U.S. President Barrack Obama is a fan. And if you watch TV's new rendition of Hawaii Five-O you may have heard his music.
If not, you can next Tuesday (Feb. 7) when Hawaiian recording artist John Cruz performs live at the Rose & Crown Pub in Tsawwassen.
Cruz is making a sweep through the Pacific Northwest for a number of concert dates, including one in Penticton, and is stopping off in South Delta at the suggestion of local music fan Ray Higgins who caught Cruz performing at the Stella Blues Cafe in Maui last month.
Higgins said he chatted with Cruz following his show and told him about the Tsawwassen pub and that he should pay a visit there if he had the opportunity.
Dates and logistics were worked out and Cruz was booked. He's also making a stop at Fernwood Inn in Victoria Feb. 8.
Reached by the Leader in Hawaii, Cruz said he didn't know much about Canada other than the Penticton area where he's perfomed twice before, but was looking forward to visiting South Delta.
Cruz was one of the musicians to perform at President Obama's—who was born in Honolulu— inauguration celebrations in Washington, D.C. in 2009.
Cruz says he was booked to play during one of Obama's campaign stops in Hawaii and with the then presidential candidate running late had to keep the crowd entertained.
"I guess I did such a good job that they (OBama's campaign organizers) asked if I'd do the whole campaign tour of all the (Hawaiian) islands," Cruz said. "I said, sure."
When Obama was elected, Cruz was asked to play at several of the inauguration balls held in Washington.
"It was overwhelming, a historical occasion. And Obama actually showed up to one of them (balls) and I had the chance to have a quick word," said Cruz, who found out from the president that his song Island Style, from his debut album Acoustic Soul, was a favourite.
"He told me he had it on his iPod," Cruz said laughing.
With the presidential race looming, Cruz said he has been requested to take part again when the Obama campaign again visits Hawaii.
Also on the list of Cruz's accomplishment is a Grammy Award he won in 2005 for the Hawaiian music category.
And the Jan. 16 episode of Hawaii Five-O, called Pu'olo (Pacakge), featured a rendition of the song Hi'ilawe by Cruz which plays in the final scene before the end credits.
The song was was written in the late 1800s and tells the story of a love affair that takes place at Hi`ilawe, the highest waterfall on the Big Island.
Having Cruz perform—admission is free—at the Rose & Crown is quite an honour said manager Shelley Metrow who didn't know much about his music but was impressed after doing some research on the Internet prior to confirming the show.
The appearance of Cruz kicks off a number of live performance dates being lined up for the Rose & Crown, said Metrow.
Since some dates need final confirmation she couldn't divulge who else was on the way to help fill the 180 seats in the pub, but Metrow added the current economic climate is more conducive to adding live music to her venue.
She explained that following the downturn in revenues experienced by many pubs across the province with the downturn in the economy and changes in drinking and driving penalties the cost of booking live acts has become more affordable.
The Rose & Crown Pub is located at 1203 56th St. Show time is 8 p.m.
An added bonus for patrons that night is the appearance of the Grey Cup with members of the 2011 champion BC Lions.