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"Pops" Gabby Pahinui (1921-1980) - Hawaiian slack-key guitarist and singer, enjoyed O Gauge, but I doubt you'll find that mentioned in any online biography.  I didn't know the man, but have enjoyed his talent since first seeing him preform during the so-called "Hawaiian Renaissance" of the '70s.

A diverse performer of primarily Hawaiian language music with a few English lyric songs in the mix.  Best enjoyed performing live in an outdoor venue, and I think those were his favorites as well.

Some might like the opening lyrics to this English language song:  "I'm a Livin' On a Easy"

"I'm a livin' on a easy, on a bottle of whiskey, I have no money to suit my honey"

The O Gauge connection was made while I was browsing at small second floor train shop that had recently opened in what is now Ward Center.  Don't recall the name of the shop and it didn't survive long.   He was admiring a silver Lionel passenger car, holding it up close to his eye, squinting a little, and grinning like a kid on Christmas morning.  We made eye contact, exchanged smiles, and the local greeting of the time - an upward nod of the head with a softly spoken long "a" sound.   The look on his face told me was a train guy.

https://www.last.fm/music/Gabby+Pahinui

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabby_Pahinui

Last edited by Kelunaboy

I just read in a book, Boys of Summer, that Roy Campanella enjoyed electric trains. I'm assuming they were Postwar Lionel trains. Arnold

On another baseball-related note, I was just reading an old profile of St. Louis Cardinals great, Bob Gibson, by the late Roger Angell. He mentioned that Gibson had a large and highly detailed HO layout that he enjoyed in his retirement years.

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