If a showroom is secured and the stars align, Pete Hernandez, father of Hawaii superstar and Grammy Award winner Bruno Mars, hopes to produce and stage a Bruno-boosting family show in Waikiki. Hernandez has been scouting for a site here and will reactivate his Love Notes doo-wop group and possibly involve the Lylas, the ensemble made up of his four daughters, in his Waikiki homecoming.
“Everybody loves the concept,” said Hernandez of the production that would embrace Bruno doing an Elvis Presley act when he was 3 or 4 — via vintage video.
“I’ve been looking for a showroom, perhaps with 400 seats, and would like to open up in June to catch the summer tourist season if possible,” he said. “This would be my dream come true, to have the family working together.”
The concept of a Bruno family production has the blessing and backing of the singer-composer, according to his father, although the global star won’t be present for it, as he is working on his highly anticipated third album. Surely, some of his trademarks like “Just the Way You Are,” “Locked Out of Heaven,” “Treasure” and “When I Was Your Man” could be incorporated.
Dad reports that Bruno’s third album, originally expected to drop next month, will be delayed. “It was due in March, but by doing the Super Bowl (halftime show), it threw him back several months,” said Fernandez. “Bruno has seven great new songs — I’ve heard ’em — but the album should now be released in September or October, to qualify for next year’s Grammy Awards.” …
HELLO, THERE: Adele, a superstar herself, has high praise for the aforementioned Mars. They collaborated on “All I Ask,” featured on her best-selling third album, “25,” the tune that was mangled because of sound problems on the Grammy Awards show earlier this month.
Adele admitted to Digital Spy, “I’ve always been a really big fan of Bruno. He can do anything, literally singing the best vocals you’ve ever heard live in your life while he is playing a drum or a bass or doing some mad percussion riff. I think he definitely will be the biggest, biggest, biggest artist in the world.” Alluring words.
Adele said that “All I Ask” took only 48 hours to write. …
AROUND TOWN: Melveen Leed will do a one-night stint March 21 at Blue Note Hawaii at the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel. Shows will be at 6:30 and 9 p.m. and Da Tita will share her jazz roots with a dose of country and Hawaiian. Call 923-0711. Kamaaina rates are available. …
High-octane DJs Brody Jenner and Devin Lucien, resident spinmeisters at Drai’s Nightclub in Las Vegas, will be at command central from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday at Sky Waikiki. It’s a red-carpet event. Reservations: 979-7591 or vip@skywaikiki.com. …
Vanita Rae Smith will direct “Outside Mullingar,” a Readers Theatre program at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and 2 p.m. March 6 at Pohai Nani Auditorium, 45-090 Namoku St. in Kaneohe. The play, by John Patrick Shanley (“Doubt”), is a romantic dramedy about two introverted misfits caught in a long-standing family feud. Director Smith says it’s “90 minutes of smiles with a tear.” Jim Tharp, Chris Higgins, Jo Pruden and Marjorie DeSantis are the actor-readers. Free and open to the public, but call 254-4885 or 436-5478 to reserve a seat. …
THE OSCAR GOES TO …: Here’s how we see the outcome of the Academy Awards, airing tonight on ABC, in seven key categories:
>> Best picture: “The Revenant.” Besides the bear mauling, this is perhaps the most grueling and relevant survival pic ever.
>> Best director: Alejandro G. Inarritu, for “The Revenant.” Two-in-a-row winnah.
>> Best actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, for “The Revenant.” Grim, but the bear scene did it.
>> Best supporting actor: Sylvester Stallone, for “Creed.” Decades later it’s a KO for “Rocky.”
>> Best actress: Brie Larson, for “Room.” Solitary confinement mattered.
>> Best supporting actress: Alicia Vikander, for “The Danish Girl.” OK, she was the other Danish cutie.
>> Best song: “Till It Happens to You,” from “The Hunting Ground.” Lady Gaga and collaborator Diane Warren strike Oscar gold. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com. Read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at staradvertiser.com
