Wood Craft
Martin Denny gets a bang
out of Don TikiI was lucky long-time pal Martin Denny spotted me hunting for seats at "The Forbidden World of Don Tiki" show in the packed Hawaiian Hut last Saturday night and said to join him. Marty's music is the star of the show and I was able to witness the 91-year-old pianist-composer's joy as his music was embraced by the young crowd. "It's wonderful," Marty said, taking it all in. He added Jennifer Lopez has recorded an adaptation of his song "All Clear" from his "Firecrackers" album. In the old days, Augie Colon was a percussionist and birdcall expert in Marty's band. Augie's son, Lopaka, is in Don Tiki doing what his dad did. "Augie's boy is terrific," Marty said. He also had kind words for sexy Don Tiki bassist Hai Jung. "She's got rhythm," he said. Marty attended the fun show with his daughter, Christina, and her new husband, Bruce Van Brocklin. Fans flocked to Marty after the show for autographs and to take pictures. The show, with 20 musicians, dancers and singers, was great fun. Mihana Souza kept things tropical, singing "Maui Moon." Singer Fritz Hasenpusch, as a shifty, oily womanizer, was a blast ...
UH-MSU grid matchup
"That's great, I like that," said 1972 MSU grad and former standout lineman Jim Nicholson after hearing UH and MSU will meet in football here and at East Lansing, Mich. "That's good news for our program here in Hawaii," said Jim, who became an attorney after a successful career with the Kansas City Chiefs as a 6-foot-7, 285-pound offensive tackle. "Spartan Stadium holds 78,000 and will be a sellout. I'll go back for that game. They (UH) better hope they don't play in the winter." Jim was an All Star St. Louis end in the late 1960s when he was recruited by MSU coach Duffy Daugherty. Duffy was staying at the Kahala Hilton, then run by MSU grad Bob Burns. Jim's mom, Margaret, and sister, Bonnie Chun, both worked at the hotel. After Duffy met Jim and shook his large hand, Duffy told Bob he had to have this big youngster ...MOVING ON: Dolly Lamphere, one of Neiman's most valuable employees, retired yesterday. She has been in the men's department since the store opened. Not only did Dolly provide excellent service but she also drove an injured Star-Bulletin Saturday columnist to his therapy sessions a few times. Dolly is retiring to spend more time with her husband, Pflueger Acura G.M. Lyndon Lamphere, their son, Matthew, 6, and twin boys Jack and Alan, 11 ...
Marsalis notes
Isle jazzman Abe Weinstein met with Wynton Marsalis' clarinet soloist, Victor Goines, the day after the terrific Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra concert last week. Abe said that Victor, jazz director at Juilliard, wants to be involved in the 10th Annual Hawaii International Jazz Festival in July ... Margaret Murchie hoped to get Wynton's autograph for her trumpet-playing uncle in Canada after the concert but she was too pooped. The next day Wynton toured the Doris Duke estate and Margaret was there. Wynton gladly gave her an autograph for her uncle Wally Might. Margaret jokes that her mom, Helen, should have been named Dinah so mom would be Dinah Might. Bam! ...
Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets
of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of
people, places and things every Saturday.
E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com