NAMES 'N' FACES: Former Islander and composer Dean Pitchford ("Fame," "Footloose") is turning a new leaf: He just finished penning a novel, "The Big 1-O." Pitchford continues to write new songs, including "Show Me," a co-composition with Richard Marx (who co-wrote "Dance With My Father" with Luther Vandross). Martina McBride sings the tune in "Bambi II," a direct-to-DVD release due out Feb. 7. ...

Kevin Gray, who will be one of the "Three Phantoms in Concert" (with Craig Schulman and Cris Groenendaal) Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at the Hawai'i Theatre, has childhood ties to Hawai'i. The part-Chinese (on his mother's side) Broadway veteran spent some time here while growing up. "When I was a kid," he said, "I remember me and my cousins going to Oahu Country Club for golf." The current "Phantom" tour is his first here as a performer. ...

PERSONALITIES: Lito Capina, who works at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider when he's not entertaining, got a room-service call recently and delivered minestrone to legendary Hall of Fame baseball manager Tommy Lasorda. "I thought he would be intimidating," said Capina, "but I was so wrong. He's sweet, nice and accommodating." Lasorda even gave Capina an autographed photo. P.S.: Lasorda likes his soup "boiling hot." ...

Angie Laprete and David Talisman have been making exploratory calls regarding a celebration of Pat Morita's life, with specifics to be announced. Morita, who died Nov. 24 in Las Vegas, played Mr. Miyagi in the "The Karate Kid" trilogy and was a former Island resident. ...

Shawn Holland, new g.m. of Cheeseburger In Paradise in Waikiki, was thrilled to meet Jerry Buss, L.A. Lakers owner, and actor Miguel A. Nunez (of "ZigZag," "Juwanna Mann" and "Scooby-Doo"). The pair enjoyed lunch together; Buss is a frequent diner at the burger joint. ...

Photos of swim-suited Nicollette Sheridan ("Desperate Housewives") and Michael Bolton (her singer beau) appear in the Jan. 23 Star magazine. The celebrity couple, photographed at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental (soon to be The Kahala), was here with Bolton's daughters, Taryn, 26, Holly, 28, and Isa, 30. It's traditional for the Boltons to spend Christmas in Hawai'i. Sheridan arrived after Christmas with gifts for the girls and a Cartier watch for Bolton, according to Star. ...

Jeff Babcock, keyboarder with "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and the Wayne Brady show, checked out Azure McCall recently at Deep Blue. ...

TRADE WINDS: 'Ukulele sensation Jake Shimabukuro follows a recent California tour with shows Thursday through Sunday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Isn't it time somebody in Honolulu does a similar booking? ...

Calendar cue: The Makaha Sons mark their 30th anniversary on Feb. 22, but the centerpiece show will be the group's "Take a Walk in the Country 4" concert pegged for June 17. Instead of the Waikiki Shell, the expected venue, John Koko, Jerome Koko and Louis "Moon" Kauakahi will do a "hard top" version this year — at Blaisdell Arena. ...

Augie Rey and The Little Big Band (with Bobby King and Carlos Barboza) will add Fridays (along with their established Saturday night) to their work schedule at the Elks Club, beginning Feb. 3. Showtime is 6:30 p.m. ...

One recent night, Alan Rice and son Ryan whisked into Compadres at Ward Centre — riding Segways. The futuristic device, an alternate means for transportation, is expected to be more visible here shortly: Rice hopes to launch a rental service for the Segways for the Waikiki marketplace. His spouse is Hilton public-relations executive Jeanne Datz Rice, the former Honolulan now based in Los Angeles. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.