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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, August 22, 2008

C&K concert to hail 35-year journey

By Kawehi Haug
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Island favorites Cecilio Rodriguez, left, and Henry Kapono celebrate 35 years of making music together at a concert at the Waikiki Shell on Saturday.

Advertiser library photo

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'BACK IN THE DAY'

A concert celebrating the 35th anniversary of Cecilio & Kapono; also with Kalapana and Summer

6 p.m. Saturday

Waikiki Shell

$35 terrace; $125 VIP tickets might be available

877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com

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When Cecilio Rodriguez met Henry Kapono one night over dinner and an impromptu kanikapila session, they knew they were made to make music together.

That was 35 years ago. The rest is one busy and success-filled history, as evidenced by the singers' inability to recall the exact dates of their career milestones. No matter. It all happened, and here's when it all went down, according to Henry Kapono.

FEBRUARY 1973

Cecilio and Kapono meet at a mutual friend's house on the North Shore. They have an impromptu jam session and make an immediate musical connection. The duo's first gig together is at J.J.'s Café on Kalakaua Avenue later that month. They play to a solid weekend crowd of about 50 or 60.

MARCH 1973

One month later, the guys move to the Rainbow Villa, a bar that was built especially for them. They play to an empty room for two months, which they counted as "good rehearsal time." In their second month at the Rainbow Villa, Columbia Record executive Terry Powell stops in to listen to them on his way to a dinner engagement and never leaves. C&K signs with Columbia Records nine months later.

MAY 1973

C&K's big break comes when they are asked to open for Frank Zappa at the Civic Auditorium. They are a hit, and from that night on, the Rainbow Villa is standing-room-only, six nights a week.

SUMMER 1973

They play the Crater Festival and the Waikiki Shell, drawing crowds up to 5,000 people before they had released their first album.

OCTOBER 1973

C&K takes things to the Mainland, playing to sold-out crowds in California and getting record-deal offers from A&M and Columbia.

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1974

C&K signs with Columbia Records.

APRIL 1974

They record their debut selftitled album. It's released that summer.

SUMMER 1974

They perform to a sold-out, record-breaking crowd of 10,000 (plus 4,000 outside in the park) at the Waikiki Shell. The record still stands.

FALL/WINTER 1974

C&K tours with Loggins and Messina, opens for Boz Scaggs and follows Silk Degrees, Janice Ian, Santana, Gary Wright, America, Peter Frampton, Cheech & Chong and BTO. They play venues in Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Texas, California, Washington, D.C., Washington state, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, Japan, Guam and Tahiti.

1975

"Elua" is released.

1976

"Night Music" is released.

1980

"Life's Different Now" is released.

1981

C&K splits up. They each pursue solo careers but continue to play one show a year together for about seven years.

1989

"Goodtimes Together" is released and sweeps the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, winning six awards, including group of the year and album of the year.

1992

The duo records "Summer Lust" for an exclusive Japan release. C&K continues to tour once every year through 1997.

1997

Under new management, C&K starts to do more together and experiences a career revival that leads to the release of two compilation albums and sold-out shows on the Mainland and in Asia.

2003

C&K celebrates 30 years together with a commemorative CD and DVD release. "Lifetime Party: 30 Years of Friends" wins the Hoku for best contemporary album, and the guys continue to tour and sell out venues around the world.

2008

C&K35 "Back In The Day" concert celebration.

Read her blog, "Scene It," at http://sceneit.honadvblogs.com.

Reach Kawehi Haug at khaug@honoluluadvertiser.com.