Aura (33)

Hawaiian group, known in its earliest days as the Nomads or Beverly & the Nomads, came up through the military club circuit and engagements in some of the rougher civilian clubs. The crowds in those places liked funk and soul over Top 40 pop, and Aura came to “The Point” with a repertoire that appealed to the club’s cosmopolitan clientele. One thing everyone remembered about the band was the horn section; loud, rich and tight. Their female vocalists were always a draw in Waikiki in those days as well. Nowadays, Aura would be called a “cover band,” but although the group played other artists’ hits, the members’ skills as arrangers and their charisma on the club’s small stage won them a large and loyal following.