“PEOPLE AND PLACES OF NA KO‘OLAU”

Rod Young and Gordon Broad (Moon Surfer Productions)

Gordon Broad has been a significant figure in the local record business since the 1970s. His work as a songwriter includes, “Sweet Lady of Waiahole,” which was one of the first locally written songs to use Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and a hit for 3 Scoops of Aloha in 1985. Broad also recorded an album of original Hawaiian-language jazz and was the leader in producing karaoke-track videos of island songs for the convenience of karaoke singers.

Rod Young is remembered for his 1974 hit recording of “Puka Shells.” The song was a musical celebration of a local fashion craze of the mid-1970s, written by multi-talented actor/song writer/recording artist Lani Kai, that Broad produced and released on his namesake record label. In short, Broad and Young have been musical friends since the early ’70s.

This two-disc CD is a collection of new recordings of songs Broad has written over the years about people and places on Windward Oahu. They’re presented in geographical order going from Laie down to Waimanalo. Broad sings some, Young sings others. “Sweet Lady of Waiahole” is included, of course.

The second disc is a DVD that presents the songs with photographs and song lyrics added.

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“NO KA‘U MAU MO‘OPUNA”

Danny Johnson (self-produced)

Danny Johnson came to Hawaii from California the day after he graduated from high school in 1972. He spent the summer hanging out in Waikiki and eventually found a home on Maui. It was there that he fell in love with the Hawaiian and hapa haole music of the islands. Johnson has been a Hawaii resident ever since.

Johnson makes his debut as a recording artist with a collection of his favorite songs recorded using an app on his iPhone but mixed and mastered by professionals. Johnson sings and accompanies himself on acoustic guitar. It’s like being there in his living room.

The one oddity is a song he calls “Makani” but which is actually “They Call The Wind Maria” from the 1951 Broadway musical, “Paint Your Wagon,” written by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, with some new lyrics.

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