He played at Woodstock, he played at Carnegie Hall and this weekend , the founder of The Lovin’ Spoonful group from the 60s, will play at the Jasmine Ballroom in the Kauai Beach Resort.
“I’m a very privileged guy,” John Sebastian said. “I’m overjoyed to play and write music.”
His original songs included, “Do you believe in magic?” “You didn’t have to be so nice,” “Daydream,” “Younger girl,” “Did you ever have to make up your mind?” “Summer in the city,” and “Younger generation,” many of which became top 10 hits immediately back in the 60s.
Six years ago, Sebastian was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and 14 years ago his band “The Lovin’ Spoonful,” was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He says he never gets tired of playing fan favorites.
“Do it in Kauai,” he said with conviction. “You won’t feel bad repeating a song people know.”
Sebastian will play guitar and harmonica and share stories about how his tunes came about.
“I’ve been enjoying some of the fruits of playing music for most of my lifetime,” he said. “On this tour (three islands) I remembered coming here with my wife in the 70s and now I’m kicking myself for not buying property back then.”
One of Sebastian’s other memories is of when his first hit, “Do you believe in magic” hit the top 10.
“I used the money from that song to buy a new Gibson,” said Sebastian. “My other guitar had been stolen out of a car in New York City.”
Greenwich in New York was where it all began for Sebastian at The Night Owl Café where the inspiration began for “Do you believe in magic?”
“It was where the girls from Queens started to come down to Greenwich to hear us play,” said Sebastian.
The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. Sunday. Prices are $40 and VIP tables are $65. Visit www.lazarbear.com (Gold Circle) or call (808) 896-4845. Also, tickets are on sale at Kauai Sound & Music, Kapaa, Hanalei Music & Strings, Hanalei, Hawaiian Music Kiosk’s, Coconut Grove and Princeville Shopping Centers, Progressive Expressions, Koloa, Pictures Plus, Kukui Grove Shopping Center and Scotty’s Music, Kalaheo.
