SHOW BIZ
B.B. King scheduled to rock through Islands

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

DATES TO CIRCLE: Look for a four-island concert tour by blues great B.B. King, who'll play the Kaua'i Marriott Grand Ballroom Nov. 7, the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu Nov. 8, the Maui Arts & Cultural Center Amphitheater Nov. 9 and the Hilton Waikoloa Village's Grand Ballroom Nov. 10. Tickets go on sale in September. ...

Gussie L'Amour's has become a haven for retro acts. Tommy Chong's Chong and the Family Stoned convened last weekend, and look for the boots toots, Nancy Sinatra, in an Oct. 4-5 visit, in support of her "California Girl" CD. Sinatra put "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" and "Something Stupid" on the charts. ...

The aforementioned Chong, who talked story with Perry & Price during last Saturday's Hanohano Room show at the Sheraton Waikiki, has a self-deprecating sense of humor. He gave this notable quote: "It's not hard to find a Tommy Chong crowd ... just follow your nose."

SIGHT 'EMS: Damon Wayans, in town for filming of "My Wife and Kids," did an impromptu hour at Lanai and Augie's Comedy Shack show last Friday at Dave & Buster's. "He wanted to check us out and he did an hour set," said the delighted Augie. ...

Actor Jack Wagner, a star on the long-running "General Hospital," dined al fresco at Lahaina's Pacific'O with his wife Kristina and their two young sons. ...

A lot of "somebodies" have been at Diamond Head Theatre's "You Somebody," including Linda Coble and Kirk Matthews, Keith and Carmen Haugen, Randy and Gay Hongo, Eddie and Myrna Kamae, and Neery Heenan and Mary Gutzi. ...

When Randy Smith, the Frank Sinatra stylist, guest-sang with John Valentine at the Hanohano Room, where Valentine regularly entertains with Brian Robertshaw, University of Hawai'i Warriors coach June Jones was in the audience. He must've liked what he saw and heard, because the next night, Jones brought a group of friends to catch Smith at the Esprit Lounge, where Valentine is a guitarist-singer. Smith's audience also included Carla Beach, Danny Couch, Cynthia Romero of Son Caribe, Danny and Jackie Kaleikini, and the incomparable Celia Cruz. ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Singer Melveen Leed, an early mentor of Tony Conjugacion (remember his Little Anthony days?), took in Conjugacion's first performance at the Sheraton Waikiki Poolside one recent Saturday night, where Conjugacion's Halau Na Wainohia performed. Conjugacion called up Da Tita to belt out a couple of tunes ("Kalena Kai, "Hi'ilawe"), delighting the audience with three-part harmony (Chino Montero also sang).

Remember when the duo co-starred at the Sheraton's Prow Lounge, now Esprit? A hana hou is in store when Conjugacion appears 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. ...

Kainoa Goo, the young co-star of Diamond Head Theatre's "Mame" and "Titanic," will be among the young performers in the Hawai'i Academy of Performing Arts' "The Big Shindig" benefit from 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Hawai'i Prince Hotel. Others: Three Plus, Kapena, Keahiwai, Darrell Labrado and Ells. ...

To the delight of all concerned, Ray Bumatai's doctors told him that he could resume his role as Daddy Lusa in "You Somebody" for the final weekend (Aug. 16-18) at Diamond Head Theatre. He underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. ...

And that's Show Biz ...

E-mail Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, phone 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.