• The Royal Drifters aka The Jolly Drifters

     The Royal Drifters aka The Jolly Drifters
    The Royal Drifters

    The Royal Drifters  (Hawaii)
    aka The Jolly Drifters


    Personnel :

    Danny Bobbitt

    Moki Cabalse

    John Akana

    Walter Choi

    Rudy Molina


    Discography :

    The Royal Drifters
    1959 - Little Linda / S'Why Hard (Teen 506)
    1959 - To Each This Own / Da Kind (Teen 508)

    Robin Luke With The Jolly Drifters
    1958 - Chicka Chicka Honey / My Girl (Bertram International 208 / Dot 15839)



    Biography :

    All group members were from Honolulu and attended McKinley High School. The group were composed by Moki Cabalse, John Akana, Walter Choi, Rudy Molina, Larry Akana and Danny Aranio. They sang together in high school and In 1958 they were known as The Jolly Drifters, a  group who sang backup vocals for Robin Luke on "Chicka Chicka Honey" and "My Girl".

     The Royal Drifters aka The Jolly Drifters     The Royal Drifters aka The Jolly Drifters
              Robin Luke                                                                                 The Jolly Drifters

    Robin Luke was discovered by Hawaii entrepreneur Kimo Wilder McVay. Luke was living in Honolulu, Hawaii, attending Punahou School, in 1958 when he wrote and recorded a Billboard #5 hit, "Susie Darlin'" a song named after his then five-year-old sister, Susie. The track also reached #23 in the UK Singles Chart. He continued to record, but was unable to repeat his Top 10 success. His first four singles were recorded for the small International label in Honolulu. After "Susie Darlin'" started getting local airplay, Dot Records bought his recording contract and the International master tapes.

     The Jolly Drifters aka The Royal Drifters
    The Royal Drifters (L to R) Danny Bobbitt, Moki Cabalse, John Akana, Walter Choi and Rudy Molina.

    After their "Chicka Chicka Honey and "My Girl", Larry Akana & Danny Aranio parted ways to join the U.S. Air Force and Danny Bobbitt joined the group. The Five guys changed their name fro the Royal Drifters. The Royal Drifters became a hot  group that was the warm up act for all the nation's top singers and groups like Elvis, Everly Brothers, etc. that came to Hawaii in the late 50s and early 60s. The Royal Drifters recorded songs as "S’ Why Hard", "Da Kind", "Little Linda" & "To Each His Own" under the Teen Records label in 1959.


    Songs :

    The Royal Drifters

      
    Little Linda                               S'Why Hard

      
    To Each This Own                                  Da Kind


    Robin Luke With The Jolly Drifters

       
    Chicka Chicka Honey                                 My Girl

     

     

     

    ....


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