After 22 years headquartered on the ground floor of the Nauru Tower across Ala Moana Boulevard from Ala Moana Park, Jon deMello and his Mountain Apple Co. will vacate this office-warehouse-studio complex in mid-November.
“It was just time to sell and move,” said deMello, the veteran record producer behind A-list acts including Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole, The Brothers Cazimero, Amy Hanaiali‘i, Willie K, Raiatea Helm, Sean Na‘auao and, most recently, Jimmy Borges.
Mountain Apple also is one of the rare surviving distributors of CDs by the likes of Jake Shimabukuro, Kuana Torres Kahele, Keali‘i Reichel, Mark Yamanaka and Eddie Kamae.
“We sold the place to a health care system,” said deMello. “We’ve had a number of health and medical types, like a dentist, checking out the space.” The reason? “Superblock’s going up (the Kakaako building boom in the vicinity), and there will be (clinic) needs with a lot of people living here.”
DeMello had his eye on three or four locations in the area but is opting for a Kailua space “because half of my staff lives there.”
“We’re downsizing but we’re still selling a lot of CDs. And we have a catalog. But we’re really in the tourist business these days.” Meaning that visitor sales remain vigorous.
DeMello has maintained a state-of-the-art studio with equipment he had considered selling, renting studio time and space as needed. “But my engineer guy Lawrence (Yurong) and I will disassemble and move into an Aiea space for the studio,” said deMello. The only thing he can’t take along: the acoustic treatments on the walls and floors of the current studio.
One studio staple — a sizable keepsake — is not for sale: Don Ho’s original Steinway grand piano, acquired from deMello’s former Tantalus neighbor Harry Newhart, who previously operated in the International Market Place where Ho performed at Duke Kahanamoku’s. It’s been housed in the studio “but that’s staying with me,” he said. …
TRADE WINDS: Comedian Bo Irvine gave four shows in Havana, Cuba, for troops at the Guantanamo base. But he was delayed in Miami when Hurricane Joaquin was prancing in the region and is expected home today in time for his usual gig at the Hale Koa Hotel on Tuesday. …
The 2 p.m. matinee today will be the final performance of “Side by Side by Sondheim” at Paliku Theatre. Check it out — you’ll be charmed by the performances of the ensemble comprising Jade Stice, Kim Anderson, Shari Lynn, Kip Wilborn and Tom Holowach (the latter, as the narrator).
Unbeknownst to the audience, Shari was battling complications from a flu shot prior to last week’s opening and had to rely on cast mates Stice and Anderson to take over her “Broadway Baby” number after opening night so she could save her voice for the second act. If you attend, you’ll see why — Shari has a couple of terrific numbers, including Stephen Sondheim’s best-known composition, “Send in the Clowns,” and a rapid-fire lyric-spewing novelty, “Getting Married Today,” that takes a lot of lung power. The cast will convert you into a Sondheim fan. …
DATES TO LOG: Kyle Malis will star as the title character in Manoa Valley Theatre’s “Tommy,” the classic rock opera by The Who, beginning Nov. 12. You may remember him as Tom Collins in MVT’s earlier “Rent” or as Raoul in Paliku Theatre’s “The Phantom of the Opera.” His current role: an employee at Longs in Hawaii Kai, where he’s been trying to save some bucks for a move to Broadway in New York in the months ahead. …
And while it’s a bit far off, you might want to scribble “The Book of Mormon” on your 2016 calendar: Jack Lucas of WestCoast Entertainment will stage the Tony winner April 13 through May 1 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. It’s the first national tour of the show, which winds up its play dates in the islands. Oh, and two leads — Billy Harrigan Tighe (as Elder Price) and A.J. Holmes (as Elder Cunningham) — were here to promote the show and did onstage chats with moderator Loretta Ables Sayre, herself a Tony nominee for “South Pacific.” Good choice, lively chat. …
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 www.staradvertiser.com.
