Steve & Teresa

Steve & Teresa were a beloved Hawaiian duo known for their effortless blend of jazz, Hawaiian, and hapa haole music, captivating audiences in the 1980s with their warm vocal harmonies and laid-back style. Steve Ma‘i‘i, who had been the bassist for cultural activist George Helm, and Teresa Bright, daughter of hula dancer Carol Bright, began playing together serendipitously when Steve subbed in as Teresa’s bassist at a gig in Waikiki, leading to a natural, unpracticed chemistry that soon became their signature approach. Their breakthrough came when engineer Rick Keefer, impressed by their live performances at Pat’s in Punalu‘u, convinced them to record their first album live in just three hours, capturing what many consider one of Hawaii’s great musical moments with songs like "Catching A Wave".

Teresa Bright later launched a successful solo career and was widely recognized for her deep roots in native Hawaiian culture, maintaining a repertoire that included traditional Hawaiian songs, jazz standards, and hapa haole classics. She received a lifetime achievement award from the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts in 2020 and remained popular both in Hawaii and Japan until her passing in 2024. Together, Steve & Teresa left a lasting influence on Hawaiian music, blending authenticity and spontaneity in a way that still resonates with listeners today.

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