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Topic: Western Dancing at the Swing Club in Chinatown, Honolulu? |
Mikiya Matsuda
From:
San Francisco, California, USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2016 8:57 pm |
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I just came across this old photo of the Swing Club in Honolulu’s Chinatown. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/318981586082417204/
Does anyone know the history of the venue or who would have performed upstairs for “western dancing� And by "western dancing", are we talking western swing?
Were there active western swing bands in Honolulu at this time and did they have steel players? If so, who were they?
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www.mikiyamatsuda.com
www.alcatrazislanders.com |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 8 Mar 2016 10:12 pm
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Don't know about the swing bands back then, but nice old pics of the Moana hotel, which is about to celebrate it's 115th anniversary ! 
It was the first hotel on the beach I believe....
Thanks for those ! |
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Mitch Drumm
From:
Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake
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Posted 9 Mar 2016 3:44 am
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There was a notable jazz scene in Honolulu from the 1930s forward, with local as well as mainland players.
I found this blurb regarding jazz in Honolulu:
"The '30s also heard KGU announcer Harry Soria Sr. broadcasting jazz from the notorious Casino Club, famous for its Taxi Dance Hall, on Nuuanu Avenue near Beretania Street. We're talking Andrew Blakenee and the Brown Cats of Rhythm. Other clubs included the Paradise Club on Hotel Street and Leroy's on Ala Moana and Coral Street. Leroy's featured Eddie Sereno's dance band, which included Sereno, "Toto" Aspera, Goichi "Twerp" Nakayama, Al Baang, Tommy Carter, Charles Santos, Tony Soares, Ronald Choo, Alec Abing and Angel Baptiste.
A decade later, the Swing Club on Hotel Street showcased bandleader Que Martin with vocalist Del Graham, drummer Danny Barcelona, Lester Vactor on bass and reed men Charles Abing and Bobby Kamaunu."
Also found a note stating that by the 1970s, the Swing Club was featuring live sex shows, reflecting the changing times on Hotel Street.
I can't find anything relating to "western swing" in Hawaii in the 40s, but there have been mentions on this forum of capable western swing steel players being in Honolulu in the 50s--but they may have been playing in pop or country bands for all I know. |
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 9 Mar 2016 10:25 pm
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All of the great electric Hawaiian steel players were influenced by Jazz. Their improvisation and taste for 9ths are some indications.
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Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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