The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center continues its Live at the Aratani! concert series this Saturday, with a one-night-only show with Hawaii’s famed guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, Willie Kahaiali’i, better known as Willie K.
From traditional and contemporary Hawaiian to blues and rock, the Grammy-nominated native of Maui has done it all and done it well.
Willie and his band will take the stage at the Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo at 7:30 p.m.
JACCC President and CEO Leslie Ito wrote last year, “I learned that if you bring a great Hawaiian entertainer like Willie K, who can play seven different genres of music in one performance, the crowd will give three standing ovations!”
Over the years Willie has played with and/or opened for such musical giants as B.B. King, Santana, Willie Nelson, Prince, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Elvin Bishop, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, George Benson, Jimmy Buffet, Mick Fleetwood and Simply Red.
Willie’s talents haven’t been limited to music. He’s tried his artistic hand at acting, including starring in the recent homespun Hawaiian comedy “Get a Job,” which also featured Eric Gillom, Carolyn Omine, Jake Shimabukuro and even country music legend Willie Nelson.
Willie will also be hosting an ukulele seminar on Monday, Jan. 24, at the JACCC. Everyone is invited to bring their instruments for some tips and pointers, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
The Aratani Theatre and JACCC are located at 244 S. San Pedro St. (between Second and Third streets) in Little Tokyo.
Individual tickets for Saturday’s show range from $37 to $50. For more information, call (213) 628-2725 or visit www.jaccc.org.