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".

  
          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 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

....