Israel Kamakawiwo'ole is known as Braddah Iz, or just plain Iz. Though he died in 1997, he is probably Hawaii's most popular singer, and is now a legendary cultural icon in Hawaii because his music gave a voice to something Hawaii had been missing for many years.
Iz was born in 1959 and lived with his family in Kaimuki, Even then, Iz didn't see Hawaii's history as something from the past: it was all around him. Then when Iz was a teenager, the family moved to Makaha, where he and his older brother Skippy, Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Sam Gray, and Jerome Koko began singing together as the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau.
They just called themselves "Makaha," which means proud and fierce in Hawaiian, and though Skippy died in ‘82, Makaha continued. They were a Hawaiian style vocal band that blended four great voices into one greater sound, and they were something special.
From ‘76 through the early ‘90’s they released 10 albums and appeared everywhere in Hawaii and Mainland, where islanders lived. They weren't a record company's idea of Hawaii, or an act latching onto a new sound. Makaha was the genuine, guiless voice of Hawaii.
Makaha grew big and, finally in the late-eighties, they put themselves on hold while everyone started living their own lives outside the band. But Iz started tinkering around with his own music.
Iz released his first album "Ka'ano'i" in 1990, and three others from ‘93 - ‘96. Everyone knew the brah was good, but it sounded like he was singing from some very special place.That first album gave hints of what the future would bring.
Iz was a singer who touched all types of people in different ways. Some songs were about social awareness in Hawaii, some explored personal feelings, from a man with a heart as big as the ocean. But there were fun songs for kicks and tunes for rockin’, and you just knew Iz was playing with you.
Nineteen-ninety-three’s "Facing Future" and "E Ala E" two years later were tremendous solo efforts. "Future" brought "Hawai'i '78," "White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i," and his signature "Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World."
The title track of "E Ala E" is an anthem of Hawaiian pride, which true to form, Iz follows up with one of the world’s most beautiful love songs "Kamalani" by Del Beasley.
Iz just seemed to be getting better and better, and reaching new heights when he released "N Dis Life," his last studio CD. He was Hawaii’s Entertainer of the Year at the 1997 Hokus awards, and then he died unexpectedly on June 26, 1997.
Iz was a big guy, but he also got very obese. In the later years, he was starting to slim down, but died in his sleep because of his weight hampered his breathing.
Brudda Iz was laid out in state in a koa wood casket in the main hall of Hawaii’s State Capitol in Honolulu. He was a state treasure and belonged to all the people of Hawaii.
The live CD, "IZ in Concert" was issued shortly after he died and has tracks from live performances from ‘93 - ‘97 of his most memorable tracks.
Most people on the Mainland discover Iz through movies like "Meet Joe Black" and "Finding Forrester," or the etoys Christmas commercial and Dr. Green’s last "ER" episode, and that's a great place to start.
But "Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World" is just one song on one CD ("Facing Future,"), and you owe it to yourself to get to know him better. Try "Iz in Concert: The Man and His Music."
Music of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Facing Future 1. Hawai'i '78 introduction 2. Ka Huila Wai 3. 'Ama'ama 4. Panini Pua Kea 5. Take Me Home Country Road 6. Kuhio Bay 7. Ka Pua U'i 8. White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i 9. Henehene Kou'Ala 10. La 'Elima 11. Pili Me Ka'u Manu 12. Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man 13. Kaulana Kawaihae 14. Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World 15. Hawai'i 78
Alone in Iz World (2001) 1. Mona Lisa 2. Kaleohano 3. 'Ulili E 4. Hanohano Wale No Na Cowboy and Ka Huila Wai 5. Hi'ilawe 6. Henehene Kou 'Aka 7. Ahi Wela / Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 8. 'Opae E 9. Starting All Over Again 10. Over the Rainbow 11. Panini Puakea 12. La 'Elima 13. In This Life
N Dis Life 1. Hi'ilawe 2. In This Life 3. Wai-alae 4. Starting All Over Again 5. Living in a Sovereign Land 6. 'Opae E 7. Aloha Ku'u Pua 8. Johnny Mahoe 9. Lover of Mine 10. Yokozuma 11. Na Ka Pueo/Keyhole Hula 12. The Fly
Iz in Concert 1. Ahi Wela 2. E Ku'u Morning Dew 3. Kamalani 4. Kaleohano 5. Margarita 6. "This Hawaiian Man" Intro 7. Chant 8. E Ala E 9. Hene Hene Kou Aka 10. Lover pf Mine 11. White Sandy Beach 12. 'Opae E 13. n Dis Life 14. Maui Hawaiian Sup-pa Man 15. Hawai'i 78 16. Hawai'i Aloha
E Ala E 1. E Ala E 2. Ulili E 3. Kaleohano 4. Wind Beneath My Wings 5. "Thunder From Heaven" 6. Kamalani 7. Aloha Ka Manini 8. Maui Medley 9. Hele On To Kauai 10. Kauai Beauty 11. Theme From Gilligan's Island 12. I Ke Alo O Iesu 13. A Hawaiian Like Me
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