Renowned bass player Tommy C. Lake Jr., of the Kahauanu Lake Trio, dedicated 50 years of his life to playing Hawaiian music locally and abroad.

Lake's last performance was on Nov. 4, 2005, the day the Kahauanu Lake Trio was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame. The trio became the first group to be inducted.

"I don't think I could find another bass player like him," said brother and fellow group member Kahauanu Lake. "Impossible."

Lake died at his home in Kailua on July 3. He was 76.

According to his wife, Lorri, Lake had been sick for a year and a half, but still wanted to play at the concert last November. The two also went on a cruise in Norway in June 2005 and to Las Vegas in January.

"The man loved to travel," Lorri Lake said. "Just the week before he passed away, he was talking about taking another trip."

Lake also liked to teach, his wife said, adding that he'd help "anybody who wanted to learn how to play bass."

One of those people her husband mentored is an inmate currently behind bars in Oklahoma. The duo had been collaborating on a song until the day Tommy died, his wife said. Lake was writing the words, the inmate is writing the music. Lorri said she is going to mail the words her husband had written to the inmate, hoping the song will get done.

That song would just add to Lake's legacy.

The Kahauanu Lake Trio started playing in 1955. Tommy played the bass, Kahauanu played the 'ukulele and Al Machida was the guitarist. The three graced audiences with their three-part harmony at Waikiki's Halekulani and the Surf Room at Royal Hawaiian, in Japan and on the Mainland.

"We played in foreign countries," Kahauanu said, "but Hawai'i is the most important place."

The trio recorded their first album, "Hawaiian Style," in 1964. They recorded five more albums and had two "Best of" compilations.

" 'Pua 'Ahihi' was his signature song," Lorri Lake said.

The group retired in 1986. Lake also retired from Hawaiian Electric Co. in 1989 as an electrical engineer, after 36 years of service.

The family will hold a private service at the end of the month.

Lake is survived by his wife, Lorri; sons, Sam, Russell and Whitney; daughter, Laola; brother, Kahauanu; and five grandchildren, Sanoe, Kaniu, Kalae'a, Kuakini and Makana.

Lorri said she will always remember her husband for his music and for the love he had for his grandchildren.

"He always hoped that they would learn," Lorri said. "He hoped one of the five would follow in his footsteps."

Reach Brittany Yap at byap@honoluluadvertiser.com.