SHOW BIZ
Philippines singers team up for concert
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
SHOW BREEZES: Two Philippines favorites — Martin Nievera and Regine Velasquez — will team up in a concert at 7:30 p.m. March 8 at the Hawai'i Convention Center. Top tickets are $100, which includes premium seating and a reception the night before at the 'Ilikai Hotel. For reservations and information, call Leo Rojas Gozar at 843-8808. ...
"Moonlight & Magic," the Alzheimer's Association's March 8 fund-raiser at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, will go retro, tapping a '60s theme. Jean Ariyoshi, Tom Moffatt and Jesse Colin Young ("Get Together") are honorary chairmen; Young will also perform. For a silent auction, Moffatt has donated a 1960s Carlos Santana Hawai'i concert poster, and, yes, there will be an assortment of other items for bid. Janet Bender, association director, and Paul Brown, long-time event chair, are hoping folks will get out go-go boots, miniskirts, and bellbottoms for the night. As Austin Powers might say, "Yeah, baby." ...
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ITEMIZATIONS: Singer Nohelani Cypriano has been very active with support for and promotion of the Blood Bank of Hawai'i's donor recognition month. She's completed a promo spot, travels hither and yon to thank donors, and, in the process, shares songs and stories about two people near and dear to her who needed blood: her late mother, Leina'ala Simerson, and Loyal Garner, her former Local Divas singing mate. In memory of her mom, Cypriano performs a tune she wrote called "Pulelehua," "about the signs I get from her from the other side," and "Mama, I Love You," which was the Lady of Love's signature in her Mother's Day concerts. Cypriano's dancing chums — Krista Guiteras-Duncan, Lyanna Tumenang (Miss O'ahu), Rachel Frando and Noella Querubin — have also appeared on some outings. ...
Without fanfare and for legal reasons, the Mana'o Company has changed its name. The group now is called Tapa Groove, with original members John Baricuatro Jr. and Salaam Tillman intact, along with recent arrival Weldon Kekauoha, who says, "We think the new name reflects the qualities each member contributes to the group." The switch was triggered by the departure of ex-leader Danny Kennedy, who has started a five-year federal prison sentence in California. "The most important thing is that we all remain friends," said Baricuatro. The other band member, Kaulana Pakele, said, "We all realize the importance of the many wonderful experiences we've shared." ...
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SHORTS OF SORTS: Actor Ray Bumatai (TV's Chicken Ranger, on those KFC spots) had a second brain surgery (this one on the Mainland) over the holidays and he's up and about again, recovering nicely. ...
When Tower of Power was in town, members dined at Keo's in Waikiki — and delighted their waitress, who got freebie tickets to their Sheraton Waikiki concert. Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, in town for Pro Bowl promotions, managed a visit and dinner — as well as a photo op with Keo Sananikone. ...
When Ronald Andrew staged the national tour of "Chicago" two years ago at Blaisdell Concert Hall, Florida State University grad Heather Parcells played Velma, the role that Catherine Zeta-Jones is wowing 'em with in the Oscar-bound film version. Parcells is en route to Broadway, first touring in "Some Like It Hot" (with sometime Hawai'i resident Tony Curtis) and soon opens in New York in the stage version of John Travolta's film hit, "Urban Cowboy," for which Jason Robert Brown is conducting music. Brown was here last year conducting the Welly Yang musical, "Hello Broadway." ...
When Na Palapalai performed at Kapi'olani Park Bandstand recently, the weather didn't cooperate, but the falsetto group showed initiative and smarts by inviting the audience on stage, 'neath the gazebo roof, to shield themselves from rain. "I'm from Hilo and rain never stops me," said singer Kehau Tamure. ...
Dave Lawrence is new music director at the Big Kahuna, the classic rock station at 105.9 on the FM dial. He's on air from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily ...
And that's Show Biz ...
Wayne Harada's Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach him at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
