Melinda Faye Nagasawa's Obituary
Melinda Faye Nagasawa Obituary
Melinda Faye Nagasawa, 78, of Honolulu, Hawaii passed away on July 30, 2024. She was born on February 16, 1946 in Hawaii.
Gone too soon, Meling’s presence will be missed by many; as she left family and friends with treasured memories of her no-filter, fun-loving personality.
Born to Stanley Redira, Sr. and Christina Matias, she was raised in Waialua by paternal grandparents Catalino and Julia Redira. Stanley Redira, Sr. played the trumpet in the Army Band with his Army buddy Gabe Baltazar who played the saxophone, which fostered Meling’s love of jazz. The Redira home was usually blasting jazz music from the stereo, and Meling loved bossa nova jazz and some of her favorite jazz singers/artist were Astrud Gilberto, Stan Getz, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joe Pass, Paulino DaCosta, Sergio Mendes, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McRae, Tomiko Jones,
Meling became a known jazz singer in the early 70’s by sitting in on jazz gigs at Keone’s Lounge headlined by jazz musicians such as Bobby Enriques, Jimmy Borges and Betty Lou Taylor, Sam Ahia . . . of course wherever Gabe Baltazar headlined Meling would be there. In fact, back in late 70’s every Sunday Gabe would be playing at a place called Katso’s. She would bug one of or a group of cousins to go with her to see Gabe perform with this upcoming Jazz Fusion Band made up of a bunch of teenagers from McKinley and Mililani High School. She was in awe of how a bunch of guys in high school had an interest and played jazz, and of course Meling who would be called up to sit-in and sing. Some of the songs Meling liked to sing was of course, Dahil Sayo, Ikaw; Day-by-Day, Wave, Nearness of You, Satin Doll, Sabor A Mi…….
Several jazz greats visiting the isle heard Meling sing at these jazz gigs and would always ask her where her gig was at. Once a well-known guitarist (who cousin Sharon can’t remember his name) heard her singing at one of these gigs; he was impressed, he chatted with her after her asking “you don’t have a steady gig? …You need a gig of your own”. Most notable while she was in L.A. she visited a club where Joe Sample was performing, she sat in to sing a song. After, Joe Sample invited her to his L.A. gigs anytime she could make it. Meling, was friends with many notable local entertainers who would ask her to come up and sing whenever she popped into their gig, such as the Mel Cabang show at the Oasis Nightclub. Mel would introduce Meling to the crowd and ask her to come up and sing. The crowd was usually surprised that an unknown talent could sing so well and would shout hana hou! After Meling did a second song, Mel being the comedian would exclaim, “Ok sit down now because this my show.”
Meling’s everyday gig was her profession as a barber/beautician. Friends and customers would seek her out to have their hair done, not because she was a topnotch hair stylist but they were entertained by her outgoing, friendly personality. Meling would remember her customers life story, “Ai, what happened to you?” She was always empathetic and could relate to whatever they were going through, not to mention how beautiful/handsome she would make them feel and look.
Meling was truly a down to earth, yet over the top character that had many asking, “She for real?” Many loved her and our family won’t be the same without her around at our gatherings & functions. Going to miss calling her and greeting one another by calling each other… “crazy” whatcha doing…..” Meling’s true love were her sons, Dickie (Keala) and Ashley (Rose) Alcuran; grandchildren Charel, Brooke and Ama.
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