Its Thanksgiving and what better way to express thanks than through the gift of song: here's a soulful Gospel flavored song from the album "Stay Awake" by 5:05 called "Thankful" - it was written and performed by the incomparable Jonny Kamai on Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar; It also features Ben Vegas on 12 string Guitar; Ben, Blaise Sison and myself singing Background Vocals; Rod Esteban playing Tambourine and all five of us did the handclaps

The CD is available here: http://www.mele.com/music/artist/5%3A05/stay+awake/

Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment


Thankful by 5:05

Here's an original song by 5:05 that got some Major Label attention back in the day from Warner Bros. - they said we sounded like Journey. . . but they didn't know where to place us because we weren't white, we weren't black, we looked kinda Mexican LOL? #truestory And look now, the new lead singer of Journey is Filipino.  Guess we were ahead of our time 'cause the music industry is more ethnically diverse these days

"We Were Something, Me & You" by 5:05

This original by the incredibly talented Ben Vegas was one of the songs that contributed to a recurring theme of "Big Brother is always watching" on the "Stay Awake" CD by 5:05. Released in 1994, the song's message still has incredible significance 20 years later with news stories of the NSA monitoring cell phone call lists currently making headlines. This track has a strong retro influence from The Police and features Rod Esteban on drums, Blaise Sison on bass, Ben Vegas on lead vocals/rhythm guitar and me on Keyboards. Background vocals were done by Ben, Blaise and I

"Somebody's Watching" by 5:05

The first radio single released from the 5:05 "Stay Awake" CD was a song written by Glenn Medeiros and his childhood friend Ernest Carbonel.  "I Wanna Be Her Man" wasn't originally written as a Reggae tune but I convinced the members in 5:05 that we needed a song that was specifically targeted for airplay on Island Music stations in our homebase of Hawaii, then we could shop the other rock tunes to Major Labels on the mainland. 

We decided to throw in a rebellious Heavy Metal/bang your head snippet at 2:37 (right after the 1st Guitar solo by Jonny Kamai). The tongue-in-cheek inside joke was well received and our music distributors said it was the best part of the song.  "I Wanna Be Her Man" became a big hit on Guam and a Chamorro drummer friend Chris Tydingco said alot of the bands on Guam learned the punches exactly as we recorded them on the CD so they could perform the song live.  

Another thing that caught people's attention about this recording was the great snare sound I got on Rod Esteban's drums (some musicians told me that they sampled the snare sound because they liked it so much). This CD was recorded in the original location of Flyin' Hawaiian: a converted family room for the control room and a bathroom with carpeted walls that I converted into a vocal booth.  So I recorded Rod's Kick, Snare, Hihat & Splash cymbal in the control room with the main speakers turned off. We wore headphones to monitor playback and I used two microphones on his kit: an AKG 414 on the Kick and a Shure SM57 on the Snare/HH.  Most of sound comes from the nice sounding piccolo snare Rod used and the drum technique he used to hit it consistently.  The rest was a little EQ from my Trident board to give it some presence and a little digital reverb to create some room ambience.

"I Wanna Be Her Man" by 5:05

Here's a soulful medley recorded live to 2 Track featuring Mel Fausto Wong on vocals and Lester Gantan on Fender Rhodes

https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment

White Christmas/Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas

When I went to work for American Express Financial Advisors in 2003, I started performing with one of my co-workers named Keith Nakaganeku.  He won 2nd place in the Frank Shaner Falsetto Singing Contest and was popular in the Okinawan community as a traditional Sanshin player and teacher.  This song was arranged by fellow Berklee alumni Fred Oshiro and was recorded at my studio Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment.  Special guests on this track are Fred on Bass, Rod Esteban on Drums and David Choy on Tenor Sax

Blue Darlin'

The hit song from the album "Stay Awake" by 5:05 almost never came to be: when I put the group 5:05 together, my goal was to create Hawaii's version of Toto and the Eagles (where everyone played their instruments really well and could sing). So we set out to write original songs in the style of Journey, the Police and Toto - then go shop the rock project to Major Labels on the mainland.

After months of recording rock material, I told the group members that if we wanted to get some airplay here in Hawaii, we would have to do a couple of songs that would cater to local radio stations that played Hawaiian and Reggae music.  This did not go over well with the members of the group who all wanted to stay true to our original rock direction. After weeks of debate, one day Ben Vegas comes to the studio and said "I don't really know why we have to go in this direction, but I saw my wife sleeping last night and I wrote this song for her."  "Pua Nani" went on to be the biggest hit song from our CD. 

