Biography

2007-07-25T19:05:00.000-10:00

Israel "Bruddah Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole (May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997) (pronounced IPA /kamakawiwo'ole/) was a popular entertainer and singer in Hawai'i until his death at the age of 38.

He became famous outside Hawaiʻi when his album Facing Future was released in 1993 with his medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World". The song has been included in the end of several movies, including Finding Forrester, Meet Joe Black, and 50 First Dates.

Additionally, it featured prominently in the 2000 summer series "Young Americans" on the WB television network, a 2002 episode of the TV series ER, a 2003 episode of "Charmed" entitled "Lucky Charmed," "Scrubs" season 5 episode 7, and the TV show Cold Case. The song has also been used in a Lynx spray and a Kellogg's Rice Krispies advertisement in 2005 and 2006, repectively.

On 21 July 2006 it was announced on BBC Radio 1 that the song would be released as a single.

Facing Future (1993) debuted at #25 on Billboard Magazine's Top Pop Catalogue chart. 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 chart .

Early years

Israel "Bruddah Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole was born on the island of O'ahu at Kuakini Hospital to Henry Kaleialoha Naniwa and Evangeline Leinani Kamakawiwo'ole. He was raised in the community of Kaimuki on the outskirts of Waikīkī where his parents met and married. He began playing music with his older brother Skippy at the age of 11, being privy to the music of the great Hawaiian entertainers of the time such as the likes of Peter Moon, Palani Vaughn, and Don Ho, who frequented the establishment where Iz's parents worked.

In his early teens, his family moved to Mākaha. There, he met Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Sam Gray and Jerome Koko. Together with his brother Skippy they formed the Mākaha 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 10 successful albums.

In 1982 Iz's brother Skippy Kamakawiwoʻole died of a heart attack. In that same year, Iz married his childhood sweetheart Marlene and soon after had a daughter who they named Ceslieanne "Wehi."

Music career

In 1990, Iz released his first solo album Ka'ano'i which won him 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. Considered his "best" album by many, it featured his most popular song, the medley "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World", along with "Hawaiʻi 78," "White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i," "Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man," and "Kaulana Kawaihae". In 1994 Iz was voted favourite entertainer of the year by HARA.

ʻE Ala ʻE (1995) featured the political title song "E Ala E" and "Kaleohano," and In Dis Life (1996) featured "In This Life" and "Starting All Over Again."

As his career progressed, Iz was known for promoting Hawaiian rights and Hawaiian independence, both through his music (whose lyrics often stated the case for independence directly) and through his life.

In 1997, Iz was again honoured by the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts at the Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Favourite Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Island Contemporary Album of the Year. He watched the awards ceremony from a hospital room.

Death

Throughout the latter part of his life, Iz was morbidly obese and at one point carried over 750 pounds (340 kg) on his 6'2" 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. The Hawai'i State Flag flew at half-mast throughout the day. Iz lay in state at the Capitol building in Honolulu, where over 10,000 came to pay respects over the course of the first day. His ashes were scattered into the ocean at Mākua Beach.

Iz was nicknamed "The Gentle Giant" by his many admirers. He was described as always cheerful and positive, and was best known for his love of the land and of the people of Hawai'i.

Israel "Bruddah Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole

Johnny Mahoe video

2006-07-25T15:05:00.000-10:00

Eh mahalo fo' putting dis video togetah. I give it 10 poi-ups. Very good.

And remember, life is temporary. No get stupid and do da tings you not supposed to just fo impress your friends because you only going cry like one big baby and make you and your family shame. All dat stupid stuff you doin wit your friends is a waste of time next ting, you'll be looking back and ask yourself what happened to all those years? where did it all go? But you was too busy wit your friends gettin stupid as why.

Then, "Aw man I knew I should've listen ... but NOW too freakin' late!"

So listen NOW when I tell you fo stay away from stupid people and hang wit da akama'i kine. Do good and get somting going fo yourself. We get enuf cry babies in dis world. Be proud, stand tall and most of all, be yourself! No be a wannabee because a wannabee is a nobody! Stay in school and learn. GET SMART ... NOT STUPID!!!

And like I say many times before, STAY AWAY FROM THE DRUGS!!! It only make you stupid! Look at all those tweakers on crystal meth, dey stay all dried out. No can tink anymoa. All winkled and lost. Dey get plenty missing teeth and I wonder why. All hauna da body and breath. Da children no eat because mommy or daddy went use da money fo da next 'high'. When you do ICE, batu, crank, speed or whateva you like call them, you become moa and moa stupid each day and not only dat, but YOU become a freakin' zombie. A no-good foa shit zombie! STAY AWAY FROM DRUGS!!!

Love your father, mother, children, brother, sister, aunties, uncles, cousins, tutu's, your neighbahs and everyone online. There's too much haters in dis world ... LOVE mo bettah!

Aloha,
Israel "Bruddah Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole

OverTheRainbow - remix

2006-07-25T15:02:00.000-10:00

Iz - Over The Rainbow

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - IZplace

Biography

Johnny Mahoe video

OverTheRainbow - remix