The Rascals to perform Thursday at Maui Arts & Cultural Centers Castle Theater | News, Sports, Jo

Rascals featuring Felix Cavaliere shown here will perform at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Thursday. — Photo courtesy of Maui Arts & Cultural Center

Back in the late 1960s, the Rascals were known as the most successful concert act in the Hawaiian islands. Loved almost as much as the Beatles, thousands of fans would greet them when they flew into Honolulu’s airport, and they would sell out the 8,000-seat Honolulu International Center Arena.

“We had a great history in the Hawaiian islands,” said founding vocalist/organist Felix Cavaliere. “There’s kind of like a real bond between the island population and us.”

Cavaliere and founding lead guitarist Gene Cornish are returning to Hawaii on their “Time Peace Tour,” to play the Maui Arts & Cultural Center Thursday. “Gene is really excited to be back and so am I,” added Cavaliere. “We’re looking forward to it.”

As to the significance of a “Time Peace” tour, he explained, “one of my albums was called ‘Time Peace.’ That’s really relevant right now. This world is going a little crazy. I thought it’s a good message.”

Known for hits like “Good Lovin’,” “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long,” “Groovin’,” “How Can I Be Sure,” “A Girl Like You,” “A Beautiful Morning,” and “People Got to Be Free,” during their 1967 Hawaii summer tour with The Byrds, the Rascals performed at Wailuku’s War Memorial Gymnasium.

“That was when David Crosby was with them,” he recalled. “One of the things that the Rascals did is prior to a lot of the islands having performance centers, we did a tour of all the islands and we literally played in the street. You would be amazed how many of those people remember that who are now, of course, in their 70s.”

Maui back in the late ’60s “was heaven,” he said. “It was undeveloped. Our first trips to Lahaina and Kaanapali there was nothing there compared to now.”

During their Hawaii trips, the Rascals composed songs like “Island Of Love,” “A Beautiful Morning,” and their love letter to the state, “My Hawaii,” which extolled the magic of the islands and mentioned Maui. While it was not released as a single, “My Hawaii” became a favorite on radio stations throughout the state, and The Krush recorded a version.

“It was heartfelt,” he said about the song. “Every time we came to Hawaii, which was often, we were also given at least two tickets for our family members. So over the course of the years, we were able to bring almost everybody to Hawaii. It became like an instant family thing on our end, as well as the relationship with the people there. It was ohana.”

Grateful to late promoter Tom Moffatt, who helped elevate their popularity in Hawaii, Cavaliere said he “was not only a dear friend, he was a mentor. Then this jockey by the name of The Beard (Bob ‘The Weird Beard’ Lowrey) promoted our concerts and had us on the air. One year I was studying with a guru, Swami Satchidananda, and they put him on the radio. It was amazing.”

With Cavaliere on vocals and Hammond organ, co-lead singer Eddie Brigati, Dino Danelli on drums and Cornish on lead guitar, the Young Rascals, as they were initially known, created an appealing, potent sound that married rock and soul influences. “I basically was exposed to the very beginning of rock and roll, which was Alan Freed in New York City,” he said. “The pop music that I grew up on was pretty much all soul. There was the occasional group that would come along and do a cover of Little Richard or something like that, but for the most part, it was all soul.”

As a measure of their popularity and song writing talent, besides scoring number one hits, among the artists who covered “Groovin'” were Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Marvin Gaye, and Hawaii’s Imua. “You Better Run” was later covered by Pat Benatar, and Robert Plant.

Asked about songs he is particularly proud of, he said, “I’m proud of ‘My Hawaii,’ ‘People Got to Be Free’ and ‘A Beautiful Morning’ stood the test of time. One of my favorites is ‘How Can I Be Sure.’ I’m just happy to make a contribution to the world of music. I want to continue contributing and I’m putting a new album out.”

The Rascals featuring Felix Cavaliere and Gene Cornish perform on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the MACC’s Castle Theater. Andrew and Jay Molina will open. Tickets are $45, $65, $85 with a limited number of premium $125 seats (plus applicable fees). Tickets are available at MauiArts.org.

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