Among Tom Moffatt's favorite performers was
Frankie Lymon, who borrowed Moffatt's car so he
could practice his new driving skills -- and
promptly crashed it.
Tom Moffatt, Hawaii's version of Dick Clark, has chronicled a half-century of musical memories in his just-released "Uncle Tom's Rock 'n Roll Scrapbook." Uncle Tom shares
50 years of rock memories
"Uncle Tom's Rock 'n Roll Scrapbook,"
$10, is available at Borders, Tower Records
and Honolulu Book Shops.The paperback features hundreds of black-and-white photos of every major star who's performed in Hawaii, from Elvis to the Rolling Stones, and lots of memorabilia from special events.
Moffatt, affectionately known as Uncle Tom, came to Hawaii in 1950 to attend the University of Hawaii. He got his first deejay job at KGU for $1 an hour, then moved to KIKI, where in 1955 he played the first rock record at the station.
In 1957 Moffatt began his promoting career with the "Show of Stars" at the old Civic Auditorium. When he first booked the Rolling Stones in 1966 the group was paid $15,000; for two shows this January, the group received more than $1 million.
Moffatt's favorite male performers, we learn, are Sam Cooke, Frankie Lymon, Tommy Sands and Teddy Randazzo. The most exciting "wahine" were LaVerne Baker and Jo-Ann Campbell. Best instrumental group, The Champs.
It's the pictures in this far-too-brief book that are such a hoot.
Take a look at skinny Bobby Rydell on Waikiki Beach in 1961; Richie Valens backstage at the HIC two months before he died in a plane crash; Conway Twitty at the Civic Auditorium; and Moffatt towering over a diminutive Brenda Lee.
Moffatt says he wrote the tome "to share ... the memories of the good old days." But ever the businessman, Moffatt also figures it'll be an easy sell at the oldies shows he continues to promote regularly: "These memories are a great tie-in," Moffatt said.
Tim Ryan, Star-Bulletin
