Tiny Bubbles: Remembering the Legendary Don Ho

Donald Ho Tai Loy was born August 13,1930 in the little Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako. He was of Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and German descent.

Beginning his career in a cocktail lounge in the windward Oahu town of Kaneohe called "Honey's" (named after his mother) , Don later entered the air force and spent time flying fighter jets in Texas and Hawaii. In 1960 Don returned home due to his mother's illness and took over the lounge. Ho created his own image by learning from the talented musicians he had hired to play with him at his club.

In 1962, Don Ho started playing at Duke's in Waikiki and that is when things started to change for Don Ho. There was a whirlwind of records, television appearances. He had a band that consisted of the Sensational Five Allis, complete with a drummer, piano player, two guitars, a xylophone, and a half a dozen other instruments.

Don Ho's Signature was sitting behind his Organ, with a glass of Scotch in his hand and a cigarette burning in an ashtray next to him. Don quit drinking and smoking fifteen years ago. He drew in the crowds nightly -  tourists, locals, and even Hollywood stars. Duke's in Hawaii became one of the most popular nightclubs in America. In 1966 Don played a two week engagement at the ultra exclusive Coconut Grove breaking all of their attendance records and playing to turn-away crowds each night.

Don Ho released his most famous song Tiny Bubbles in 1966. It was charted on the pop and easy listening charts. The Tiny Bubbles LP remained in the album top twenty for almost a year.

Don Ho passed away on April 10, 2007 of cardiomyopathy.