Louis Keouli Thompson (April 22, 1882 – July 15, 1937), better known by his stage name Segis Luvaun, was a Hawaiian singer and musician and the reported King of Ukulele Players.Luvaun (1926), p. 2. Thompson, native to Hawai'i, claimed United States citizenship when Hawaii was annexed by the United States as a territory in 1898. He performed much of his life, first touring the United States and later throughout Scandinavia and Europe, many times for royalty.

Personal life Louis Thompson was born in Honolulu in the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1882. The earliest known record of him is the 1900 censusSource Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii Territory; Roll: T623_1837; Page: 26B; Enumeration District: 24. showing him as a 17-year-old student at the Kamehameha School, then known as the Kamehameha School for Boys. Indeed, Thompson is shown in the school's Class of 1900 class photo.KS Archives – Kamehameha School for Boys, Class of 1900 Retrieved on 2012-06-02. The 1900 census shows both his parents being from the Hawaiian Islands. A 1919 Visa application, filled out by Thompson, records his father's name as Keouli TawmsenSource Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Washington D.C.; Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 – March 31, 1925; ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #807. and a 1916 Visa application indicated that his father was deceased at that time.Source Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Washington D.C.; Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 – March 31, 1925; ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #315. However, on the marriage license to Eveline Walters (shown below), indicates his father's name is 'Carlo Luvaun'. No other information is known about his family.

Thompson married Mildred Elnora Rupp on July 26, 1910, in Chicago, Illinois.Source: Ancestry.com. Cook County, Illinois, Marriages Index, 1871–1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. At the time, Thompson went by Lu, with his full name on the marriage license recorded as Lu Kaoly Thompson. Rupp was born on October 26, 1893, in Winfield, Kansas.Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection – Births [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001. Although Thompson was actually 28 and Rupp was 17 at the time, the marriage license shows them as 26 and 21, respectively. He and Rupp had one child, Billven Keouli Thompson, born December 16, 1911, in Topeka, Kansas. Billven is Thompson's only known child.

Sometime after marrying Rupp in 1910 and before leaving for Europe in 1914, Thompson married Moana. Although little is known about Moana, including her maiden name, one might speculate that she was the inspiration behind Thompson's chart 'Moana Waltz'.

Thompson married Eveline Walters on April 7, 1917, in St Giles, London, England. At this time, Thompson was 35 and Walters was 21.Certified Copy of an entry of marriage for Segis Luvaun and Eveline Walters, Registration District of St. Giles, entry Number 169. She was born on September 11, 1896, in Somersetshire, England.Source Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Emergency Passport Applications, Argentina thru Venezuela, 1906–1925; Collection Number: ARC Identifier 1244183 / MLR Number A1 544; Box #: 4715; Volume #: 3. and her father's name was Gaius Walters

Within three years (1903) of graduating from Kamehameha School for Boys, Thompson had already left his homeland of Hawai'i for the mainland of the United States. He toured there for ten years before moving to London in 1914. In 1919, he moved to Copenhagen, Denmark. By 1922, he once again moved, this time to Prague, Czechoslovakia. His last known residence in Europe, per Visa applications, was Riga, Latvia. He remained in Europe until September 1936 when he returned to the United States sailing from Marseille to Boston. He died of heart failure in a Pennsylvania hospital, on July 15, 1937.

Career Much of Thompson's career has been gathered through newspaper ads and articles, as well as mentions in books about the Hawaiian music movement at the time. According to Kamehameha School archives, Thompson had left for the United States mainland by 1902 or 1903. Several articles show him touring in the United States as early as 1907 and as late as 1913. In his book How to Play the Ukulele, Thompson records that he was discovered in 1912 while touring in the United States by Sir Walter de Freece, who brought him to Europe. Tracking his travels through passport and visa applications shows that he lived and performed in locations such as London, Oslo, Copenhagen, the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland from 1914 to 1931.

United States Tour (1902–1913) Thompson was manager of a troupe called the Honolulu Students that he toured with across various venues within the United States. The stage name that he used while with the Honolulu Students is Professor Lu Thompson Keouli. During 1907 and 1908, Thompson, along with the Honolulu Students toured as part of the Chautauqua circuitThe Honolulu Students : from the Hawaiian islands. , Rochester, N.Y., The Central Printing & Engraving Company (190-?)