The lead vocal and 12 string guitars was performed by Ben, Blaise Sison laid down the Fretless Bass, and I played the keyboards. Greg Sardinha is playing the Steel Guitar. The background vocals were sung by Ben, Roland Davis, Blaise and myself.

The "Stay Awake" CD by 5:05 is available here: 
http://www.mele.com/music/artist/5%3A05/stay+awake/ 

The song is also part of an anthology:  "The Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Volume 3"
http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-flyin-hawaiian-vol-3-mw0001436080

Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment


Pua Nani by 5:05

I used to play keyboards on the road with Glenn Medeiros and whenever we were at home, we used to get together a couple of days a week to write songs in the studio. This is a song that we wrote in English but it was translated into Spanish by Ruben Gomes of the group Menudo and was recorded by Natalie Cole (Ruben was in Menudo together with Ricky Martin).

I released our version of it in 2003 on the Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Volume 3 - a double CD set that celebrated the 15th anniversary of my record label and studio. This song was #1 on the KCCN FM100 Top 5 at 5 everyday for 6 weeks straight and was retired undefeated in the top spot.

This recording features me on keyboards, Garin Poliahu on Drums, Jon Basebase on Guitars and David Inamine on Fretless Bass

The anthology "The Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Volume 3":
http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-flyin-hawaiian-vol-3-mw0001436080

Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment


Break These Walls by Glenn Medeiros

In 2008, I recorded the Makaha Sons for a 20 song double CD project for Amuse Soft Entertainment in Japan.  John Koko was still recovering from a heart procedure so Uncle Moon laid down some reference bass tracks so recording could commence.  When Uncle John was well enough to make it to the studio, he came and laid down his Acoustic Bass tracks for all 20 songs: one take, no mistake! A superhuman feat by an extraordinary human being.  After tracking for all 20 songs were done and I was about to start mixing, the Sons asked me if I could add some strings to "Poliahu."  I added string orchestrations and some Oboe and French Horn as well as the Guitar harmonics in the intro.  To my knowledge, these were the very last recording sessions the Makaha Sons did before Uncle John went home to meet his Maker: Sleep with Angels Uncle: I love and miss you

The double CD set is available here: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=ASCM-6030

Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment

Poli'ahu by the Makaha Sons

Uncle John Koko was laid to rest today so I thought it fitting to post one more song from the double CD "Hula Song Book" by the Makaha Sons that I recorded in 2008 in my studio https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment

The double CD set is available here: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=ASCM-6030

I thought it interesting to note that Uncle Moon did call me last Christmas to inquire how my studio schedule was because he was trying to get the Sons back in the studio.  The Holidays came and went and when I was in Hilo this past April at Merrie Monarch performing with Uncle Moon, I asked him if the Sons were still coming back into the studio.  He said that he was checking to see if they could do something in between their upcoming trips.  Unfortunately, the sessions didn't happen and we received the sad news of Uncle John's passing.  

To my knowledge, these 2008 studio recordings were the last that the Sons did before Uncle John went home to meet his Maker - Sleep with Angels Uncle: I love you and miss you

Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment


Aloha Ke Po'e Koa by the Makaha Sons

The smash hit "Suddenly" by Jon Basebase was originally released on "The Best of Flyin' Hawaiian" in 1993 and was remastered for re-release on "The Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Volume 3" in 2002.

I recorded this song at the original location of Flyin' Hawaiian: in the studio in my parent's house in Salt Lake.  I am playing all of the instruments in this track with the exception of the acoustic guitars that Jon played.  I also wrote the music for the bridge of this song. Singing the Background Vocals is Anita Hall.

The version that made it to the radio was actually the 3rd version of the song that Jon recorded but when it finally got onto the airwaves, it was groundbreaking stuff. Music made in Hawaii by a local record label had never made the reporter stations playlists until this song, "Pua Nani" by 5:05, Kaua'i Aloha (for Hurrican Iniki) and "Traffic" by Quintinn Holi were in heavy rotation on stations like KSSK FM, 93 FMQ and KRTR 96 (thanks to Program Directors like Michael Shishido, Kimo Akane & Mahlon Moore)

You can still hear this song to this day and it has been dubbed an "Island Classic" by radio programmers who feel that along with classics like "Honolulu City Lights", will still be on the air for generations to come.

Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment


Suddenly by Jon Basebase

The title track from CHANT's award winning album: the CD was nominated for Contemporary Album of the Year and Best New Group at the 1999 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (CHANT performed on the award show telecast).  

At the 1999 Hawaii Music Awards, CHANT walked away with R&B Group of the Year and Best Graphics.  

CHANT appeared twice on MTV's Real World Hawaii and the Miss Hawaii pageant telecast

Their songs "Will You Still Love Me" and "Something to Give" debuted at #1 on many reporter stations here including KSSK FM, I-94, 93 FMQ, KRTR 96, FM100 and KINE 105.  

KISS FM in Los Angeles also played CHANT's Christmas song "Something to Give" and the group received some major label inquiries

CHANT also got the opportunity to work in the studio with the Japanese super group TUBE and Hawaiian Superstar Kealii Reichel - singing vocals on "The Road That Never Ends" on his Melelana CD

Once again, I am playing all of the instruments on this track - with the exception of the acoustic guitars that were played by Ben Taaca.  I also wrote the music for the bridge of this song.

The CD is available here: http://www.pacifichawaiian.com/titles/chant_hands.htm

Please visit www.flyinhawaiianentertainment.com 

Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment


Hands of Time by CHANT

This was a song that Glenn and I wrote about being in a long term relationship: the challenges of keeping things fresh and avoiding taking anything or anybody for granted. It is based on a real life relationship.

Once again, I am playing all the instruments on the track: with the exception of the Spanish style Nylon 6 String Guitar which was performed by Guitar virtuoso Fred Schreuders of the Jazz group Hiroshima.  

When Fred lived in Hawaii, I used to play in his Jazz Fusion group "Attitude" with David Choy, Dave Inamine and Jess Gopen. Fred got called to put together a band to backup Glenn Medeiros for a concert at Blaisdell Arena: so the members of "Attitude" backed him onstage and that was the very first time that Glenn performed onstage with a live band.

After a slew of long rehearsals at the Musician's Union for the concert, Glenn's manager from New York mentioned to me that Glenn was going to sit in with Cecelio Rodrigues at the Hyatt (the hotel sponsor) and said that if I wasn't busy, to stop by.  I went home to drop off my equipment  and was exhausted after a long day - I really wasn't in the mood to drive all the way back to Waikiki but I grabbed one keyboard and headed back into town.

When I arrived at the Hyatt, it was a mob scene and as I got closer to the stage, I saw Glenn and his manager with a panicked look on their faces: Cecelio's band didn't know any of Glenn's songs and there were hundreds of people there to hear Glenn sing.  Imagine the look of relief when they spotted me and my keyboard to save the day. 

The next day, Glenn's manager (the VP of Amherst Records) asked me to lunch at the Hau Tree Lanai.  As we sat down to eat, he told me: "Lester, are you ready to go with Glenn to Europe?"  Apparently, he called his Dad (the President of Amherst) and said that there's this kid on keyboards here that has all the sounds off Glenn's records. That's where my stint as Glenn's keyboard player/Musical Director all started: I was the only one from Hawaii and the rest of the band was from New York.

Here's some trivia for you: 
1) Did you know that I introduced Glenn to his wife Tammy? They have 2 children: Chord and Lyric
2) On this song "We Don't Say I Love You" was the very first time that Glenn ever sang in his falsetto in the recording studio: listen to the very last lines of the song to hear it. 

This song is available on The Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Volume 3
http://www.mele.com/music/artist/various+artists/best+of+flyin+hawaiian+3/
 
Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment


We Don't Say I Love You Anymore by Glenn Medeiros

The title track from the 1997 CD release by 5:05 was composed by one of the most talented artists that I have ever had the pleasure to work with: Ben Vegas.  He is a rare combination of creative songwriter, impeccable vocalist and guitar virtuoso.

The Lead Vocals and 12 string acoustic guitars were performed by Ben, the Electric Guitars were done by Roland Davis (who was originally in the group before Jonny Kamai).  Blaise Sison laid down the Fretless Bass and the Background Vocals were sung by Ben, Roland, Blaise and myself.

