Post #63627 by TikiGardener on Sat, Dec 6, 2003 1:21 PM

More info...

http://www.gildedserpent.com/articles19/aziza10column902.htm

(you gotta check out this guys band!)

"Starting in 1968 I went on road tours with Guy, his musicians – usually Pete Peterson on drums and Joe Dabney or Bert Pellish on piano – and another girl – a singer or dancer. Our first stop was always Albuquerque, where we appeared at the Tiki Kai Supper Club (which has since burned down). Despite its Polynesian name, the Tiki Kai booked many big name acts from across the spectrum of entertainment, and bellydancing had never before come to New Mexico. It was a very nice restaurant with an adequate stage, but the women’s dressing room had a good-sized hole in the floor, covered insecurely by a rug – a trap for the unwary – I don’t know why they didn’t fix it."

From
http://www.abqjournal.com/venue/personalities/personalities05-30-03.htm

Then, Baker decided to put together his own band and he began touring the country with a show that featured the Polynesian sound that had become popular in post-World War II America, mainly because of returning GIs who had discovered the music. Albuquerque was part of the tour.
Later, in the 1960s, Freddie headlined at the popular Tiki Kai lounge on Central. That's where he first noticed Jane, a member of the Ong family that had owned the Chinatown restaurant on Gold Street in the 1950s. Jane said she already knew who Freddie was, and that her brother-in-law went to Las Vegas, Nev., where Baker was playing, and persuaded him to come to Albuquerque to be part of the Tiki Kai.
"The whole town was alive then," he said with a note of nostalgia.
Of his relationship with Jane, Freddie said, "She's a hard worker, knows the business; I couldn't have done anything without her."
Suddenly, Jane appears at the table. It's time for Freddie to get back on stage.

[ Edited by: TikiGardener on 2003-12-06 13:24 ]