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Moffatt mania Manoa Valley Theatre is putting on an event that celebrates promoter Tom Moffatt's "half-century of contribution to Hawaii's radio, concert and music scene," but we've got news for them: He's already into his second half-century.
MVT celebrates decades of music
By Burl Burlingame
bburlingame@starbulletin.comMoffatt came to Honolulu in 1950 to attend the University of Hawaii, and before long began skipping class to play deejay at KGU for $1 an hour. He was one of the original "Poi Boys" on the seminal hit-radio K-POI, a recording artist (yes!), a sometime actor and a record company executive for the Paradise and Bluewater labels.
More to the point, he's met, become friends with and promoted everyone in the music business. Everyone. Every last one of them. And he managed to get his picture taken with most of them.
In one of his early concerts, Feb. 6, 1958, that he advertised in the Star-Bulletin, the bill featured Paul Anka, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jodie Sands, Buddy Holly and the Crickets. The price of a ticket to the show at Schofield Bowl? Ninety cents.
Who presented Elvis Presley in concert here in the '50s, '60s and '70s? Moffatt.
Manoa Vallety Theatre salutes Tom Moffatt Fifty Years of Entertainment
Where: Hilton Hawaiian Village
When: 6 p.m. tomorrow
Tickets: $150 per person, or $1,500/$2,000 for a table of 10
Call: 988-6131
Who proved Aloha Stadium was suitable as a concert venue, beginning with Cecilio & Kapono and Kalapana in 1976, and peaking with gigantic Michael Jackson shows in the '90s? Moffatt.
Who booked the Rolling Stones in 1966 for $15,000, and a few years ago for a million dollars? Moffatt.
Who trail-bossed Keola & Kapono Beamer's "Honolulu City Lights" into what is likely the best-selling local record ever? Moffatt.
Is Tom Moffatt Hawaii's Dick Clark, or is Clark the mainland's Tom Moffatt?
One way or another, Moffatt has helped shape Hawaii's entertainment business since statehood. MVT's "Fifty Years of Entertainment," 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, is a gala salute to raise funds for theater, and it is co-presented by the hotel.
Joe Moore is master of ceremonies, and guests get dinner, dancing to the Motor City Angels, a silent auction of rock 'n' roll memorabilia, and the usual "star-studded program" of surprise guests.
With a running time of just over an hour, the official show will feature entertainers who have had some kind of substantial impact or who have meant something special to Moffatt. At least one major national entertainer will perform, on condition that his or her identity remains secret until show time. WHAT A SHOW
Here's the list of local entertainers who are expected to perform:
>> Yvonne Elliman -- Portrayed Mary Magdalene in the concept album, rock opera and film versions of "Jesus Christ Superstar." Million-seller recording of "If I Can't Have You" topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. In town for next weekend's Blaisdell Arena concert with Chubby Checker and Dee Dee Sharp. Guess who the promoter is?
>> Cecilio & Kapono -- Moffatt presented C&K at the Waikiki Shell in the 1982 concert that marked their official reunion; a two-record "live" album recorded during the show, "Together Live," was released on Moffatt's Bluewater label later that year.
>> Ledward Ka'apana -- Moffatt brokered the successful Hui Ohana reunion of the Ka'apana brothers and the late Dennis Pavao in 1987. The trio won a 1988 Na Hoku Hanohano Award for their recording of "Pua Carnation," which was released on Moffatt's Paradise label. Ka'apana won a 1989 Hoku Award for his solo Paradise album, "Simply Slack Key."
>> Bruce Hamada and Jim Howard with Gabe Baltazar -- Three of Hawaii's finest musicians are "old drinking buddies" who "go way back with Tom," according to a Moffatt spokesperson.
>> Melveen Leed -- Released three albums on Moffatt's Paradise label in the early '80s.
By John Berger
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