All of the tracks for this CD were recorded by me at the original location of my studio Flyin' Hawaiian (in my parent's house in Salt Lake) with the exception of Rod Esteban's drums on this song: we overdubbed them at the Young Street location of Audio Resource Hawaii with Engineer Milan Bertosa.

When I brought the album to Future Disc Systems in Hollywood to be mastered by Steve Hall (who had mastered CDs for Pat Benatar, Fleetwood Mac and Earth Wind & Fire), he asked me "Did you record this album at Ocean Way?" (a famous studio in Hollywood) and I told him "No, I recorded and mixed it in my home studio in Hawaii." He couldn't believe it and I took it as a high compliment.

The CD is available here: http://www.mele.com/music/artist/5%3A05/stay+awake/

Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment


Stay Awake by 5:05

Originally a smash hit in the 80's for the group Klymaxx, I took this pop ballad, gave it an uptempo Reggae beat and it was a huge crossover hit: not only in Heavy Rotation on all the Island Music stations here in Hawaii, but it was also in regular rotation on many reporter stations like I-94 and 93 KQMQ (who get their playlists from Billboard and Records & Radio).

The song was composed by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Gregory Scelsa, and Joyce "Fenderella" Irby and out of the blue, I got a call from Gregory Scelsa: he said that he really enjoyed our version of the song.  Once again: I'm playing all of the instruments on the track with the exception of the Wah wah Guitar.

This song was originally released on Native Blend's 1st CD "Contemporary Hawaiian Music for the 21st Century":
http://www.mele.com/music/artist/native+blend/native+blend/

Please visit the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment

I'd Still Say Yes by Native Blend

The breakthrough 1st single from CHANT's award winning album "Hands of Time": the CD was nominated for Contemporary Album of the Year and Best New Group at the 1999 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (CHANT performed on the award show telecast).  

At the 1999 Hawaii Music Awards, CHANT walked away with R&B Group of the Year and Best Graphics.  

CHANT appeared twice on MTV's Real World Hawaii and the Miss Hawaii pageant telecast

Their songs "Will You Still Love Me" and "Something to Give" debuted at #1 on many reporter stations here including KSSK FM, I-94, 93 FMQ, KRTR 96, FM100 and KINE 105.  

KISS FM in Los Angeles also played CHANT's Christmas song "Something to Give" and the group received some major label inquiries.

CHANT also got the opportunity to work in the studio with the Japanese super group TUBE and Hawaiian Superstar Kealii Reichel - singing vocals on "The Road That Never Ends" on his Melelana CD

The "Hands of Time" CD is out of print and no longer available: http://www.pacifichawaiian.com/titles/chant_hands.htm

But the song "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" is included on the double CD 
"The Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Volume 3"
http://www.pacifichawaiian.com/titles/various_flyinhawaiian3.html

Please visit www.flyinhawaiianentertainment.com

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by CHANT

Originally a smash hit in the 80's for the group Expose', I took this pop ballad, gave it an uptempo Reggae beat and it was a huge crossover hit just like Native Blend's first remake single "I'd Still Say Yes".

This song features the rap and raggamuffin stylings of JD and Papa T of B.E.T. (Big Every Time). Once again: I'm playing all of the instruments on the track with the exception of the Wah wah Guitar 

Native Blend's second CD still featured the original members of the group: Trudy Torricer, Greg Sakamoto, Josh Oguma and Chris Iyoki - but we also added the members of the band that traveled on the road with the group: drummer Junior Lafaele, guitarist/vocalist Chris Mercado and myself on keyboards/background vocals.

Native Blend's 2nd CD "The Contents of Truth" is available here: 
http://www.mele.com/music/artist/native+blend/the+contents+of+truth/

And this song is also available on the double CD "The Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Volume 3"
http://www.mele.com/music/artist/various+artists/best+of+flyin+hawaiian+3/

Please like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment

"I'll Never Get Over You Getting Over Me" by Native Blend

Here's a song from the "Hands of Time" CD from CHANT that features Tanner Henderson on Lead Vocals.  Out of everyone in CHANT, Tanner probably had the most raw talent and I honestly felt that he has what it takes to get to the highest levels of the music industry.  He's a complete entertainer not only possessing great vocal ability and rap flow, but he's an incredible dancer with stage presence that can't be taught - you have to be born with it.  I remember at all the big shows that we played, all of the young teenage fans thought they were watching Justin Timberlake.

