Timothy Graham Kaihatsu's Obituary
Timothy Graham Kaihatsu
b. December 23, 1945 d. April 7, 2014
Affectionately known as Muddy Fong, Mr. K , and Uncle Timmy, Tim passed away unexpectedly of natural causes at home on April 7, 2014. Tim was born in St. Paul, Minnesota to second generation Japanese American parents, Arthur and Lillian Kaihatsu. Shortly thereafter the family moved to San Diego, California. Tim’s father preceded him in death. He is survived by his loving mother, Lillian Kaihatsu and sister Lynn Kaihatsu both of San Diego, by his chosen nephew Taylor C. Gibbons and his kitty cat Tito. Also survived by aunts and uncles Marian Muto, Elsie Sogo, Katherine Kumamoto (Junji), Martha Kaihatsu and Frank Kaihatsu (Cathy) and cousins John, Barbara, Laura, Jeff, Steve, Lisa, Don, Carol, Andy, Paul, Don, Jane, Ed, Ann and Chris. His many close and loving friends and legions of fans are bereft at his passing.
Tim developed an early interest in music, desiring a guitar but told by his dad to start on a ukulele. After excelling on that instrument he chose a banjo, playing folk music with a neighbor who played the pedal steel, and he and his sister Lynn took accordion lessons. In high school he got serious with the guitar and started picking up gigs at local coffee houses in San Diego. In 1961 while a junior at Clairemont High School Tim was one of ten students in the U.S. chosen by Pomfret School in Pomfret, Connecticut to travel to South America. For two months, the group toured and studied the developing economies of Venezuela and Colombia. Lifelong friendships were formed. Tim graduated from Clairemont H.S. in 1962.
Tim entered Cal Berkeley in the fall of 1962 and his musical world began to expand. He lived in the co-op Cloyne Court from 1962 to 1966 and the Ridge Project from 1966-1968. Fellow students recall him playing constantly, day and night whenever classes did not interrupt. Again lifelong friendships were formed. Tim graduated Cal Berkeley in 1967 with a BA in History and received his teaching degree in 1968 also from Cal.
In 1967 Tim and some close pals attended a Steve Miller Blues Band concert on Telegraph Hill. Already somewhat fooling around with the blues sound, he was totally sold and his segue into blues music began. During a trip to Chicago that summer Tim was able to observe and sit in with some major blues performers. All the practice, practice, practice had paid off and the die was cast and Tim came back a bonafide Bluesman. Not long afterward Tim recorded on Vanguard Records and toured with Charlie Musselwhite and did a live recording with Buddy Guy. He had honed his craft and fulfilled his personal goal to be a professional guitar player and play with the best of his peers. During the 70’s Tim toured with singer, songwriter and actress Ronee Blakeley. Tim often referred to his “Hollywood” days and the stories were legendary.
For most of the 1980’s Tim was the booking agent at Larry Blake’s in Berkeley a major venue stop on the West Coast for most blues music acts including John Lee Hooker, Etta James, Charlie Musselwhite, Tracy Nelson, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Otis Rush and countless others. Concurrently, he led the house band known as The Rat Band backing up many of the headliners. A frequent performer was Robert Cray who Tim recognized as a tremendous talent. Subsequently Tim was added to strengthen the Robert Cray Band –a band that won Gold Records and Grammies. During his tenure with Cray, Tim appeared on national TV in a dozen countries including Johnny Carson Show, Jay Leno Show, Austin City Limits, Arsenio Hall Show and the Today Show. He traveled to 40 countries on 5 continents and played in 35 of them (including the Soviet Union) and toured the 50 states and played gigs in 48 of them.
In 1992 Tim played on the Grammy nominated gospel album “Steppin’ Out” by the Oakland based Gospel Hummingbirds. They recorded Tim’s song “Measure for Measure” for their 1995 album, “Taking Flight.”
Tim was a substitute teacher in Oakland school district for many years. In 1998 he began teaching as a career at Piedmont’s Millennium High School, hired he said by a guy who was a fan of his guitar riffs. Known to his students as Mr. K, Tim taught US History and Economics. Despite the glamour of his rock star days in the music world, Tim found the passion and resulting fulfillment through his teaching of young minds. Tim was relentless in his desire to prepare his students for the real world they would be entering. He left his mark on countless past and present students.
In addition to music and teaching Tim wrote for various music publications over the years including Guitar Player Magazine, Rolling Stone and Musicians’ Industry. One highlight was his profile of B.B. King in M.I. in 1981. He wrote short stories about everything he encountered in his life. His pockets always contained a notebook and a pen. He was a raconteur and he chronicled his surroundings and his friends in story and in film. There was always a camera at the ready to record and document people, places and things.
Tim was a resident of Oakland for the past 30 years and an avid supporter of the Oakland A’s.
Tim had a voracious appetite for life, music, knowledge, teaching, family and friends. He touched so many people during his life in different ways. He was son and brother, rock star, teacher, writer, photographer, loyal friend, or just “Uncle Timmy.” Whatever hat he wore he wore it well and with class and dignity. He was our “Renaissance Man.”
There will be no service. To commemorate his commitment to teaching and his love for his students, Tim’s family has established the Mr. K Memorial Scholarship in support of students who aspire to become teachers. If you wish to donate to his memory in this way please make checks payable to ‘Millennium High School’ noting Mr. “K” in the memo line and mail to:
PUSD- Mr. K c/o Michael Brady
760 Magnolia Ave. Piedmont, CA 94611
Or make a donation online at http://www.piedmont.k12.ca.us/mhs/
A gathering of family and friends from over the decades will take place at a future date. There will be a musical tribute alongside memorabilia from his illustrious past. Refer to www.timkaihatsu.info for updates.
As we mere mortals grieve at our loss, the Angels on High rejoice at their newest addition. His riffs will now truly be “out of this world”.
What’s your fondest memory of Timothy?
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