Asian-American Special - Don Ho Tribute (58:59 or 59:59) > Comments > "Review of Don Ho Tribute Anniversary Memorial - His Life & Music (Full Version) 58:59 or 59:59"
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Commenter Profile
- Sydney Lewis
- Username: slewis
- Location: Rochester, Massachusetts
- Joined PRX: Sep 06, 2003
Piece Information
- "Asian-American Special - Don Ho Tribute (58:59 or 59:59)"
- Summary: Asian-American special features Don Ho in Hawaii in his last face-to-face Public Radio interview with singing, songs and music tunes from the beach in Hawaii before he died in April 2007. This program recorded live from Waikiki reflects the carefree, happy-go-lucky lifestyle of its guest and provides samplings of the Asian-Hawaiian musical contribution that Don Ho gave to America and its unique American music hip & hop styles. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This program promotes membership of a new audience of public radio listeners. This is a full, NO-Hole format. Audio content revised 30-April-2008. A News-Hole version is available at: http://www.prx.org/pieces/22401. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CD Available at http://www.PRWW.org/CDHO.html
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Review of Don Ho Tribute Anniversary Memorial - His Life & Music (Full Version) 58:59 or 59:59
Sydney Lewis
Posted on April 21, 2008 at 09:07 AM
Hearing Ho?s version of ?Tiny Bubbles? has heretofore been the limit of my Don Ho experience. No more. I am not about to rush out and buy Don Ho?s greatest hits, mind you, but this smoothly produced hour gave me a genuine appreciation for why his audience loved him. I?d never realized how truly beautiful his pipes were.
The program host has a slightly old school style, but it works well in this piece and feels refreshingly different from current NPR voicing. The sound of waves in the background during the warm and relaxed interview is perfect; interview material nicely paced, interspersed with song.
Ho is Jimmy Buffet-like in his good time vibe, and while country music is Ho?s favorite, he knows for his audience he represents a certain spirit and he?s happy to oblige. Spirit is a word that comes up a lot in the interview, conducted a year after a stem cell transplant and heart surgery, and close to a year before he died.
Self-promotion is great, but insert 12 minutes in asking if I?m enjoying the program, urging me to let my public radio station know, falls like a thud. The pledge spot that follows also feels like an annoying interruption. I know, I know, it has to be that way smetimes. But In this piece, being pulled away from the waves is a jolt. Otherwise, really enjoyed this audio altar to the warm heart and generous spirit of Don Ho.