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