Jan 8, 2010 Posted by admin on Jan 8, 2010 in Featured Articles, Music, Video Hawaii | 0 comments

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Brudda Iz

Bruddah Iz

Israel “Iz” Ka’ano’i Kamakawiwo’ole (May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997) (pronounced [ka'maka'iwo'ole]) was an American musician. He became famous outside Hawaii when his album Facing Future was released in 1993. His medley of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World” was subsequently featured in several films, television programs, and commercials. Through his consummate ukulele playing and incorporation of other genres (such as jazz and reggae), Kamakawiwo?ole remains one of the major influences in Hawaiian music over the last 15 years.

Kamakawiwo’ole was born at Kuakini Hospital in Honolulu to Henry Kaleialoha Naniwa Kamakawiwo’ole, Jr., and Evangeline Leinani Kamakawiwo’ole. He was raised in the community of Kaimuki, where his parents had met and married. He began playing music with his older brother Skippy at the age of 11, being exposed to the music of Hawaiian entertainers of the time such as Peter Moon, Palani Vaughn, and Don Ho, who frequented the establishment where Kamakawiwo’ole’s parents worked

In his early teens, he studied at Upward Bound (UB) of the University of Hawaii at Hilo and his family moved to Makaha, Hawai’i. There he met Louis “Moon” Kauakahi, Sam Gray, and Jerome Koko. Together with his brother Skippy they formed the Makaha Sons of Ni?ihau. From 1976 throughout the 1980s, the Hawaiian contemporary band gained in popularity as they toured Hawai?i and the continental United States and released fifteen successful albums.

In 1982, Kamakawiwo’ole’s brother Skippy Kamakawiwo’ole died of a heart attack. In that same year, Kamakawiwo’ole married his childhood sweetheart Marlene. Soon after, they had a daughter whom they named Ceslieanne “Wehi”.

Throughout the latter part of his life, Kamakawiwo?ole suffered from severe obesity and at one point carried 770 pounds (350 kg)(55 stone) on his 6-foot 2-inch (1.88 m) frame. He endured several hospitalizations and died of weight-related respiratory illness on June 26, 1997, at 12:18 a.m. at the age of 38. He is survived by his wife Marlene Kamakawiwo’ole and his daughter Ceslieanne “Wehi” Read more from Wikipedia.