Willie K did a hush-hush performance for President Barack Obama on the last night of his Hawaii visit.
Willie, joined by his dancing daughters Lycettiana, 21, and Antoinette, 8, staged a special show just before the first family boarded Air Force One at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on New Year’s Day.
Willie’s backup included wife Debbie Kahaiali‘i and his longtime friend and TV producer Emme Tomimbang, who arranged the secret gig.
Among the tunes shared: “Aloha ‘Oe,” the traditional Hawaiian goodbye song, plus “Hallelujah,” the pertinent Leonard Cohen anthem exploring love, faith and pain — suitable for these turbulent political times.
Tomimbang did her magic to navigate the usual Secret Service red-tape scrutiny to help the Obamas celebrate their final Hawaii vacation as POTUS and FLOTUS with music by a Hawaiian.
“We’ll be back,” the commander in chief quietly uttered to Willie, who previously performed for Obama in campaign fundraisers here. Antoinette will have a dandy “what I did during my vacation” tidbit to share when she returns to school. …
Willie is on a roll, snagging the opening-act slot for Journey’s Feb. 23, 24 and 26 shows at Blaisdell Arena and Feb. 28 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Yep, he still has his monthly Blue Note Hawaii gig, coming up Jan. 31 at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort. …
A MAUI WOWIE
Shep Gordon, the Maui resident and powerhouse impresario, talent manager, film producer, agent and celebrated party-thrower, assembled a galaxy of stars for a New Year’s Eve party at the Wailea Beach Resort — Marriott, Maui, which just reopened after a $100 million renovation.
Celebrants included Steve Tyler (of Aerosmith), Alice Cooper, Michael McDonald and Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers, Weird Al Yankovic, Stevie Salas, Bob Rock, Lily Meola, Jim Carrey, Dave Mason, Fergie and actor/husband Josh Duhamel, Linda Carter (TV’s “Wonder Woman”) and Gretchen Rhodes (of Island Rumours Band, led by Mick Fleetwood).
Gordon’s annual NYE bash — tickets were $600 — doubled as a fundraiser for the Maui Food Bank and Maui Arts & Cultural Center. The food bank reports that since 2008 the event has provided well over 1 million meals to Maui’s hungry.
Fleetwood (yes, the leader of Fleetwood Mac) also had a shebang at his Lahaina hot spot, Fleetwood’s on Front Street, where Rick Vito (of Fleetwood Mac), Mike Kroeger (of Nickelback) and party-hoppers Tyler, Rhodes and Salas rang in the new year. …
REMEMBERING UNCLE TOM, BETTY LOO
A private service for Tom Moffatt, the beloved entrepreneur, radio legend and music industry wizard, was held Dec. 30 at a private home. The date coincided with what would have been his 86th birthday.
The gathering included about 100 invitees, family members and associates of Moffatt and his widow, Sweetie. Moffatt died Dec. 12 after a series of health challenges, ending a remarkable and illustrious career that spanned 60 years, during which Uncle Tom wore multiple hats: innovative rock-radio personality, radio and recording executive, print columnist and show guru.
Entertainers Audy Kimura, Marlene Sai and Melveen Leed sang. When Kimura was to render “Honolulu City Lights,” producer Moffatt’s most successful disc, which galvanized the career of Keola and Kapono Beamer, he noticed Kapono in the crowd and invited him to join in.
A public celebration of Moffatt’s life is next, possibly in February and likely at Blaisdell Center, where the iconic show promoter staged hundreds of shows. Details are forthcoming. …
And a funeral for jazz pianist Betty Loo Taylor (aka “Lady Fingers”) will be held Jan. 19 at First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu at Ko‘olau. She died Dec. 21 at age 87. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a celebration of life from 10:30 to 11:30, with a crew of her musician-entertainer pals participating. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran Honolulu entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or email wayneharada@gmail.com.