When producing the track, I was aiming for an Earth Wind & Fire type of approach to New Retro Soul - you'll hear it with me on rhythm programming and Wurlitzer Piano, Ben Taaca on Rhythm Guitar and Carl Fidel on Bass.  Vergel Jepas did a wonderful job in arranging a lush background vocal arrangement that was CHANT's signature.

At the 1999 Hawaii Music Awards, CHANT walked away with R&B Group of the Year and Best Graphics.

The "Hands of Time" CD is out of print and no longer available: http://www.mele.com/music/artist/chant/hands+of+time/

But three of CHANT's other songs from the "Hands of Time" CD are available on the double CD 
"The Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Volume 3" 
http://www.mele.com/music/artist/various+artists/best+of+flyin+hawaiian+3/

Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment

Love You For Life by CHANT

Glenn Medeiros and I wrote this song as a tribute to my high school sweetheart Diane Suzuki who mysteriously disappeared in 1985 and was never found. 

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/suzuki_diane.html

In my senior year of high school, I took Jazz piano lessons at the same school where she taught Ballet, Jazz & Tap.  But oddly enough, we didn't officially meet there - it was at a social where we finally met and she became my girlfriend of 3 years. I was in my sophomore year at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA and I came home for the summer when she vanished.

Out of all the songs that I have written and produced, this is my Dad's all time favorite: he describes the electric guitar work by Roland Davis as "haunting." 

Once again, I am playing all of the instruments except for Roland's electric guitar and the track features some impressive background vocals by my Co-Songwriter Glenn Medeiros.  Years later when I was producing Brother Noland, he asked me who played drums on this track, and I told him it was me on my drum machines. 

The amazing Ben Vegas is singing lead vocals. Myself, along with Blaise Sison and Ben are singing additional background vocals that interplay with Glenn's vocals.  When our other song "Pua Nani" became a smash hit, 5:05 performed at the FM100 Birthday Bash and we debuted "Diana" during our set onstage at the Waikiki Shell.

This song was first released on the album "Stay Awake" by 5:05
Available here: 
http://www.mele.com/music/artist/5%3A05/stay+awake/

And later as part of an anthology "The Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Volume 3" 
http://www.mele.com/music/artist/various+artists/best+of+flyin+hawaiian+3/

Please visit the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page: 
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment


Diana by 5:05 (featuring Glenn Medeiros)

After seeing Newscaster Jai Cunningham shave his head recently to make a statement of support for the victims of domestic violence, it got me thinking about a song that I wrote with Ben Vegas and the members of 5:05 back in the day. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzFEB3C-fUE&feature=g-upl

The song "It Ain't Worth a Dime" was inspired about a friend of mine who was a beauty queen - a contestant in the Miss America pageant who moved to Hawaii from the East Coast and somehow found herself in an abusive relationship with a bartender.  

I'm particularly proud of the chorus lyrics: 
"I can give you my 2 cents baby, 'cause giving advice is easy.  
But it's up to you to cash it in, or in ain't worth a dime"

Ben Vegas is singing lead vocals and on rhythm guitar, Roland Davis is singing background vocals and playing lead guitar, Blaise Sison is playing Bass and I'm on the keyboards and rhythm arrangement.  

I also wrote the musical score for a travel show in Winnipeg Canada called "Destinations" and it was shown on ABC. The instrumental track of this song was the theme music that I used for the segment that featured the Winter Olympic Games held in Canada.

This song is from the album "Stay Awake" by 5:05 
http://www.mele.com/music/artist/5%3A05/stay+awake/

And on the anthology "The Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Volume 3" http://www.mele.com/music/artist/various+artists/best+of+flyin+hawaiian+3/


It Ain't Worth a Dime by 5:05

"Everyday is Christmas in my heart and it all begins with you" is my favorite line from "Something to Give" by CHANT - an original Christmas song that has become an Island Classic and still played on the radio airwaves in Hawaii to this day.

Written by Darren Porlas and Vergel Jepas﻿:  "Something to Give" debuted at #1 on all the major Hawaii reporter stations including KSSK FM, I-94, 93 FMQ, KRTR 96, FM100 and KINE 105. KISS FM in Los Angeles also played CHANT's Christmas song "Something to Give" and the group received major label interest: most notably from producer Teddy Riley.

CHANT consisted of Darren Porlas, Tanner Henderson﻿, Vergel Jepas, Charles Timtim﻿, Ben Taaca, Carl Fidel﻿ and Alvin Paguio. 

