Don Ho

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For the Vietnamese singer see Don Ho (Vietnamese American singer).
Don Ho
Birth name Donald Tai Loy Ho
Also known as Don Ho
Born August 13, 1930
Origin Honolulu, Hawaii
Died April 14, 2007 (aged 76)
Genre(s) Traditional pop
Pop
Easy listening
Occupation(s) Singer, musician
Instrument(s) Vocals, piano
Years active 1959 – 2007
Label(s) Reprise Records
Associated acts The Ali‘is
Website www.donho.com

Don Ho, born Donald Tai Loy Ho (Chinese: 何大來), (August 13, 1930 – April 14, 2007) was a Hawaiian musician and entertainer.

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[edit] Life and career

Ho, of mixed Chinese, Hawaiian, Portuguese, Dutch, and German descent, was born in the small Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaʻako, but he grew up in Kāneʻohe on the windward side of the island of Oʻahu. He was a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools in 1949 and he attended Springfield College in 1950, but returned home to earn a bachelor's degree in sociology at University of Hawai'i in 1953. In 1954 Ho entered the United States Air Force and spent time flying fighter jets in both Texas and Hawaii.

Ho left the United States Air Force in 1959 due to his mother's illness and began singing at his mother's club, Honey's. In 1963, he moved from Kāneʻohe to Waikīkī in Honolulu and played at a night club called Duke's owned by Duke Kahanamoku, where he caught the attention of record company officials.

Ho was originally signed to Reprise Records.[1] Ho released his debut album, Don Ho Show, in 1965 and began to play high profile locations in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and New York City. In 1966 he released his second album, a live compilation called Don Ho — Again!, which charted in the early part of that year. In the fall of 1966, Ho released his most famous song, Tiny Bubbles, which charted on both the pop (#8 Billboard) and easy listening charts and caused the subsequent Tiny Bubbles LP to remain in the album Top 20 for almost a year.[2] Another song familiar to Don was "Pearly Shells". Guest appearances on television shows such as I Dream of Jeannie, The Brady Bunch, Sanford and Son, Charlie's Angels, and Fantasy Island soon followed. Although his album sales peaked in the late 1960s, he was able to land a television spot on ABC from October 1976 to March 1977 with the Don Ho Show variety program which aired on weekday mornings (which by coincidence, replaced Hot Seat and got replaced by Second Chance, both game shows were hosted by Jim Peck).[3][4]

[edit] Later life

Ho had ten children.[5] His daughter, Hōkū, performed with her father in his Waikīkī show and in 2000 went on to become a nationally known recording artist in her own right. In 2005 he sang a song that was used as the opening theme to the direct-to-video and DVD movie Aloha, Scooby-Doo!.

Ho was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2005 and had a pacemaker installed.[6] He contacted Theravitae, a biotechnology company specializing in treating heart conditions with adult stem cells working in conjunction with Dr. Amit Patel, a cardiac surgeon and pioneer of the use of adult stem cells for heart disease. On December 6, 2005, Ho had his own blood-derived stem cells injected into his heart by Patel with his surgeons in Thailand. The treatment went without incident. Later in the month, Ho said, "I'm feeling much better and I'm so happy I came up here to do it."[7]

In September 2006, Ho married Haumea Hebenstreit, who produced his show at the Waikīkī Beachcomber.[8] Although he had a new pacemaker installed on September 16, 2006,[9] Ho died in Waikīkī from heart failure on April 14, 2007.

[edit] Legacy

A cover version of "Tiny Bubbles" became the signature tune of the Scottish soft country and western singer Sydney Devine.

California punk rock band NOFX released a 12" single entitled "HOFX". The cover had a picture of the band with Don Ho in Hawaii.

A Missouri chapter of Alpha Kappa Lambda, in the past, held a bi-annual music festival commemorating the Hawaiian singer. The members affectionately refer to the festival as “Don Ho” in April and “Don Ho in the Snow” in December.

[edit] References

  1. ^ McLellan, Dennis (April 15, 2007).Don Ho, 76; singer was best known for 66 hit 'Tiny Bubbles'. Los Angeles Times
  2. ^ Wilson, John S. (November 25, 1966). Don Ho Abandons Little Grass Shack; Hawaiian Is Voice of Islands' New Sound Brings Kui Lee Songs to the Royal Box New York Times
  3. ^ The Motley Fool (March 31, 2006). Interview: Don Ho. NPR
  4. ^ Advertiser Staff (April 15, 2007). HAWAI'I'S ICON DON HO, 1930 - 2007: Don Ho dies. The Honolulu Advertiser
  5. ^ Nii. Esme Infante (April 14, 2007) Don Ho's life: from Kane'ohe to stardom. The Honolulu Advertiser
  6. ^ Ryan, Tim (December 23, 2005). Ho comes to terms with getting older. Honolulu Star Bulletin
  7. ^ Associated Press (December 9, 2005). Singer Don Ho says he's feeling better.
  8. ^ Chinen, Nate (15 April 2007). Don Ho, Hawaiian Musician, Dies at 76. New York Times
  9. ^ Associated Press (September 21, 2006). Don Ho to be released from hospital soon.

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Donald Tai Loy Ho
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Don Ho
SHORT DESCRIPTION Hawaiian musician and entertainer.
DATE OF BIRTH August 13, 1930
PLACE OF BIRTH Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
DATE OF DEATH April 14, 2007
PLACE OF DEATH Waikīkī