Three Plus' new CD hits Billboard charts at No. 3

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Staff Writer

Local music faves Three Plus' new "Three Plus For You" CD debuted on three Billboard charts last week. The album's debut positions on two of the charts were at — you guessed it — No. 3.

Reflecting only first week sales since its Feb. 19 release, "Three Plus For You" bowed at No. 3 on Billboard's World Music and Pacific charts, and at No. 45 on the magazine's Independent Album chart.

The CD has been the top-selling CD at O'ahu Tower Records stores since its release.

Producer/group member Shawn Pimental was called by Billboard a week after the album's release with the news.

"Half of me didn't really fathom what was happening," said Pimental. "The first people I called, of course, were the boys ... and the first thing they said was, like, 'Not!' They thought I was just joking.

"It's great for us, and we're really happy. But there's other (local) artists and labels that have done it before us. And if it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here."

While anticipation was high for Three Plus' long-awaited release, the album's success was also buoyed by advance local radio air play for its lead single "Undercover Lover," as well as the group's opening act slot at Janet Jackson's Feb. 16 concert at Aloha Stadium.

The six-member group will take off for brief tours of the West Coast, Guam and Saipan following an appearance at Island Rhythm 98.5 FM's Bomb Bucha 2002 music fest at the Waikiki Shell on March 23. Accompanying Three Plus on the tour will be BET, Ho'onua, Namahana and Darrell Labrado.

"We're just such a great team together," Pimental said of Three Plus. "I love working with them. They're the best friends that I have in the world. And I'm happy for them, because we worked hard for the last two years" on the project.