Once again, I am playing all of the instruments on this track - with the exception of the acoustic guitars that were played by Ben Taaca and the Soprano Sax performed by David Choy.

"Something to Give" was originally released on a 2 song CD single along with their hit remake of  "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" and it was an overnight success: selling out at Tower Records Keeaumoku on the first weekend it was released - Regional Manager Matt Koenig called me frantically and said "we need 10,000 more units ASAP!"

This version of  "Something to Give" is the Got Groove Remix from the CD "Hands of Time" which unfortunately is out of print: http://www.mele.com/music/artist/chant/hands+of+time/

CHANT's award winning album was nominated for Contemporary Album of the Year and Best New Group at the 1999 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (CHANT performed on the award show telecast).

At the 1999 Hawaii Music Awards, CHANT walked away with R&B Group of the Year and Best Graphics. CHANT appeared twice on MTV's Real World Hawaii and the Miss Hawaii pageant telecast. CHANT also held a 9 month engagement performing at the Esprit Lounge at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel on Thursday and Friday nights where we set new records for alcohol sales and once again brought a local crowd back to Waikiki. CHANT's last performance at Esprit was Millenium New Year's Eve where we rang in the 21st century.

CHANT also got the opportunity to work in the studio with the Japanese super group TUBE and Hawaiian Superstar Kealii Reichel - singing vocals on "The Road That Never Ends" on his Melelana CD. Video footage of that recording session was included in Edgy Lee's film "The Hawaiians" which was featured at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC.

Here is CHANT and I in the studio with Keali'i Reichel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAQ3dEW5D24

Please visit the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment

Something to Give by CHANT

Some of you may remember that my record label released the very 1st commercially available Rap CD in Hawaii: "Hyped, Dope, Def & Direct" by Club Rox Rock (the 1st act that I signed to my label) way back in 1991 http://www.myspace.com/clubroxrock  Club Rox Rock's first two singles became Hit Wars Champions on I-94 radio and the group opened for Lighter Shade of Brown, Gerardo, Candyman and Roger & Zapp.

Club Rox Rock also traveled around the state with the American Lung Association's "Music with a Message" and performed at high schools to spread an anti-smoking/drinking/drug message.  Club Rox Rock shared the stage with Wendy Calio (of Disney's "Imagination Movers" fame), Kawehi Lindsey, Valerie & Tiffany Nipp.  On a side note: Valerie Nipp and I reconnected in 2003 and got married in 2004 - Lionel L (who is now known as The Black Hawaiian) was my best man. Our daughter Brooke was born in 2005 (Valerie and I are no longer married but we share custody of Brooke).

Entertainment Writer John Berger refers to Lionel "Lionel L" Wright (aka XL) as the "Godfather of Rap in Hawaii" and the DJ in Club Rox Rock Duane "Dynamic DJ" Oyama founded Mass Appeal Entertainment and went on to be a successful concert promoter.  

I threw Hawaii's first mainland style Record Release Party to debut Club Rox Rock along with another artist Don Kimi at Pink's Garage.  The radio station people still talk about that party and the limos I sent to take them to and from the party. 

Eventually, I took Club Rox Rock in a different musical direction at the urging of radio program directors who started asking me for a different sound.  "Don't Throw Our Love Away" was centered primarily around XL on rap and Anita Hall on vocals. This song made it's debut on the 1997 Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Productions CD.  It's a song about an uptown White girl going out with a downtown Black guy and aimed to tear down racial barriers with lyrics like:

"Any racial combination, no segregation. Consolidation of every nation. . ." 

And this song is also available on the double CD "The Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Volume 3" 
http://www.pacifichawaiian.com/titles/various_flyinhawaiian3.html

Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment

Don't Throw Our Love Away by Club Rox Rock

The Urban mix of "Silent Night" by "3 Purple Belts": Mel Fausto Wong & Lester Gantan featuring a Rap section by Alika Wong - thus giving this version an all Relson Gracie Jiu-jitsu theme.

Again, I'm playing all the instruments on this track recorded at Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment

Please visit Mel's website http://melfausto.com/

Silent Night (Urban mix) by "3 Purple Belts": Mel Fausto Wong & Lester Gantan featuring Alika Wong

A few years back, drummer Kimo Paguio (the younger brother of CHANT's drummer Alvin Paguio) was in a Punk Rock band called Mr. Orange Undercover with a couple of teenagers from Maui and they recorded a few songs at my studio.  

