Menlo Park resident launches singing career at 80

Aline Younge, a longtime resident of Menlo Park, is gearing up to celebrate her 80th birthday by launching a new solo career as a singer and hula dancer. Her first album entitled Remember Me was released last year, and she is booking gigs throughout Menlo Park. She started singing, dancing, and learning to play the ukulele in her 70s and encourages everyone young and old to embrace the joy of living fully.

“Aline brings joy and happiness to our members with every ukulele stroke,” says Mariella Montesinos Macuil, Program Manager of PVI’s Little House — Senior Community Services. “She creates a wonderful experience through her performances, taking us through a musical journey full of stories and adventures.”

Born on the big island in Hilo, Younge spent most of her childhood, teen, and college years in Honolulu. Despite her early interest in dance, Younge’s path took her into the field of business education. She studied two years at the University of Hawaii, and after moving to California in 1964, she attended San Francisco State where she majored in Business Education with an English minor. She became a high school teacher and taught subjects such as typing and shorthand in San Francisco. After 20 years of teaching, she retired and had a son at the age of 43.

Yet it was never too late for her to heed the call of her heart. In her 70s, her musical career blossomed when she became a member of the Hardly Strictly Hawaiian Aloha Band founded by Randy Wong. The band performs traditional Hawaiian music sung in both English and Hawaiian. In the 5-person band, Younge sings, dances the hula, and plays the ukulele, bass ukulele, and keyboard. She mastered the majority of these skills over the past 10 years, well into her retirement.

Younge is continuing with the band but has also branched out with her own album which includes both Hawaiian music and oldies. The album was produced by Amy Obenski, a professional producer, musician, and voice teacher. Younge also released her first music video last year of  Someone to Watch over Me, available on YouTube. Younge hopes that when others hear about her solo career, it will inspire them to chase their dreams fearlessly, regardless of age or circumstances.

Her next performance will be at Little House (800 Middle Ave.) on April 19, at 10:30am where she will perform with Jenny B-G, her neighbor. (Free for members, $5 for non-members).