John Valentine is one of the busiest musicians on the Hawaii music scene. He fills in the Mackey Feary parts with Kalapana, stands in for Cecilio Rodriguez when Henry Kapono does the hits of C&K, works in Waikiki as a soloist and has parallel careers as a recording artist and record producer.
Valentine, a youthful 50-something, made his Waikiki debut in 1980 when he and another multitalented entertainer, Pat Miguel, began performing at the Captain’s Galley. In 1985, Pete “Dr. Doo Wop” Hernandez invited them to join his group, the Love Notes. The duo’s skills as multi-instrumentalists and music track producers fueled the Love Notes’ explosive rise from a cappella doo-wop vocalists to Waikiki show group.
Hernandez married Valentine’s sister, Bernie, and their son, Bruno, joined the Love Notes as “the world’s youngest Elvis” in 1989.
JOHN BERGER: When did you start helping Bruno?
JOHN VALENTINE: My relationship with Bruno was set long before the Love Notes. We developed a close relationship early on, and my sister, who always encouraged him to sing, asked me to teach him.
All I was doing was spending time with my nephew doing what he wanted to do, which happened to be learning the stuff that I was doing on stage.
JB: What kind of relationship do you have with Bruno, his brother Eric and their sisters these days?
JV: We’re family, so our relationship isn’t any different than with any other family. I’m in touch with Bruno, Eric and their sister, Jaime, in L.A. through text and phone calls, and I’m in close touch with the sisters who live here in Hawaii.
Recently Bruno FaceTime’d me because he wanted to see what he’ll look like when he gets old!
JB: You grew up in Hawaii with the music of C&K and Kalapana. Now you’re working Kalapana and Henry Kapono. How cool is that?
JV: It’s surreal. Kalapana and C&K were two of my biggest influences, and now I get to perform with not just one, but both of these great musical acts. It’s a huge honor.
JB: What’s your next big thing?
JV: My latest CD, “Back in My Day,” a collection of all original songs inspired by the music of Kalapana and C&K with a touch of today’s sounds. I’m also working on a solo CD that highlights the favorite songs of Waikiki such as “Blue Hawaii” and “Honolulu City Lights,” and I’m producing Volume 5 in the “Guitars of Hawaii Today” series.
JB: What do you like to do on your day off?
JV: What day off? You don’t need a day off when you’re doing what you love.
“On the Scene” appears weekly in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Sunday Magazine. Reach John Berger at jberger@staradvertiser.com.
