Danny’s first professional performance was in 1974 at the Main Outrigger Hotel Waikiki, 6 nights a week 9pm-2am as a Solo Acoustic Musician in a little lounge bar at the bottom of the escalator a place called “the Min Pub” This is where he met and befriended Gordon Lightfoot. Gordon was staying in the same hotel and was doing a concert in town.  Danny was shocked when Gordon appeared at the door of the Mini pub, he immediately took a break asked Gordon if he could do some songs, since he had to work and couldn’t make it to his concert. Gordon said “sure’ and he did ‘If you could read my mind” ‘Sun Down” and “Beautiful” there was only 8 people in there including the bartender. Danny called Gordon a couple more times that week to come and sit in and he did. 

Going to California

Danny left the Mini Pub and headed out to California where he played in some showcases in Los Angeles at the Improv on Melrose, and Glen Cambells Palimino Club in Burbank. Later moved to Santa Cruz doing gigs at Positvely Front Street, The Catalyst, The Cooper House, Babbling Brook, 41st Avenue Grapesteak, The Old Sash Mill. He moved to Laguna Beach and did gigs in and around Laguna. Being a resident of Laguna he qualified to perform Busking at the Sawdust Festival and opened for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. He also performed in surrounding towns The Quiet Woman, Wind & Sea, The Jolly Roger in Dana Pt. also Barrels in San Clemente.

Danny left California and flew back to Hawai’i, then about a year later after a break, moved to Cocoa Beach Florida where he lived and performed at The Thirsty Turtle, Beach Shack, Art Festivals, Benefits, Dive and beach bars.

Going to Maui Tomorrow

Toward the end of that summer Danny headed back to the islands to Maui. At this time in Maui early 80s there were only a few solo musicians, so the gigs were abundant. It wasn’t unusual to have many gigs in one day for instance, doing a hotel breifing at 7am, then doing a 11am Whale watch, then a sunset happy hour at 4pm and sometimes a later gig. Danny performed at many top venues in Lahaina, Whales Tale, the Blue Max, Nimbles, Blackbeards, Clandersons, the Pioneer hotel, Longhis, La familia, Rusty Harpoon also in Kihei at Pollis on the Beach, Koa House, Prime Rib House, Chucks.

White Ships Sailing on the ocean.

Danny had heard about the 7 day around the Hawaiian islands gig being in a Hawaiian trio, it would be 4 months on live on board and 2 months off a rotation, sailing around the islands saturday to saturday, join the Seafarers union, get a letter of intent, have a passport and pass a drug test. It was the SS Independence & the SS Constitution, He would be in the Hawaiian Trio, after a few rotations, in1994 Danny moved to Seattle.

to be continued