Date Location Event 1907? Amherst, Massachusetts – Amherst College Chautauqua performance of the Honolulu Students. October 25, 1907 Northampton, Massachusetts Chautauqua performance of the Honolulu Students. October 28, 1907 Hartford, Connecticut Chautauqua performance of the Honolulu Students. November 13, 1907 Baldwinsville, New York Chautauqua performance of the Honolulu Students. November 14, 1907 Port Henry, New York Chautauqua performance of the Honolulu Students. November 15, 1907 Brandon, Vermont Chautauqua performance of the Honolulu Students. November 16, 1907 Bristol, Vermont Chautauqua performance of the Honolulu Students. November 18, 1907 Cambridge, Vermont Chautauqua performance of the Honolulu Students. January 27, 1909 Jamestown, New York Y.M.C.A. Performance of the Honolulu Students as reported in the Hawaiian Gazette.Hawaiian Gazette (1909), pg 7. Thompson listed as Professor Keouli. Nov 1913 Madison, Wisconsin – Orpheum Theatre Newspaper advertisement for "The Tawmsen's" performing at the Orpheum Theatre.

European Tour (1914–1928)

Date Location Event TBD TBD TBD

Stage Names Thompson appears to have been very prolific with his epithet. Although there is no record of why he chose different aliases, he chose both unique names and spellings at different times in his career. Below is a list of names he was known to use.

Juan Akoni L. Thompson Lewis Thompson Louis K Thompson Lu Kaoly Thompson Lu Keouli Thompson Luvaun Luvaun Tawmsen San Juan Segis Luvaun

Discography

1916 His Master's Voice Label (London, England) Recorded in London, England under the His Master's Voice label as Segis LuvaunBio-Discography (1990)

Year Song Ctrl# Album Notes 1916 "Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula" (Goetz, Young and Wendling) HO3059ae B-703 Hawaiian Guitar, Vocal "You've Got To Do It" ("Pell Mell" Revue"Pell-Mell", a revue by Fred Thompson and Morris Harvey; with music by Nat D. Ayer and lyrics by Clifford Grey and Hugh E. Wright, opened at the London Ambassador theatre on June 5, 1916.)(Nat D. Ayer) HO3060ae B-726 Vocal, Guitar Unidentified Title HO3061ae ? Hawaiian Guitar, Vocal "Moana Waltz" (Luvaun) HO3062ae B-726 Hawaiian Guitar "A Broken Doll" (Tate)("Samples" revue) HO3063ae B-701 Hawaiian Guitar, Vocal "If You Were The Only Girl in the World" (Ayer)("The Bing Boys Are Here") HO3064/5 B-703 Hawaiian Guitar, Vocal

1917 Zonophone label (London, England) Recorded in London, England under the Zonophone label as Juan Akoni

Year Song Ctrl# Album Notes 1917 "Come and Dance With Me" y20732e 1879 Ukulele/Hawaiian Guitar Unidentified Title y20733e ? Ukulele/Hawaiian Guitar "Oh How She Could Yacki Hacki Wicki Wacki Woo" y20734e 1802 Ukulele/Hawaiian Guitar "Honolulu Tomboy" y20735e ? Ukulele/Hawaiian Guitar "Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula" y20736e 1802 Ukulele/Hawaiian Guitar "Hawaiian Medley" (Luvaun) y20737e 2055 Ukulele/Hawaiian Guitar

1917 Winner Label (London, England) Recorded in London, England under the Winner label as Luvaun assisted by Lady Chetwynd

Year Song Ctrl# Album Notes 1917 "My Hawaiian Butterfly" (--) (2234) 3149 Luvaun (Ukulele/Hawaiian Guitar), Lady Chetwynd (Violin) "Ideal Girl Waltz" (--) (2235) 3149 Luvaun (Ukulele/Hawaiian Guitar), Lady Chetwynd (Violin) "Come and Dance With Me" (2238) 3151 Luvaun (Ukulele/Hawaiian Guitar), Lady Chetwynd (Violin) "Moana Waltz" (2239) 3151 Luvaun (Ukulele/Hawaiian Guitar), Lady Chetwynd (Violin) "Ua Like No Alike" 5515 3240 Luvaun (Ukulele/Hawaiian Guitar), Lady Chetwynd (Violin) "Aloha Oe" 5516 3149 Luvaun (Ukulele/Hawaiian Guitar), Lady Chetwynd (Violin)

