Ed Kenney


Edward Kamanaloha Kenney, Jr. was an American singer and actor from Hawaii best known for the role of "Wang Ta" in the original Broadway production of Flower Drum Song. In retirement, he lived on the island of Kaua‘i and occasionally made public appearances.

Family

Born in Honolulu on Oahu to a Hawaiian-Chinese mother and a Swedish-Irish father. He married Judy Bailey and lived on Kauai.
Kenney was married to hula dancer Beverly Noa and was the father of Honolulu restaurateur, Edward Kenney, III.
Kenney and Noa headlined shows at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the Halekulani Hotel for years. They reunited for a Honolulu television show on KGMB-TV in the 1980s.

Stage credits

Broadway

13 Daughters as Mana, Prince of Hawai‘i Flower Drum Song as Wang Ta Shangri-La as Rimshi

Honolulu Community Theater

  • Principal "Ali Baba" role during late 1960s in large hit production of Kismet musical.
  • Various other productions

University of Oregon

President William McKinley High School Theater

13 Daughters as ''Chun''

Hawaii Theatre

13 Daughters as ''Kahuna''

Discography

Albums

Solo

Exotic Sounds of the Spice Island My Hawai‘i Ed Kenney's Hawaii Somewhere in Hawai‘i Waikiki Royal Hawaiian Luau
  • ''An Island''

Included

Hawaii's Favorite Christmas Songs – Vol 2 Hawaii's Sunset Melodies Hawaii's Golden Treasures Hawaii's Favorite Christmas Songs
  • ''Flower Drum Song: 1958 Original Broadway Cast''

Singles

Co-wrote this with Eaton "Bob" Magoon, Jr. and Gordon Phelps.