Israel kamakawiwo'ole funeral
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Israel Kamakawiwoʻole: The epic story of the Hawaiian singer's iconic cover
Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwoʻole was a singer and activist of Hawaiian ancestry who embodied the words "gentle giant." Remembered as a "really sweet man" by those who knew him, Kamakawiwo'ole died in 1997, at the age of 38.
On Wednesday, May 20, 2020, Google celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, on what would have been his 61st birthday, with a two-minute animated music video (directed by Sophie Diao) set to Kamakawiwo'ole's most famous song: A ukelele cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," first made famous by Judy Garland for the 1938 movie The Wizard of Oz.
While Kamakawiwo'ole remains an icon for Hawaiians and Hawaiian music, the story of how he recorded his most popular song — over 147 million streams on Spotify — is nothing short of legendary.
Who was Israel Kamakawiwo'ole?
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole was a Hawaiian singer born in Honolulu in 1959. He grew up on the island Ni'ihau, which to this day remains the only island with a 100 percent Hawaiian
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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. He achieved commercial success and popularity outside of Hawaii with his 1993 studio album, Facing Future. His medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" was released on his albums Ka ʻAnoʻi and Facing Future, and was subsequently featured in various media. The song has had 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. Kamakawiwoʻole is regarded as one of the greatest musicians from Hawaii and is 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] He was named "The Voice of Hawai‘i" by NPR in 2010.[5]
Early life
Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole wa
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Biography of Kamakawiwo'ole Israel
Born in Honolulu, Hawai'i on May 20th 1959, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole is perhaps one of the greatest musicians to have come from the island and arguably holds his place in the international hall of world music influential fame.
Although neither his father, Henry Kalei'aloha Naniw nor his mother, Evangeline Leinani Kamakawiwo'ole were professional musicians, Israel was exposed to the depth and soul of Hawaiian music from a very young age. He would spend a lot of time at the Waikiki bar where his parents worked, a place well known for performances from Hawaii's great musicians.
His uncle too had a great influence on him and, as a professional musician himself, played a big part in the encouragement that led to Israel first picking up an instrument at age 6.
Early Musical Influence
After years of listening to both his mother and his brother, in addition to his uncle, playing the ukulele, Israel first took to the stage in 1970 to perform with his brother Skippy and cousin Allen Thornton.
It wasn't long before a young Israel and Skippy start
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