Post #379386 by msteeln on Sat, May 10, 2008 11:48 AM

Oh yeah, his music was relevant from the first strike of the mallet til the ends of time. There will never be another like him.
He excepted the risidual issues, but knew he'd own Diamond head if life was fairer. Otherwise, he was very aware of his fortunes in life, and certainly wanted to continue in the revelry.

He finished out his playing life in the lounge of the New Otani Hotel on Waikiki's Sans Souci Beach, typically as a solo act, and had everybody's love. My last time there, Eddie Kamae, and Jim Nabors were some of the friends wishing him well. I had the #1 table, right next to him, and he talked story about the things of interest to him and some history. Fortunately, I finally had the tapes rolling for this show, and got his words and awesome music down to replay and remember a unique icon by.

At one point, after a series of bird calls, he turns to me and say's off mike "I hate that shit".