My dad wrote the song "Whenever" for my mother over thirty years ago. It's been performed by various people, and I had the honor of performing it last Sunday at a jazz concert that he held. Peforming with him were Melicio Magdaluyo on reeds [inc. sax, clarinet and flute], David Yamasaki on guitar, Art Khu on piano, Paul Yonemura on drums and my dad on his 6 string electric bass.

No Tations believe it or not...

Back in 1970s my father's various bands, including Mundo, Brass Drops, Max B, and Pearl, were a popular group in the Bay Area and had gigs opening for well known groups who were touring through the Bay. It just so happened that the group Malo was in town and my dad's group opened for them. They performed "Whenever" which was one of their signature songs, unique because it starts out like in a bossa nova then goes into a samba before ending in a bossa nova. The background had distanct "la la las" in it as well. So they played the song and he noticed the members of Malo standing around watching, bobbing their heads and listening. Malo's performance that night consisted of no song even remotely sounding like "Whenever". Fast forward a year later, and my father is listening to the radio, and hears "Suavecito" for the first time. It struck him funny that the chords were the same, but what was more interesting was the "la la la" in it. Was "Whenever" the influence and basis of "Suavecito"? My father never answered that, but then again I've never known him to be a liar.

Believe it or not.

Whenever
by Ben Luis

Whenever I am with you baby
I get the feeling of warm sunshine
But when you're away
I can hear myself say
Oh how I miss you baby
And how I love you so

Our love is so together baby
It's like red roses in the sprintime
But when you're away
I can hear myself say
Oh how I miss you baby
And how I love you so

Making Mine Music

~No Tations~