Bruddah Iz

Bruddah Iz was Originally Posted on June 10, 2010 by lavarock

To many, Israel “Iz” KaÊ»anoÊ»i KamakawiwoÊ»ole was the sound of Hawaii. Unknown to the world in the early years, once his music was featured on public radio as a bumper, people began calling and flooding the music company for copies.

Soon his version of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World” was used in multiple movies and TV shows. It was this song and Iz’s quiet, soothing voice which caused me to start my love affair with Hawaiian music.

Iz had a problem with obesity which he was never able to overcome. My first thought was a tall thin man singing and then I saw his photo. It was quite a humbling experience to realize that first imptressions can be so wrong.

I heard that he had just gotten onto the internet and was answering emails. I was about to write to him, to chat about his music when I heard he had passed away.

Iz died at age 38 and was so loved here in the state, that he was one of only three people who lay in state at the Capitol here, and the only non-politician! 10,000 people attended the funeral and thousands were at the beach when his ashes were scattered on the Pacific.

His wikipedia entry is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruddah_iz and a Youtube video from Mountain Apple (the producer) is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I&feature=related

I hope that you enjoyed this.