 The
music scene on Kaua'i, though not as big as the more populated
Hawaiian islands, has always produced more than its share of talent.
Some, like slack key guitar master Ray Kane, have left for the
bright lights of O'ahu. CINDY COMBS is one of the many who stay
put, sharing her slack key music on the Garden Isle. "I've been
playing this cute little vegetarian restaurant, the Hanapepe Cafe,
Friday nights for years," she says. "Since November 2000 Michael
Barretto and I have been sharing Saturdays at the Kaua'i Coconut
Beach Hotel in Wailua." And there's always lots of music at special
occasions, including the wonderful private music made at home, which
has always been at the heart of slack key.
Unlike other slack key artists, Cindy was not born in Hawai'i. She
came with her family and stayed by choice. She was born on April 20,
1953 in San Diego, but packed up, while very young, to travel the
world with her parents and sister. The four globetrotters eventually
settled in the Canary Islands. "Our intention was to remain," Cindy
recalls, "but one day a song came on the radio. My mother started to
sing along...'Haina ia mai ana kapuana...' and I asked her 'How do you
know the words to that song?'" It turned out that Cindy's family had
lived on O'ahu before she was born. Her father was a Pearl Harbor
survivor, in fact, and they were all homesick for Honolulu. They
returned, with Cindy this time, in 1963. "When we arrived, my mother
kissed the ground. I was certain we were in the right place because
mom would never have done anything that risked that many germs unless
the gesture was heartfelt!"
School in Hawai'i often includes learning at least a little bit about
the 'ukulele, and Cindy's first exposure to the instrument came from
her 5th grade music teacher Mrs. Beakhart. School also brought
friends interested in folk music and a guitar, with which Cindy
learned Joan Baez and Bob Dylan songs. The family home filled with
music from Cindy's parents, sister, aunt and uncle. "Mom could read
music and played piano and organ," Cindy says. "Dad played by ear and
could get a tune out of almost anything including the violin. He owned
a wide variety of instruments, including clarinet, harmonica
(chromatic) and claviata." It's the hymns grandmother Mary sang that
Cindy recalls with the most fondness. "She would do The Old Rugged
Cross, In the Garden, beautiful songs in her high sweet
voice."
One day, in 1971, Cindy spotted an ad in the local paper advertising
slack key guitar lessons taught by Keola Beamer, who was just
beginning to gain a reputation as a hot young player on the scene. "I
did a double take," Cindy says. "I could hardly believe the
synchronicity of it. You know that feeling that this was meant to be.
I got on the phone right away and wound up taking six lessons in six
weeks." In six weeks, Cindy learned much, including the G6th and C
Wahine Tunings she favors today, and six songs, all of which remain
special favorites. "Those six weeks changed my life and put me on the
road to where I am today," she says. "Still playing, still in love
with slack key."
Another big influence, singer-songwriter Jerry Santos, helped
fix Cindy's sights on playing slack key professionally. He even
invited her to play on LIKE A SEABIRD IN THE WIND
(Seabird 1001), the groundbreaking first album by Olomana,
Jerry's very popular duo with Robert Beaumont. "I got to add
some slack key to the song O Malia, she says. "They credited me as
'and a sweet touch from Cindy Combs,' which was a real thrill and an
honor. He's a big influence. I love to sing with him, any kine song,
but especially the Hawaiian ones. He sings and you're drawn in."
Local radio was also booming at the time, and Cindy immersed herself
in the airwaves of KCCN, 1420 AM. "I was glued to that station," she
recalls. "Leinaala Haili, Myrtle K. Hilo, The Isaacs, Gabby Pahinui,
Sonny Chillingworth, Marlene Sai, the Kahauanu Lake Trio, Charles K.L.
Davis, Olomana, Auntie Genoa, Myra English, Sunday Manoa, Hilo Hattie,
so many I cannot name them all. I learned by osmosis, I got the book,
NA MELE O HAWAI'I NEI. I dog-eared and coffee stained
several Puku'i and Elbert Hawaiian dictionaries. I dug up all those
49th State Records my mom used to dance hula to. John K. Almeida
became my favorite composer. I discovered Lena Machado and
Alfred Alohikea. So much beautiful music, so many wonderful words
that touch the heart."
Playing on the local scene led to visits to Kaua'i, a place described
in song as "nani maoli no mai 'o a 'o" (truly beautiful from
point to point). In 1985, Cindy decided to move there permanently.
Kaua'i's serenity, plus raising a family, gave her plenty of
inspiration; not only to play slack key but also to begin composing.
In 1993, Ka Nani O Koke'e won the Kaua'i Composers Contest.
Several years later, Uluhaimalama tied for first place in the
Friends of the Royal Hawaiian Bands' Ho'okuku Mele Contest. "I can't
wait to hear the band play that one," she says.
To pay back for all the inspiration she has received from radio, Cindy
also began serving as a part-time DJ on 720 KUAI, an AM station in
'Ele'ele, Kaua'i. "My handle is 'The Ukulele Lady' and I play my
uke a little with my intro and after public service announcements."
Since 1993, she has also helped coordinate a Hawaiian music workshop
called E Kanikapila Kakou on Mondays from February through May.
Composers and performers of Hawaiian music, including many slack key
masters, come and teach songs and share their understanding of the
music.
Although she has been in the studio before, Cindy is especially proud
of SLACK KEY LADY, her first Dancing Cat album. "I am so
excited and honored to be a part of the Dancing Cat family," she says.
"So many talents pulling together to bring slack key to the world. My
hope is that it helps bring peace to what can be a very rowdy planet."
On this release, Cindy shares two original compositions plus ten local
standards. These include three of the six songs Keola Beamer
taught her in 1971, as well as Olomana's classic 70's hit
Ku'u Home O Kahalu'u. Slack key favorites like Hi'ilawe and
the Hawaiian sovereignty anthem Kaulana Na Pua also appear.
Cindy pays tribute to some of her favorite composers, with Roselani
Blossoms by Johnny Almeida, Wahine 'Ilikea by
Dennis Kamakahi and other classics. She ends the album with
Whispering Hope, a hymn in honor of her grandmother and mother.
Her latest CD release is SUNNY RAIN, a
solo instrumental recording featuring five new
compositions by Cindy, and eight of her beautiful arrangements of
classic Hawaiian songs by other composers.
Like all slack key guitarists, Cindy brings her own unique features to
everything she plays. Producer George Winston is especially
excited about her use of the fairly rare G6th tuning. In the G6th
tuning, the highest string is pitched to E, creating a unique and
sweet sound. "Cindy is the person who has gone the furthest with the
G6," says George. Cindy says humbly that the credit should go first to
everyone who has inspired her in music, that they're the main reason
she is still playing and still in love with slack key. She adds that
she wanted to create a brief mission statement for the album to
explain her reasons for making it. "The best thing I've come up with
so far," she says, "is 'to brighten someone's day with music.' If I
can do that, it's all good!"
For more information on Cindy, visit
www.dancingcat.com
and
www.slackkeylady.com
Cindy last performed in The Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key
Guitar Concert Series at the Napili Kai Beach Resort on
Wednesday, April 23, 2008.
(Previously, Cindy performed in this concert series at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Maui on
March 8, 2005 and March 2, 2004.) |
