Cruisin’ with Kona’s Kenny Tagavilla

By Fern Gavelek

Music has weaved in and out of Kenny Tagavilla’s life since small kid time. His paternal grandmother sat him down as a keiki to teach him to play ‘ukulele—but no, he didn’t want to pick it up. However, while attending a church youth camp as a middle schooler, Kenny saw all his peers making music “and then it all clicked”—he took to the ‘ukulele like a fish to water.

On and off throughout his 42 years, Kenny has also played electric bass, electric and acoustic guitar, and written and recorded music. While Kenny says he always sang songs, it wasn’t until the end of high school he discovered he “had a voice” and later was the lead singer in several bands, including his own group: Koa Ridge.

Known in the local entertainment scene as Kenny T or Kenny Tagavilla, the humble Hōlualoa resident has performed in Hawai‘i Island restaurants, clubs, and as part of a worship team at Kona Baptist Church in Keauhou. Most recently, under the direction of Kona music producer and two-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner Jaz Kaiwiko‘o Yglesias, Kenny recorded a handful of cover songs (songs released by others) and two originals, “Cruisin’,” and “Jo‘tham’s Song.”

Claiming he’s “just a regular guy,” Kenny’s lifetime involvement with music has evolved to be less about himself, and more about how his performance can “touch others.”

Learning to Play Multiple Instruments

Kenny says once he started to play ‘ukulele as a youth, he “was hooked” on learning to play more songs. As he couldn’t afford to buy cassettes, he learned to play songs from listening to them on the radio. He’d first sing the song and then play the sounds he heard in the music. He basically taught himself the fingerings and started jamming with his friends.

“Around my senior year, the Kona group Pa‘ani Pila got big and I really got into them,” the Hilo High School graduate recalls. He also got interested in what Kapena and Ka‘au Crater Boys were playing. “It was a whole different thing on the ‘ukulele with their music.”

As all of Kenny’s music mates played ‘ukulele—five of them—he decided to learn how to play electric bass and guitar. “Some of the other guys did too, and we switched off.” The boys started doing gigs for friends. “We’d have a couple guys in one band and another pair of us were in another…I was in three to four different bands at one time. I’d jump in and play their stuff; it was fun times.”

Once out of high school, the 17-year-old started doing carpentry work and that’s when Kenny met Hawai‘i Island musician, sound man, and instrument maker Alvin Inouye. Their early relationship was a defining time for the young man and his journey as a musician.

“I couldn’t leave my eight-string Kamaka ‘ukulele in my car so I brought it to the job site,” remembers Kenny. “Alvin scolded me and after looking at my ‘uke, offered to clean it up, and that’s how it all started.” Alvin saw potential in the youth and built him some custom instruments. He also did some homegrown, basement recordings with Kenny that inspired the teen to continue playing music.

“If it weren’t for Alvin, I wouldn’t have done as much as I’ve done in the music world or taken music as serious as I did,” continues Kenny. “Alvin was one of those people, through the years, that when I’d put music to the side, he’d pop up and ask, ‘What’s happening?’ He’d encourage me to get back into it.”

Juggling Work, Gigs, and Family

Kenny soon started playing with his friends at local venues “to go out and just have fun.” He had a regular job driving a truck and says he juggled work with playing gigs at family parties, local bars, and restaurants, or “wherever they would let us make noise.”

While Kenny was being inspired by island musicians like Braddah Iz, the Peter Moon Band, and Cecilio & Kapono, Alvin opened Kenny’s eyes to country music, including Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney; also to music from the 60s and 70s. In his late 20s, after being introduced to different music genres, Kenny picked up the acoustic guitar and started playing different music.

“I grew up in the 80s and all of a sudden, while playing the different acoustic guitar sound, I became aware of more music to play,” he explains. “I started playing Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, Phil Collins, Billy Joel, and the Beatles. When you discover them, it opens your eyes to how good that music sounds.”

It was during this time Kenny started the band Koa Ridge; it had five musicians and a female vocalist. They played a wide variety of music as each member “brought something to the table.”

“Koa Ridge was one of the best bands I’ve been in,” he says. But after more than a decade of doing double duty with work and gigs—plus making time for his young family—Kenny says he got burned out. “It got to a point where it was just craziness, out playing parties and bars and I finally said I was done with it.”

Church Brings Kenny Back to Music

Around 2012, Kenny was recruited to play music at church, where he found “it was a whole different thing playing for the Lord, and during the morning instead of late at night.” He is part of a team of musicians and worship leaders who perform a mix of contemporary songs and old hymns chosen by Kona Baptist Pastor Brian Frable.

Kenny said he started playing outside church again here and there, but it was different, and not about being seen and heard but more about what he could leave behind. “If people are blessed by what I’m doing and sharing, it’s kind of what I was meant to be,” Kenny explains. “My outlook now is not about me and more about enjoying the sharing of music.”

One of the songs performed in church, Mercy Me’s “I Can Only Imagine,” has become a favorite for parishioners and Kenny has been often asked to sing and play it at memorials and events.

Kenny confides the Christian-based, spiritual song is about going to heaven and he feels different when he sings it. “When I started playing the song, I didn’t think it would have such a profound impact on people, but it has.”

Performing mainly in church through 2019, Kenny started jamming with a couple buddies and brought along his son, Koa. They hung out Sunday afternoons in the garage, called themselves the Man Jam and posted quick videos on Facebook. Jaz saw the videos, called up Kenny, and convinced him it was time to start recording music solo. While Kenny admits he thought “that dream was past,” Jaz encouraged him and they got started.

Recording Music Becomes a Reality

Jaz, a performer in his own right, who recently retired from KAPA Radio and is teaching music at Konawaena High School, laughingly describes Kenny “as an R&B musician in a country musician’s body.” Saying Kenny sings for all the right reasons—“he loves to sing and has a pure intent”—Jaz figured he could take Kenny’s musical gift and give it its own identity.

Jaz helped Kenny record a cover of Lionel Richie’s “Sail On” in December 2020 at his Mixed Emotion Studio in Kona. Released under Jaz’s Lāhui Project label, the song was considered for a nomination for a Nā Hōkū Hanohano award in 2021 for Single of the Year. Next, they recorded a cover of “I Can Only Image,” which garnered lots of radio air time. “I never thought I’d hear my song playing multiple times a day on the radio,” smiles Kenny.

In June 2022, Kenny released his first original song, “Cruisin’,” about chilling out after a long day of work and going for a ride with your girl. Most recently he recorded another original about Koa’s close friend who passed away, “Jo‘tham’s Song.” Jaz hopes to release all these songs, plus some more originals and covers, on an album soon.

Catch Kenny Livestreamed Friday Nights

Offering a weekly online hour of music and special guests, Friday Night Live Jams presents Kenny and two others performing virtually from three different places. Kenny is in Kona, Wayne Kim is on O‘ahu, and Matty Wong is in Mountain View each performing songs from different genres live on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Airing at 7pm most Fridays, the livestreamed show began in conjunction with the onset of Covid and allows listeners to comment and chat during the broadcast. The musicians don’t play all together, as there is a slight time delay, but Kenny is happy to bring spontaneous music to listeners around the world.

“I thank God for music. I rarely go through the day without having some music playing, I just think it’s part of my life,” notes Kenny. “It’s allowed me a lot of opportunities to meet friends and share the same passion.” ❖

CD covers credits:
“I Can Only Imagine” CD cover courtesy Lāhui Project
“Sail On” CD cover photo by Vaea Iona

For more information:
jaztheproducer.com
facebook.com/FridayNightLiveJams