim Family began their recording career and that led to three Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for “Most Traditional Hawaiian Album of the Year” for 1981 and 1982 and 20 years later the 2002 “Group of The Year”.
In 2003 he was part of a compilation CD called “Slack Key Volume 2” which took the top honors for the first ever Grammy Award for
“Best Hawaiian Music Album” on February 13, 2005. He released a solo CD entitled “Slack Key Guitar the Artistry of Sonny Lim” which was nominated for the 2006 Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles on February 8, 2006.
On May 29, 2010 he received the Nā Hoku Hanohano’s Lifetime Achievement Award with the Makaha Sons of Niʻihau and May 30th Received the Nā Hoku Hanohano Slack Key Legacy Award.
He received a nomination for the 2011 Grammy Awards with Amy Gilliom and The Hawaiian Slack Key Masters. He currently performs at Napua at Mauna Lani and travels and tours Japan multiple times a year.
