Stan
No Subject
Thu Dec 6 12:45:49 2001

I was working in Hawaii in the 60's when the popular song Mynah Bird came out.
Now it seems that the tune is similar to the song Yellow Bird.'
Are the the same song and someond kinda changed the lyrics.
As I recall Mynah Bird went "Mynah Bird you rascal of Wakiki" and Yellow Bird goes "Yellow Bird way up in the 
banana tree"

I would like a e-mail on this and a clue as to where I can get a 45 rpm record on either.

I live in Baton Rouge La, by the way, and as you can probably gather I aint no spring chicken. 




mel
Re: No Subject
Thu Dec 6 19:18:07 2001

Long time ago Hilo's "Mynah Bird" (Melvin Medeiros) used to play the "Mynah Bird" song at the start of his 
show. I don't know if he does now. He does have a morning show on KIPA radio 620 AM on the Big Island. He is a 
longtime favorite of older Hilo listeners.

There may be a version of the song recorded by Nelson Waikiki which was issued on Tradewind Records I believe. 
It came out on LP in the 1960s and issued to cassettes later. I have never seen the album on CD.





Stan
Mynah Bird
Sun Dec 9 06:31:56 2001

I did call Desoto Brown, who is at the archives of the Bishop Museum. He did recall Mynah Bird and said that 
it was a parody of Yellow Bird done by some local musician. Another lady at the House of Music (Lydia was not 
in yet), said that they order their music from Olina Road, 837-7800, that I called, and while the fella had me 
on hold looking up info for me, I could hear this Hawaiian style country music in the background...cool, real 
cool music. 







Erika Engle
You'll have t o act quickly ...
Thu Dec 6 20:12:36 2001

... before House of Music goes out of business (the store is to close in January - forever, unless somebody 
buys the lease at auction). I wrote a story about this, which is where this detail comes from. 
There's a lady at House of Music named Lydia who is known for her encyclopedic knowledge of Hawaii's music. 
I'm told she can even remember stock numbers of old 45s! Chances are, if anybody can help hook you up with the 
record, it's her. Mind the time difference, (we're behind you by at least a few hours), and give her a call 
(808) 949-1051.
There's also a Hawaiian music historian (and collector) by the name of DeSoto Brown. I believe he works at the 
Bishop Museum (808) 847-3511.
Good luck!

I believe a "Jimmy (or Johnny) Mo'ikeha" also recorded the song, but perhaps I'm remembering things wrong (I 
used to set up the old KPUA AM studios for Mynah Bird as he followed my overnight show). 




.