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“Iz” born Israel Ka’ano’i Kamakawiwo’ole (May 20, 1959 – June 26, 
1997) was a Hawaiian 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.
Early life
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 [Read more...]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”.
Music career
Kamakawiwo’ole formed the musical group Makaha Sons of Ni’ihau with brother Skippy plus Louis “Moon” Kauakahi, Sam Gray and Jerome Koko. They recorded No Kristo in 1976 and released four more albums, including Kahea O Keale, Keala, Makaha Sons Of Ni’ihau and Mahalo Ke Akua, before Skippy died of a heart attack in 1982. The group became Hawaii’s most popular traditional group with breakout albums like 1984′s Puana Hou Me Ke Aloha and its follow-up, 1986′s Ho?ola. Kamakawiwo’ole’s last recorded album with the group was 1991′s Ho?oluana. It remains the group’s top-selling CD.
In 1990, Kamakawiwo’ole released his first solo album Ka’ano’i, which won awards for Contemporary Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year from the Hawai?i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA). Facing Future was released in 1993 by The Mountain Apple Company. It featured his most popular song, the medley “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World”, along with “Hawai’i 78″, “White Sandy Beach of Hawai’i”, “Maui Hawaiian Sup’pa Man”, and “Kaulana Kawaihae”. Facing Future debuted at #25 on Billboard Magazine’s Top Pop Catalogue chart. On October 26, 2005, “Facing Future” became Hawaii’s first certified platinum album, selling more than a million CDs in the United States, according to figures furnished by the Recording Industry Association of America. On July 21, 2006, BBC Radio 1 announced that “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World(True Dreams)” would be released as a single in America.
In 1994, Kamakawiwo’ole was voted favorite entertainer of the year by the Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA).
E Ala E (1995) featured the political title song “‘E Ala ‘E” and “Kaleohano”, and N Dis Life (1996) featured “In This Life” and “Starting All Over Again”.
Kamakawiwo’ole was known for promoting Hawaiian rights and Hawaiian independence, both through his lyrics, which often stated the case for independence directly, and his life.
In 1997, Kamakawiwo’ole was again honored by HARA at the Annual N’ H’k’ Hanohano awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Favorite Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Island Contemporary Album of the Year. He watched the awards ceremony from a hospital room.
Alone in Iz World (2001) debuted at #1 on Billboard’s World Chart and #135 on Billboard’s Top 200, #13 on the Top Independent Albums Chart, and #15 on the Top Internet Album Sales charts.
Death
Throughout the later 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”.
The Hawai’i State Flag flew at half-staff on July 10, 1997, the day of Kamakawiwo’ole’s funeral. His koa wood coffin lay in state at the Capitol building in Honolulu. He was the third person in Hawaiian history to be accorded this honor and the only non-politician. Approximately ten thousand people attended his funeral. Thousands of fans gathered as his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at M’kua Beach on July 12, 1997.
On September 20, 2003, hundreds paid tribute to Kamakawiwo’ole as a 200-pound bronze bust of the revered singer was unveiled at the Waianae Neighborhood Community Center on O’ahu. The singer’s widow, Marlene Kamakawiwo’ole, and sculptor Jan-Michelle Sawyer were present for the dedication ceremony.
Legacy
Kamakawiwo’ole’s recording of “Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” reached #12 on Billboard’s Hot Digital Tracks chart the week of January 31, 2004 (for the survey week ending January 18, 2004), and passed the 2 million paid downloads mark in the USA as of September 27, 2009.
On July 4, 2007, Kamakawiwo’ole debuted at No. 44 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart with “Wonderful World,” selling 17,000 units.
Hawaiian mixed martial artist B.J. Penn commonly uses his songs “Hawaii ’78″ and “E Ala E” as his entrance music.
Discography
* Ka ‘Ano’i (1990)
* Facing Future (1993)
* E Ala E (1995)
* N Dis Life (1996)
* Iz in Concert: The Man and His Music (1998)
* Alone in Iz World (2001)
* Wonderful World (2007)
Copyright: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia music articles and other sources pertaining to this post’s subject matter.
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