Quiet Village
Don Ho Presents
The Aliis
Produced by Sonny Burke
Art Director: Ed Thrasher
Cover Photo by Camera Hawaii - Werner Stoy
Reprise Records RS 6190
1965
From the back cover: In Hawaii, I regard The Aliis as the perfect musical combo. The only way you can describe this group is "fantastic-fabulous." In the short period of one year of working with these young men, they have met every test and every challenge in every aspect of show business. Entertainment to me in Hawaii requires warmth and crowd participation and beautiful music with definite quality. For their age now, they dominate the musical field in Hawaii vocally, as well as instrumentally. Put all these qualities together: youth, musical ability, beautiful vocals, entertainment, warmth, participation and you have what in Hawaii we call "a perfect package."
There's another thing that these young lads can do that no other group in the nation that I know of can, and that's to accompany entertainers and amateurs alike in any song, no matter how simple or complicated.
By a strange, happy coincidence, all five of these young men are ex-U.S. Air Force servicemen (as I was) and their real apprenticeship in music came during the two-year period in the Air Force entertaining all over the country with the Air Force Band... at State Department functions, at embassies for people like Dean Rusk, Robert McNamara, General Maxwell Taylor, at all the important bases all over the United States. (The boys would like to express their real indebtedness to Sgt. Edward Hickam, A&R and PR man for the Air Force band at Hickam Air Force Base, who originally assembled the group for the Air Force band.)
At the end of their service commitment, the boys and I got together and opened up at a local club in Waikiki and worked for the three month period, we negotiated to work at the biggest night club in all Waikiki and Hawaii, Duke Kahanamoku's for three-and-a-half years. This was a case of a perfect marriage continues to enjoy immense success.
As a group, The Aliis combine to form a conglomeration of nationalities that is fitting for The United Nations, and the different influences of their backgrounds show in the music.
For instance, the seemingly shy and bashful Manny Lagodlagod plays the bass, flute, and saxophone, sings Spanish and Philippine, and adds authenticity to Philippine songs (especially the beautiful "D'ai His Sayo").
Joe Mundo, the crazy, sometimes eccentric, all around pianist-conductor-vocal arranger is of Puerto Rican, Spanish and Indian descent.
There is no one more dedicated on the vibes and marimbas than Rudy Aquino (of Philippine-Spanish descent) who also is a very accomplished banjo player.
To add to this, Benny Chong is of Chinese, Hawaiian, Portuguese extraction. He's the number one young jazz guitarist in Hawaii today, and is also noted for his proficiency on the congas and other instruments. On the drums (from Kameharneha School) is a young Hawaiian-Spanish-Irish-English-Chinese boy, Al Akana.
Combine with their music all the fun and enjoyment that we have here every night at Duke Kahanamoku's. If it were ever possible to get this across on an album, then the world would know how wonderful life can be in a paradise such as ours in Hawaii. With this debut album by The Aliis, you're as close to paradise as you can come. – Don Ho.
Yellow Bird
Quiet Village
Taboo
Lover
Medley: A Hundred Million Miracles / Love, Look Away / Don't Marry Me / I Enjoy Being A Girl
Medley: Tonight / America / Maria / Akaka Falls / Hawaiian War Chant
Meile Lei
De Re Mi
On The Beach At Waikiki
Long time ago, a small group of friends used to go to a Polynesian restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway ,I think it was in Torrance, California, 30 miles from our homes in the San Fernando Valley just to see "The Boys" perform. They were hilarious and the music was and the food and drink was plentiful.
ReplyDeleteThe "Boys" put on a wonderful , wacky show and we went every year to see the show. One of the best memories ofy life. Thank you Aliis!