Larry Rivera turns 88 next month. So, one might think he would be looking forward to relaxing at home and resting on the laurels of his musical success.
But if that’s what you think, then you haven’t met Larry Rivera.
He’s spry, spirited and nothing but smiles because he has exciting news to share. This is the Larry Rivera of joy and jokes that people meet when he takes the stage.
So what is this great news?
Rivera grins.
He’s bound for California on the “Aloha Hawaii Love” tour that includes five stops, starting tonight at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande. The man known as “Mr. Coco Palms” will be sharing his music and his magic as part of a show that also features Kahulanui (Hawaii’s Kings of Swing), and Maritza Canto (a fire knife dancer).
There is a glint in his eyes as he talks about his return to touring in California for the first time in nearly 50 years.
It’s not, however, something he plans to resume as a regular gig.
“I think it’s a last hurrah,” he said.
When asked if he really planned to finally retire, he backs away from that statement.
“Well, I can’t say no,” he said. “It could be the last hurrah.”
Rivera’s musical career spans more than six decades. His hits include “Aloha Begins With Me,” “Beautiful Coco Palms,” and Waialeale.” His shows at the Coco Palms Resort were the stuff of legend. Today, he remains known for his personal touch and exuberance as much as he is for hometown vocals and his gifts with the ukulele and guitar.
This tour will take him to Barclay in Irvine on Sunday, the Rio Theater in Santa Cruz on Aug. 19, the Gallo Center in Modesto on Aug. 25 and Cabot College in Hayward on Aug. 26.
His youngest daughter, Lurline Fernandez, will be with him on keyboard.
It won’t be his typical shows of storytelling mixed with music.
“I’m not in control of the show like I normally am. I do less talking and more singing,” he said.
The reason, at the age of 87, he’s still physically capable of leaving his beloved Kauai and traveled to The Golden State, is his health — physically, mentally, spiritually. The man defies the usual rules of age.
How does he do it?
Rivera chuckles. The showman is coming out.
“The doctor checked me all out and he said, ‘Larry, what’s wrong with you? I can’t find nothing wrong.’”
He runs down a mental checklist: cholesterol, low; heart and lungs, good; kidneys, excellent.
What’s the secret?
“I see Dr. Pepper at McDonald’s,” he said.
No, seriously. Is it diet? Exercise? Good genes?
In the next moment, Rivera lifts his left leg and balances on his right. He holds that pose for several seconds. Yep, still got it. His sister Anna is 90, he said, and doing well.
Rivera is delighted to be heading out for an off-island concert for the first time since September when he went to Minnesota.
He notes that people travel across the island to see him perform at the Garden Island Grille in Koloa on most Sunday nights.
The promoters of the California tour have been after him and he couldn’t say no anymore, even if it meant being apart from his wife Gloria for several days — their first time apart in many years. He’ll return home after Sunday’s tour before leaving again mid-August.
“Gary Vecchiarelli has been trying to book me for a long time. and I accepted it,” Rivera said. “I’m at their disposal.”
Rivera will be playing sets of six or seven songs. including “Kamalani,” “I Don’t Want To Say Good-bye To America,” and “The Whole World Looks to Hawaii.”
“It will be fun and it’s a chance to promote Kauai, he added, besides being paid to do what he loves.
While his marching orders are more music and less talking story, it’s hard to believe Rivera won’t deviate from the game plan a bit. He’s at his best when he’s free to be himself and that means improvising and connecting with the crowd and getting them to laugh along with him.
To prove it, he quickly recounts a story about Fresno, Calif., and that tour in 1971.
“They gave me the key to the city, but the key didn’t open any doors for me,” he said, laughing.
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Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.
Sadly, the show at Irvine California’s Barclay Theater has been cancelled due to major electrical issues at the theater. My wife and I told Larry in June that we would see him there, but now we can’t. Best wishes, Larry! See you again in February 2019!
Joe
Yucaipa, CA
The concert at Irvine California’s Barclay Theater has been cancelled due to major electrical problems that will take several weeks to fix. In June of this year, we learned of the planned concert directly from Larry. We informed him that we will be there in Irvine. Unfortunately, this can no longer happen. Best of luck Larry on your tour! We will see you on Kauai in February 2019!
Joe & Sue
Yucaipa, CA
Thank you TGI for the notice! I live in Santa Cruz and immediately bought my tickets for his show here.
What a gift to hear this amazing musician. By the way, he looks fabulous in that photo!
Great to hear Larry is coming to the Gallo Center in Modesto . You can bet I’ll have a front row seat , My last trip to Kauai was time well spent with Larry . Looking forward to seeing him again