This clever song was penned by the lead singer and lead guitarist Jamie Wardlow and it talks about him wanting to give the world to his girlfriend, but it would have to "wait until next week Thursday, when I get paid"

Metallica producer Bob Rock had the group on his Radio show in Maui and said that Mr. Orange Undercover was destined for great things. The group eventually moved to California to chase their dreams of getting a record label deal.

Their song was released as part of an anthology: "The Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Volume 3" 
http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-flyin-hawaiian-vol-3-mw0001436080

Please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment

"Next Week Thursday" by Mr. Orange Undercover

There were two new students in No-Gi Jiu-jitsu class yesterday and they were both HPD officers. After class, they both shook my hand before leaving and one asked me what my last name was.  I said "Gantan" and he said: "I know you, you were in that group 5:05 - I have your CD in my car." Then he started singing one of our songs accapella: 

"You are the sun and I am the rain, 
soft gentle breezes kisses your hair, 
Tropical beauty, island woman, take me away"

When I put the group 5:05 together, my goal was to create a Hawaii's version of Toto where everyone played their instruments really well and could sing.  A lot of the songs we wrote for the CD were inspired by groups like Journey, the Police and Toto.  

Some interesting trivia behind the group name:
5 guys from the 50th state
5:05am was what time alot of people got up for work
$5.05 was what a Zippy's Hamburger Steak Plate Lunch costed back then
5:05pm was a good time to have a beer after work

I co-wrote "Tropical Beauty" with Ben Vegas and it became the 3rd single released from the 1997 "Stay Awake" CD by 5:05. It was a #1 song in Hawaii and also in Japan.

The lead vocal and George Benson style 335 Guitar hook was performed by Ben, Roland Davis played the Wah Wah Guitar, Blaise Sison laid down the Bass, I did the rhythm arrangement and played the keyboards. The background vocals were sung by Ben, Roland, Blaise and myself.

I recorded the tracks for this CD on 1" 16 track analog tape and mixed the songs to DAT at the original location of my studio Flyin' Hawaiian: in my parent's house in Salt Lake (which hosted studio clients like Kalapana, Henry Kapono, Bruddah Waltah, Na Wai Ho'olu'u O Ke Anuenue, Tony Conjugacion, Ledward Ka'apana, Danny Couch﻿, Melveen Leed, Pat Morita, Glenn Medeiros and a young Bruno Mars﻿ (who back then was known as L'il Bruno, the youngest Elvis impersonator).

When I brought the album to Future Disc Systems in Hollywood to be mastered by Steve Hall (who had mastered CDs for Pat Benatar, Fleetwood Mac and Earth Wind & Fire), he asked me "Did you record this album at Ocean Way?" (a famous studio in Hollywood) and I told him "No, I recorded and mixed it in my home studio in Hawaii." He couldn't believe it and said it sounded like I recorded it at a place like Ocean Way.

The CD is available here: www.mele.com/music/artist/5%3A05/stay+awake/

And also part of an anthology "The Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Volume 3" 
http://www.mele.com/music/artist/various+artists/best+of+flyin+hawaiian+3/

Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment

"Tropical Beauty" by 5:05

Here's a perfect party song to start off your weekend with: it's a song about drinking that I co-wrote with the lead singer of Native Blend Trudy Torricer.

I'm playing all of the instruments on this track and we had a bunch of friends: Lionel Wright aka "The Black Hawaiian," Zena Piilani Wright, and Native Blend's drummer Junior Lafaele help out with the posse chants during Chris Iyoki's Raggamuffin section.

This song is available on Native Blend's 2nd CD "The Contents of Truth" http://www.pacifichawaiian.com/titles/nativeblend_contents.htm

Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment

"Drink It Up" by Native Blend

When I first met Keone "Ace" Wilson, he was the #1 Beatboxer in Hawaii's early HipHop/Rap scene. Little did I know, Keone also had an amazing falsetto voice in the traditional Hawaiian style of Auntie Genoa Keawe.  I decided to combine Keone's love for Hip-Hop/R&B and feature his falsetto voice as well as his beatboxing in a cool remake of Frankie Valli's "Sherry" 

Our version features the Raggamuffin Rap stylings of Papa T and the Rap + R&B vocal stylings of JD from the group B.E.T. (Big Every Time). Native Blend is singing the background vocals on this track and once again I am playing all of the instruments.

