Martin Denny, who lived to see his 1950s "exotica" music enjoy renewed worldwide popularity, has died at his Hawaii home at the age of 93.

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Christina Denny, his daughter and primary caregiver, said her father "passed peacefully at 9 p.m." Thursday and he had been "ready to go." He had been in declining health for the last two years, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin said.

"With the passing of Martin Denny, the world has lost one of its great popular musicians," said Michael Largarticha, Musicians Association of Hawaii president. "He created a sound that remains unique to this day, an entire genre of music which Martin described as a fusion of Asian, South Pacific, American jazz, Latin American and classical."

Born on April 12, 1911, in New York, Denny took to the piano at an early age. He made his official debut as a professional musician in 1931 and was one of the few Hawaiian musicians to appear on any of the six major Billboard charts.