Hawaii Tribune-Herald Island Beat Thursday, March 16, 2017 11 endeavor, “The Songs of C&K.” The tribute to the music of Cecilio & Kapono is brought to life onstage with Kapono, Hawaii Music Awardwinner Johnny Valentine, Alx Kawakami of Manoa DNA and 2016 Most Promising Artist Na Hoku Hanohano award-winner Blayne Asing. The group brings “The Songs of C&K” to the Big Island at 7 p.m. Thursday (March 23) at the Kahilu Theatre in Waimea. During the ’70s, Cecilio (Rodriguez) & Kapono were one of the most popular contemporary Hawaiian bands in world and one of the biggest recording artists to come out of Hawaii at the time. They gave contemporary and folk rock a new perspective. But Kapono’s musical successes continued after the duo were no longer together. He has released 17 solo albums and collaborated with fellow musicians of legendary status — John Cruz and Brother Noland — to form the group Rough Riders. Kapono says he wasn’t looking to find a substitute for Cecilio, but when Valentine was performing with the group Kalapana during a 2015 Waikiki Shell concert, Valentine spotted Kapono. “I approached him and said, ‘If you ever want to do the C&K songs again, I’m your man,” Valentine recalls. Valentine has spent most of his life entertaining in Waikiki. He was part of “The Love Notes” variety group that first put his nephew, Bruno Mars, onstage, and he has performed in everything from shows to nightclubs. Another few months went by and Kapono then met Kawakami and Asing. Kawakami has enjoyed a successful career as a singer/songwriter and producer the past 15 years with six albums, more than 40 original compositions and performances with his father and brothers in the group Manoa DNA. In 2014, he embarked on his solo career. His album “Rise & Shine” garnered multiple award nominations. Asing started playing ukulele at the age of 8. Like Kapono, he is self-taught — learning by watching YouTube videos. He plays a variety of instruments and is a prolific songwriter with style that’s a mix of country, folk and island music. Asing is nominated for a 2017 Na Hoku Hanohano award for his hit single “Molokai On My Mind.” “I was rehearsing for another concert and Alx and Blayne were singing harmonies on the side,” Kapono recalls. “They sounded so good, my wife and I thought this could actually be something where we incorporated other people.” Originally, the “The Songs of C&K” started out as a three-night engagement at the Blue Note Hawaii club in Waikiki. After a stretch of more sold-out shows, the quartet took the show on tour to the West Coast, will do several performances on the neighbor islands and are discussing possibly recording. “We just work so well together, it’s amazing,” Kapono says. “We perform the songs just like the record for this show. That’s the idea. These guys knew all the parts going in so we hardly had to rehearse.” Rehearse they did, however, which Kapono says was not only easy but fun. At first he wondered how people would respond to the new group. “Loyal C&K fans only want C&K but from the first note we played, the crowd went crazy,” Kapono says. “They just loved it.” He says having the young blood singing the old songs is refreshing. “They almost make it sound like a brand new song,” Kapono says. “They bring a young energy to it.” Valentine agrees. “The songs of C&K are classic,” he said. “Audiences will get to hear song after song filled with lush harmonies, while Henry shares the stories behind how the songs originated. It’s been so much fun to watch audiences getting chicken skin as the music takes them back to those special times. I guarantee they’ll be singing along through the entire show.” C&K songs, classics such as “Lifetime Party,” “Friends,” “Goodnight and Goodmorning” and “Gotta Get Away” — Cecilio & Kapono songs were about their lifestyle during that particular time. “Everyone could relate to it,” Kapono says. “I guess it was just timing … a combination of everything. But I guess we also had something special.” Now, it’s a new generation bringing their own passion for C&K music to the stage. “Singing with this group is incredible because the musicians are fantastic,” Valentine says. “Looking beside me, to see that I’m standing next to and performing with the legendary Henry Kapono is surreal. I’ve always had great respect for his brilliant artistry. Blayne and Alx are the next generation of Hawaii’s great musicians. The chemistry among the four of us is magic. We all have so much fun together, and I think that comes across in each performance.” Doors open at 6 p.m. Beverages and snacks are available at the theater bar. Tickets are $20, $48, $58 and $68 and are available online at www.kahilutheatre. org, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Friday at the box office or by calling 885-6868. Email Katie Young Yamanaka at BIVHawaii@ gmail.com. CLASSICS From page 2 Photo by JENNIFER WHALEN Henry Kapono, Johnny Valentine, Alx Kawakami and Blayne Asing perform during a presentation of “The Songs of C&K.” The quartet brings the show to Waimea next week. Courtesy of Kapono Inc. An old photo of Henry Kapono and Cecilio Rodriguez — Cecilio & Kapono.
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