Don Ho the Singer of "Tiny Bubbles" Dead at the Age of 76

Don Ho's publicist Donna Jung says the Hawaiian singer and Entertainer has died today of Heart Failure at the age of 76. Don Ho has suffered with heart problems in the past and had a pacemaker installed last fall.In 2005 he went to Thailand and underwent stem cell surgery for his heart condition.

Donald Ho Tai Loy was born August 13,1930 in the little Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako. He was of Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and German descent.

He began his career in a cocktail lounge in the windward Oahu town of Kaneohe called "Honey's", named after his mother. In 1954 Don entered the air force and spent time flying fighter jets in Texas and Hawaii. In 1960 Don returned home due to his mother's illness. After he returned from the air force Don took over the lounge. Ho created his own image by learning and playing from talented musicians he had hired to play with him at his club.

In 1962 Don Ho started playing at Duke's in Waikiki and that is when things started to change for Don Ho. There was a whirlwind of records, television appearances. These days were the biggest of Don's career as a singer, entertainer and a star. He had a band that consisted of the Sensational Five Allis. There was someone playing the drums, the piano, two guitars, a xylophone and a half a dozen other instruments.

Don Ho's Signature was sitting behind his Organ, with a glass of Scotch in his hand and a cigarette burning in an ashtray next to him. Don quit drinking and smoking fifteen years ago.

Don Ho drew in the crowds nightly, tourists came and so did the locals and then the Hollywood stars. Duke's in Hawaii became one of the most popular nightclubs. In 1966 Don played at the ultra exclusive Coconut Grove. He played a two week engagement. He broke the attendance records and played to turn-away crowds nightly.

Don Ho released his most famous song Tiny Bubbles in 1966. It was charted on the pop and easy listening charts. The Tiny Bubbles LP remained in the album top twenty for almost a year.

Don Ho was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. The cause of his failure was not known and there was no treatment.

In September 2006, Ho married Hauma Hebensreit who produced his shows at the Beach Comber. Don Ho's daughter Hoku Ho sometimes performed with her father in his show in Waikiki. She later went on to become a recording artist.