The Song and the Man

Don Ho's statue unveiled at International
Market Place this month (SF Gate)

Don Ho didn't have a great voice, and I doubt that his vocal range was two octaves. What he had in spades was charisma, coolness, and the ability to read the room. He was Hawaii's Dean Martin, the crooner with a drink in his hand, serenading and flirting with the fans.

His big hit "Tiny Bubbles" had a simple melody and simple lyrics. Like Don Ho the man, it's difficult to understand how the song was so popular. You just had to be there.