1917 Zonophone Label (London, England) Recorded in London, England under the Zonophone label as Juan Akoni

Year Song Ctrl# Album Notes 1917 "Along The Way To Waikiki" y20972e 1879 Ukulele or Hawaiian Guitar Unidentified Title y20973e ? Ukulele or Hawaiian Guitar "Hawaiian Butterfly" y20974e ? Ukulele or Hawaiian Guitar "Hawaiian Butterfly" y20975e 1847 Ukulele or Hawaiian Guitar "The Ideal Girl – Waltz" (Luvaun) y20976e 2055 Ukulele or Hawaiian Guitar "What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes at Me For?" y20977e 1847 Ukulele or Hawaiian Guitar

1920 Ekophon Label (Saltsjöbaden, Sweden) Recorded in Saltsjöbaden, Sweden under the Ekophon label as Segis Luvaun

Year Song Ctrl# Album Notes c 1920 "Chong Fran Hongkong" (H. Weeks) W-1152 NS-1419-I Segis Luvaun(Ukulele), Ernst Rolf(Vocal) "Ukalele Waltz" (sic) W-1153 NS-1715-II Hawaiian guitar/ukulele Unidentified Title W-1154 ? Hawaiian guitar/ukulele Unidentified Title W-1155 NS-1716-? Hawaiian guitar/ukulele "Original Hawaiian Waltz" W-1153 NS-1715-I. Also Beka S-889 Hawaiian guitar/ukulele "My Hawaiian Sweethearth" (sic) W-1157 NS-1714-II. Also Beka S-889 Hawaiian guitar/ukulele Unidentified Title W-1160 NS-1716-? Hawaiian guitar/ukulele "Sommarsol Till Sista Stund" (Dansk) W-1161 NS-1714-I Hawaiian guitar/ukulele "Hawajansk Kärlekssang" W-1163 NS-1419-II Ukulele "Karl Alfred" (Taube) W-1193 NS-1417-I Segis Luvaun(Ukulele), Ernst Rolf(Vocal) "Titta in En Annan Dag" (Rygaard) W-1196 NS-1417-II Segis Luvaun(Ukulele), Ernst Rolf(Vocal)

1920–1921 Grammaphon/Polydor Label (Berlin, Germany) Recorded in Berlin, Germany under the Grammaphon/Polydor label as Segis Luvaun

Year Song Ctrl# Album Notes c 1920–1921 "Kilima Waltz" (S. Luvaun)Composed by George (Keoki) E. K. Awai 141at 14363. Also Reneyphone 14663; Polypho X/N-14636 Hawaiian guitar, English/Hawaiian vocal "If You Could Care" (Darewsky) 142at 14363. Also Reneyphone 14663; Polyphon X/N-14636 Hawaiian guitar, English/Hawaiian vocal "Aloha Oe" (von QueenComposed by Queen Liliuokalani)(sic) 143at 14364. Also Polyphon X/N-14364 Hawaiian guitar, English/Hawaiian vocal "The Eve Waltz" (Luvaun) ---at 14367. Also Reneyphone 14367; Polyphon NS-98502 Hawaiian guitar, English/Hawaiian vocal "Ja-Da" (Robn. Carledon) 145at 14365. Also Reneyphone 14365; Polyphon X/N-14365 Hawaiian guitar, English/Hawaiian vocal "My Philosophy" (von S. Luvaun) 146at 14364. Also Polyphon X/N-14365 Hawaiian guitar, English/Hawaiian vocal "Won't You Dance With Me" (Luvaun) ---at 14367. Also Reneyphone 14367; Polyphon NS-98502 Hawaiian guitar, English/Hawaiian vocal "Moana Waltz" (Luvaun) 148at 14365. Also Reneyphone 14365; Polyphon X/N-14365 Hawaiian guitar, English/Hawaiian vocal "Wiki-Waki" (S. Luvaun) 150at 14366. Also Polyphon 288106, NS-98500, X/N-14366 Hawaiian guitar, English/Hawaiian vocal "After You Get What You Want, You Don't Want It" (Irving Berlin) 151at 14366. Also Polyphon X/N-14366 Hawaiian guitar, English/Hawaiian vocal

Early 1921 Grammaphon/Polydor Label (Berlin, Germany) Recorded in Berlin, Germany under the Grammaphon/Polydor label as Segis Luvaun