SHOW BIZ
Jimmy Borges taking his heart to San Francisco

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

NAME-DROPPING: Singer Jimmy Borges, a huge fan of Frank Sinatra (whose estate allows him to sing to Ol' Blue Eyes' classic musical arrangements), wings to San Francisco in January to croon at the prestigious Bohemian Club. He got the gig with a nudge from Evan Dobelle, University of Hawai'i president who was a club member while he was president of the San Francisco City College system. Further, a buddy, actor Robert Wagner, helped Borges get a singing date (the invitation came from Barbara Sinatra, widow of the singer), at the Frank Sinatra Golf Tournament in Palm Springs in February.

"It's ironic because I was going to donate the $3,750 entry fee just to play next year as a present to myself," said Borges. Instead, he'll take the stage with a number of his favorites, including Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, Jack Jones, plus Wayne Newton, Kenny Rogers and a number of Hollywood "somebodies." ...

The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) has been immortalized in wax at Madame Tussaud's at Times Square in New York. He's told Jay Leno and David Letterman that his look-alike in the museum is anatomically correct, prompting fans to peek into the wax man's trousers. Truth is, wax figures have no gender parts — and The Rock was just joshing. ...

ALL IN THE 'OHANA: Keola Beamer's debut with the Honolulu Symphony Pops was exquisite. Not only is his ki ho'alu impeccable in its simple grace and fiery versatility, but the presence of his 'ohana — Nona Beamer, his chanting, singing, dancing mom with her endearing manner, and Moana, his hula-dancing and implement-playing wife — yields a particular charm. Of course, conductor Matt Catingub's lush arrangement for Beamer's signature "Honolulu City Lights" was a high point.

Not to be outdone, Uluwehi Guerrero demonstrated his strength and brilliance as both singer and composer; his multi-cultural "Nani Kamakura," which blended Japanese and Hawaiian and was performed as Japanese odori (dance) and hula was, in his own words, kind of like "Japanese auwana," meaning a modernization of classic Japanese dance. ...

When "Fiddler on the Roof" premieres tonight at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College, three generations of the Ron Bright family will be involved. The patriarch is directing; his son Clarke is conducting the orchestra; and Ron's grandson (and Clarke's son) Christopher, 10, will be in the percussion section, assisting mom Lynelle Bright on drums ...

SHORTS OF SORTS: Kamasami Kong, the deejay who transits from Honolulu to Osaka, lives at the Ritz Carlton Osaka, where he was asked to emcee a private party Sunday. He told hotel general manager Octavio Garama (formerly of the Ritz Carlton Maui) that he couldn't, because he was planning to attend the Paul McCartney concert at the Osaka Dome that night and couldn't possibly miss that.

"Don't worry, the party will be after the concert," Garama told Kong, referring to a small party in the presidential suite. When Kong asked, "Who's the VIP?" he was told Paul McCartney, his wife, band members and crew, who wanted a Sayonara Party because the Osaka gig is the last in Japan. "My head's still spinning," said Kong. "I'll take pictures, if I'm allowed to take a camera." ...

And that's Show Biz ...