R.I.P. Hawaii Promoter, Radio Personality Tom Moffat

Tom Moffat

Tom Moffatt, one of Hawaii’s most influential figures in the entertainment industry, has died.

According to KHON-TV2, he passed away at his home Monday night at the age of 85 after battling prostate cancer.

Affectionately known as “Uncle Tom,” Moffatt lived a rich life in public that spanned over five decades. Moffatt was born in Detroit but moved to Hawaii in 1950. He first made his name here as a radio disc jockey and personality during the 1950s and ’60s before becoming a noted concert and special events promoter through the remainder of his life.

He was also part of Hawaii radio history, working at KGU, KIKI and then KHVH where “Uncle Tom’s Gabbin'” became a hit with co-host Ron Jacobs.

Moffatt was also an integral part of Hawaii’s rock ‘n’ roll history as a member of KPOI’s “Poi Boys,” as well as promoting a string of popular music showcases in the late 1950s.

His biography states that “of all the celebrities with whom Moffatt is affiliated, his fans most closely associate him with Elvis Presley. It was Moffatt who first played an Elvis record on-air, and it was Moffatt who introduced him in his first Hawaii concert in 1957.”

Moffatt would go on to assist Presley’s colorful manager Colonel Tom Parker in all of Elvis’ appearances in Hawaii –- from Presley’s first concert following his discharge from the Army at Bloch Arena, Pearl Harbor as a benefit for the Arizona Memorial, to his then-innovative satellite telecast “Elvis Live From Hawaii,” beamed from the Honolulu International Center (now the Blaisdell Arena) on Jan. 14, 1973.

Moffatt continued to be on the radio late in life. Until two months ago, he was hosting “Uncle Tom’s Rock and Roll Drive-In” every Saturday morning on 107.9 Kool Gold. Programming director Adam Carr said it best: “He was bigger than life. The guy knew Elvis, you know what I mean? He knew Elvis Presley!”

Moffatt’s Hawaii concert promotions over the decades reads like a who’s who of top-notch pop and rock music talent — from Sam Cooke, Buddy Holly, the Beach Boys, the Grateful Dead, Bette Midler, the Eagles, Stevie Wonder, Aerosmith, Frank Sinatra, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jimmy Buffett, Eric Clapton, Santana, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Bob Marley, James Taylor, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Journey, Barry Manilow, Mariah Carey, Chicago, Christina Aguilera and Bruno Mars, who Moffatt supported early in his burgeoning career.

“There’s never been an entertainer who has sold as many tickets as Michael Jackson in Hawaii,” he said. “Over 60,000 tickets sold in one day, well over 60. I mean, it was unbelievable.”