This song is available on the 2 CD anthology "The Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Vol. 3"
http://www.mele.com/music/artist/various+artists/best+of+flyin+hawaiian+3/

On the back cover artwork of this double CD, you will see a picture of me sitting in one of Keone's restored Ford Model T Hot Rods

"Sherry" by Keone Wilson featuring B.E.T. & Native Blend

Quintinn Holi 
Raised in Nanakuli. . .
Hawaiian/Rarotongan/German/Chinese descent. . .
Played collegiate volleyball in Minnesota. . .
Former Radio DJ. . .
Former singing tour guide and Cruise ship Entertainment Director. . .
Currently living and performing in San Diego.  Quintinn also owns/operates San Diego's first Medical Marijuana Farm and Pharmacy.

This recording features and All-star cast of Ben Taaca on Guitar, Gordon Freitas on Steel Guitar, Bully Soares on Bass, Rod Esteban on Drums, Sina Foley on Background Vocals and myself on the keyboards.

Many people remember another hit song Quintinn and I released in the 90's called "Traffic" -  
it was one of the very first locally produced songs to make it onto regular rotation on reporter stations like KSSK FM, 93 FMQ and KRTR 96.

"Can't Stop the Rain" was first released on Quintinn's self titled full length CD http://www.mele.com/music/artist/quintinn+holi/quintinn+holi/

The song is also featured in a 2 CD anthology called the Best of Flyin' Hawaiian Volume 3 http://www.mele.com/music/artist/various+artists/best+of+flyin+hawaiian+3/

Contact Quintinn on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/quintinn.holi

Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment

"Can't Stop the Rain" by Quintinn Holi

Here's a sexy New Retro Soul track called "More Than You Know" from the group CHANT. My father Luis Gantan makes a special guest appearance playing a Jazzy muted Trumpet solo a'la Miles Davis after the bridge. 

I played all of the instruments on this track - except for the Acoustic Guitar by Vergel Jepas and Electric Guitars by Ben Taaca. Darin Porlas is on Lead Vocals and Vergel did a wonderful job arranging the signature CHANT background vocals sung by Vergel, Tanner Henderson and Charles Timtim.

CHANT's debut CD "Hands of Time" was nominated for Contemporary Album of the Year and Best New Group at the 1999 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (CHANT performed on the award show telecast).

At the 1999 Hawaii Music Awards, CHANT walked away with R&B Group of the Year and Best Graphics (Graphics by Craig Hirasaki). CHANT appeared twice on MTV's Real World Hawaii and the Miss Hawaii pageant telecast

Their songs "Will You Still Love Me" and "Something to Give" debuted at #1 on many reporter stations here including KSSK FM, I-94, 93 FMQ, KRTR 96, FM100 and KINE 105.

KISS FM in Los Angeles also played CHANT's Christmas song "Something to Give" and the group received some major label inquiries

CHANT also got the opportunity to work in the studio with the Japanese super group TUBE and Hawaiian Superstar Keali'i Reichel - singing vocals on "The Road That Never Ends" on his Melelana CD

The CD Hands of Time is currently out of print: http://www.mele.com/music/artist/chant/hands+of+time/

Please like the Flyin' Hawaiian Entertainment Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment

"More Than You Know" by CHANT

May Day is Lei Day here in Hawaii so here's a fitting song that I recorded in my studio: "Ka Pua U'i" (the Beautiful Flower) by the legendary Makaha Sons.

Growing up, it was always a thrill to see the Makaha Sons perform at the Makaha Bash 
http://archives.starbulletin.com/2003/06/13/features/story1.html

In 2008, I had the honor to record them for a 20 song double CD project for Amuse Soft Entertainment in Japan. Uncle John Koko was still recovering from a heart procedure so Uncle Moon laid down some reference bass tracks so recording could commence. When Uncle John was well enough to make it to the studio, he came and laid down his Acoustic Bass tracks for all 20 songs: one take, no mistake! A superhuman feat by an extraordinary human being. 

To my knowledge, these were the very last recording sessions the Makaha Sons did before Uncle John went home to meet his Maker: Sleep with Angels Uncle

The double CD set is available here: www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=ASCM-6030

Please visit my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FlyinHawaiianEntertainment

Lester Gantan

Popular tracks