Scott LaFaro bass. He played in groups at the College Spa and Joe's Restaurant on State Street in downtown Ithaca. Beginning in 1955, he was a member of the Buddy Morrow big band. He left that organization to work in Los Angeles. LaFaro spent most of his days practicing his instrument. He practiced with a clarinet book to improve his facility. Bassist Red Mitchell taught him how to pluck strings with both the index and middle fingers independently. For much of 1958 he was with Victor Feldman's band. In 1959, after working with Chet Baker, Stan Kenton, Cal Tjader, and Benny Goodman,
Benny Kalama Kainapau, Alvin Isaacs Sr and Tommy Castro. In between his participation with the McDiarmid band, Benny played with the Wally Lavque's band, also at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. He toured the mainland with the Royal Hawaiian Serenaders, appearing in movies and on recordings. Benny Kalama was with Andy Bright's band the years 1952–1955 at the Moana Hotel in Waikiki. In 1955, he began working with Alfred Apaka in Las Vegas, followed by 15 years with Henry Kaiser's Hawaiian Village. Kalama's arrangements are credited with helping Apaka's success. On radio, Kalama was a director and arranger on KGU's "Voice of Hawaii"