SHOW BIZ
Audy Kimura classics to be re-released in Japan
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
THE GOOD LIFE: Singer-composer Audy Kimura's first two albums, "Looking for the Good Life" and "A Gift of Song," will be rereleased in Japan this summer. "These are considered truly classic albums in Japan," said Cool Sound president Toshiki Nakada, whose label specializes in AOR music from L.A. and Hawai'i. The first CD features Kimura's No. 1 hit, "Lovers & Friends"; and "A Gift Of Song" has three tracks heard in national TV commercials by major Japanese corporations.
Kimura has been working with singer-actress Cheryl Bartlett (an ex-Miss Hawai'i) on her debut CD; the session taps Herb Mahelona, a singer-compose-arranger who plays three instruments. Kimura also is putting finishing touches on a first CD by I Ku Mau Mau, a Na Hoku Hanohano Awards finalist in 2000. ...
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PERSONALITIES: Boyd Bishop, former Hawai'i resident, is now a cast member of New Zealand's hot TV show "The Strip," in which he plays male stripper Richard. Local fans may recall his roles in "Baywatch Hawai'i" and "Pearl Harbor." Bishop had taken acting lessons from Scott Rogers' American Academy of Film and Television, and casting director Margaret Doversola helped land him some roles. ...
Speaking of the acting academy, stand-up comic Andy Bumatai conducts his comedy classes there and nine of his students — first-time comics — appeared after his Wednesday stint at Brew Moon last week. Quite an evening for those seeking laughs: Paul Ogata made a guest appearance (he's bound for an appearance on the Craig Kilborn TV show in September); Rufus DeMarco came out of "retirement" to do a bit; and Dan Nainan, visiting from New York, checked out the gig's action with his on-stage admission that he's half Indian (as in India, not Native American) and half Japanese. No one laughed or giggled, which prompted him to say, "This is the only state in the country where that doesn't get a laugh." ...
Keola Beamer will have a DVD version in November of his "Ki ho'alu — Loosen the Key" CD; an audio version of excerpts from his book "The Shimmering;" a tour of Japan in October; and another Japan trip for a concert with Katsumi Watanabe, a jazz guitarist who's a big Beamer fan. Of course, Beamer's "Mohala Hou" CD is just out — with enthusiastic response from the public. ...
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SHORTS OF SORTS: Karen Keawehawai'i brings her Hawaiiana fun to the Kahala Mall stage at 10 a.m. Thursday. Might be a tad early, but the show is expressly for the future residents of Kahala Nui, the retirement facility coming up across the way next to Star of the Sea School. And we know seniors get up early. ...
The Makaha Sons are off to San Francisco and Los Angeles — a quick turnaround from their Japan trip, where they did the first half of a show, and Robert Cazimero joined them for the second half. "I still have chicken skin," said John Koko of the collaboration. After the show, the Sons and Cazimero ventured to a karaoke lounge, where Cazimero wound up singing some non-Hawaiian ditties such as "Beauty and the Beast" and several Japanese tunes. "Hopefully, we can take him on tour with us in the future," said Koko. ...
Keith and Carmen Haugen wound up a 17-year run at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and are pink with gratitude about the hundreds who called, e-mailed or visited them during their last hurrah. Hotel employees and longtime friends Diana Pinard and Geoff and Rosemary Hill provided cake — enough to serve 150 guests at the Mai Tai Bar closing, with leftovers to take home. Guitarist-singer Gordon Freitas joined the Haugens, as did numerous kumu hula and dancers, and the party continued at Arnold's on Saratoga Road, where Haugen and Freitas joined Don "Geezer" Humphrey for a country hoedown. ...
And that's Show Biz. ...
