Ukulele player israel kamakawiwoole biography
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From the Fall 2017 issue of Ukulele | BY BLAIR JACKSON
Can it really be 20 years since that late-June day in 1997 when Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole—known to many as Bruddah Iz, or simply Iz—passed away at the too-young age of 38? At the public memorial celebration two weeks later, more than 10,000 mourners descended on the capitol building in Honolulu and, as a writer for the local Star-Bulletin newspaper wrote, “stood for hours in their slippers [flip-flops] in a shoulder-locked crowd for a pass-by glimpse of the body of the gentle giant in a koa casket beneath a 50-foot Hawaiian flag… People of all ages, Hawaiians and their friends of all ethnic groups, paid tribute to the entertainer whom they felt they knew and whose songs played in their hearts.”
Especially that song. Fair or not, Iz will always be most remembered for his voice-and-Martin tenor ukulele medley of two great American standards: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World.” It’s an intimate, beautiful, and quietly moving performance, a soulful musical embrace that has become a modern anthem, touching millions of people far and wide, most outside of Hawaiian music circles. And is there a uke player out there who hasn’t tried it (if only at home in private)—been entranced by the gently i
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Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
Hawaiian musician and singer (1959–1997)
Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole[a] (May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997), also called Braddah IZ or just simply IZ, was a Native Hawaiian musician and singer. Kamakawiwoʻole is regarded as one of the greatest musicians from Hawaii and is considered the most successful musician from the state.[2][3] Along with his ukulele playing and incorporation of other genres, such as jazz and reggae, Kamakawiwoʻole remains influential on Hawaiian music.[4] In 2010, he was named one of the 50 Great Voices by NPR, who called him "The Voice of Hawaii".[5]
He achieved commercial success and mainstream popularity with his 1993 studio album, Facing Future. His medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" from his album Ka ʻAnoʻi (1990), has spent 358 weeks on top of the World Digital Songs chart, making it the longest-leading number-one hit on any of the Billboard song charts.
Early life
[edit]Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole was born at Kuakini Medical Center on May 20, 1959, in Honolulu to Henry "Hank" Kaleialoha Naniwa Kamakawiwoʻole Jr. and Evangeline "Angie" Leinani Kamakawiwoʻole, who worked at a popular Waikiki nightclub. His mother was the manager
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Biography of Kamakawiwo'ole Israel
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