 Dignitaries and guest listen to Chigusa Kitai and Shiho Kurauch play Ventures songs on traditional Japanese kotos. Among the songs is the popular “Hawaii Five-O” and “Wipe Out.” (Photo by George Liu/NWAW) |
The Beatles and other famous bands are long gone, but The Ventures still exist after half a century. (Read their story online at www.nwasianweekly.) Not only did they hold themselves together, they are now in the second generation. Band member Leon Taylor is the son of the late Mel Taylor.
The current members of The Ventures signed a copy of Northwest Asian Weekly!
What holds them together is their passion for music. Supposedly, they don’t argue much.
I have long followed The Ventures’ music, since I was a kid in Hong Hong. But I didn’t know the name of the band nor the fact that members were from our own backyard. To see the band being honored with the Order of the Rising Sun award by the Emperor of Japan, at the residence of the Consul General of Japan, Kiyokazu Ota, on June 28, was exciting. During the ceremony, many of the band’s family members were moved to tears. ♦