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Some of the Ali'is are still onstage in Waikiki

Question: What ever happened to the Aliis -- Carlos Barbosa, Joe Mundo, Benny Chong and Danny Couch?

Answer: The Aliis, who first achieved fame working with Don Ho at Duke Kahanamoku's in the mid-1960s and then enjoyed renewed popularity with a new generation of fans as a solo act in the 1980s, broke up almost 20 years ago.

The five original members of the group -- Al Akana, Rudy Aquino, Benny Chong, Manny Lagodlagod and Joe Mundo -- have performed together several times since then in reunion concerts with Ho.

Benny Chong is semi-retired but works with Ho in Waikiki. He also plays in an ukulele jazz duo with Byron Yasui. Chong contributed several tracks to a compilation album of solo ukulele recordings and recently finished his first solo ukulele album.  Benny Chong taught himself to play the 'ukulele when he was about 11 years old. After nine years or so, he virtually put the 'ukulele away for some thirty-five years. When I met him in 1964, he was the guitarist with the Ali'is, the band that backed up Don Ho. In 2000, I invited him to be one of the four artists in "The Art of Solo 'Ukulele", a concert series that led to a CD and a public TV special. These events revitalized his interest in the 'ukulele, resulting in his album.
The Above is a Quote From - Byron Yasui
You can see Benny and Byron Playing every Thursday and Friday Night at 7:00pm to 9:30pm at the Neptune Restaurant located at the Pacific Beach Hotel in Waikiki.
For reservations call the Pacific Beach Hotel (808) 922-1233

Please ask for the upper level or to be seated close to B2
For More Information on Benny and his Album Please Visit his web site
www.ukulelejazz.com

Joe Mundo moved to the mainland in the early 1980s and is playing music in Seattle, according to Couch. (I accidentally found out that Joe Mundo lives about 5 minutes away from this website owner, I'm in the progress of setting up a meeting, and yes he's still performing music)

Carlos Barbosa, who joined the Aliis after they left Duke's, is a member of Augie Rey's Little Big Band.

Bobby King, the Aliis' bassist in the 1970s and '80s, also works with Augie Rey in Waikiki.

Danny Couch, who joined the Aliis in 1981, Oahu resident, recently closed a 13+year engagement at the Hale Koa Hotel and is talking to other Waikiki hotels about opening a new show. He was named Internet Radio Artist of the Year at the Seventh Annual Hawaii Music Awards, and will find out Tuesday if his current album, "Then & Now," made the final ballot for the 27th Annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in May.

Aquino lives on Maui and is still involved in music. Akana, who retired in 1981, lives on the Big Island and owns a gasoline and petroleum products distributorship.

Lagodlagod lives in Los Angeles and owns a hair salon.

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Mahalo to Fanaddict Ed Allen for forwarding this information

The following article is from the Honolulu Advertizer Newspaper while Danny was entertaining at the Hale Koa Hotel

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Item Detailed Information    Broadside: THE ALIIS: The World's Greatest Vocal Group Author: Aliis Publisher: The Cave Vancouver, BC ca. 1978 Fine condition, large group portrait. Original not bound 14" x 8.5" one page Printed on blue stock. The group are dressed in high-style mod leisure suits and sport big hair, typical of the mid-1970s. Members of The Aliis included: Bobby King, Joe Mundo, Danny Couch, Carlos Barboza, and Benny Chong.