Golden Throat at the 70's Nightclub Reunion VIII

A little bio that Nohelani Cypriano passed on to Robin Kimura on the band that will close out the night at the Ala Moana Hotel on Saturday, August 14, 2010.

GOLDEN THROAT


In the ‘70’s, an all-girl local top 40 band started it all for the lead singer of Golden Throat. The all-girl band, called Rock Candy entered a talent contest amongst 22 bands and won (and not only because of their hot pants!). Following Rock Candy, Golden Throat was formed with members Michael Cord, John Dileo, Travis Fullerton (and later Gary Ferguson), Dennis Graue, and Nohelani Cypriano. Prior to disbanding, they released one album in the late ‘70’s, entitled “Golden Throat.”

Golden Throat opened for many headliners at Conroy Bowl and the NBC Arena and played in Waikiki clubs, such as the Sting, Waikiki Beef n’ Grog and Hula’s. Some of the members of Golden Throat continued with prominent careers in music. Former bass player, Michael Cord established Hana Ola Records and has released many out-of-print vintage Hawaiian recordings. Travis Fullerton moved to Hollywood and played drums for Billy Joel, John Lennon, Bonnie Raitt and many other artists. Gary Ferguson toured with Etta James, Cher, Ray Charles, Bette Midler and other top headliners and continues to teach drums in California. Dennis Graue remains in Hawaii and was the musical conductor for Don Ho for many years, recorded and released his own CDs and continues to play keyboards and performs in Waikiki.

Since Golden Throat, as Nohe was recording her first LP, she and Dennis submitted their original song for the Home Grown contest and won for their single, “Lihue,” which launched her career and became her first hit. Her first LP included her hit “Living Without You,” “You Are So Beautiful,” and “Moon of Manakoora” and branded her music as Hawaiian funk. In 1982, Nohe continued to write and released her hit, “In the Evening,” and “Remember.”

During the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, Nohe worked at military clubs, the Beef ‘n’ Grog, Jazz Cellar, Point After, and many other venues throughout the Islands as “Nohelani Cypriano and Hotline.” While performing at Trappers and Esprit, Nohe was the entertainment director and headliner on a cruise ship for 15 years. Nohe continues to record and is a multiple Na Hoku Hanohano award winner for “Best Female Vocalist” and “Contemporary Album of the Year.” In the late ‘90’s Nohe joined the Local Divas—a quartet including Loyal Garner, Carole Kai, and Melveen Leed. They performed to sell out crowds in the Islands and traveled to Japan and Hong Kong. Their last concert in memory of Loyal was in 2001, entitled “This One’s For You.”

Nohe has performed throughout the mainland—West Coast Tour, Las Vegas, at the National Mall in Washington, DC, Carnegie Hall, etc. She has also toured Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, and last year visited seven military bases in Iraq and continues to perform and travel to different countries to spread the aloha spirit.

Nohe’s latest CD, “Pulelehua, My Precious Butterfly” is dedicated in loving memory to her mother, Leina’ala Simerson, a long-time and respected Hawaiian entertainer. All of the songs on this CD have a special meaning and connection to her Mom and features many guest artists, such as Fiji, George Kuo, Jeff Peterson, and Sean Na’auao. It includes three songs recorded by her mother prior to her passing and the title track is a song Nohe wrote which touches upon the many butterfly signs from her mom. The music on this CD is a loving testament to all mothers and to anyone who has lost a loved one…it is a celebration of life, love, and soul connections. With this CD, Nohe filmed a TV special entitled “Pulelehua” and it has recently won a Telly Award for recognition in the documentary division.

Nohe’s next release she is currently working on, will be a “Best Of” CD which will include past hits and a few new bonus tracks. This CD should be available this August.

-posted by Cool Tropical Jazz LLC @