OFFICIAL
Somewhere over the Rainbow - Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole
Somewhere
Over The Rainbow - What A Wonderful World (From the film 'Meet Joe Black')
OFFICIAL
Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole - "What A Wonderful World" Video
OFFICIAL
Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole - White Sandy Beach Video
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwoʻole | |
|---|---|
Iz in 1993
| |
| Background information | |
| Born | May 20, 1959 Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii |
| Origin | Hawaii, US |
| Died | June 26, 1997 (aged 38) Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1976–1997 |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts | Makaha Sons of Niʻihau |
| Notable instruments | |
| Ukulele | |
Israel "Iz" Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole (Hawaiian pronunciation: [kəˌmɐkəˌvivoˈʔole]) translation: "The Fearless Eyed"; May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997), also called Bruddah Iz (Brother Iz), was a Hawaiian musician, entertainer andsovereignty activist.
His voice became famous outside Hawaii when his album Facing Future was released in 1993. His medley of "Somewhere over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" was subsequently featured in several films, television programs, and television commercials.
Through his skillful ukulele playing and incorporation of other genres, such as jazz and reggae, Kamakawiwoʻole remains a very strong influence on Hawaiian music.[1]
Death[edit]
Throughout his life, Kamakawiwoʻole was morbidly obese and at one point weighed 757 pounds (343 kg; 54.1 st) standing 6-foot-2-inch (1.88 m) tall (body mass index = 97.2).[4] He endured several hospitalizations because of health problems caused by his weight.[4] Beset with respiratory, heart, and other medical problems, he died at the age of 38 in Queen's Medical Center at 12:18 a.m. on June 26, 1997.[4] Kamakawiwoʻole was survived by his wife, Marlene Kamakawiwoʻole, and their daughter, Ceslie-Ann "Wehi".[11]
The Hawaii state flag flew at half-staff on July 10, 1997, the day of Kamakawiwoʻole's funeral. His koa wood coffin lay in state at the state capitol building in Honolulu. He was the third person in Hawaiian history to be awarded this honor, and the only one who was not a government official. Approximately ten thousand people attended the funeral. Thousands of fans gathered as his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at Mākua Beach on July 12, 1997.[11] Scenes from the funeral and scattering of Kamakawiwoʻole's ashes were featured in official music videos of "Over the Rainbow" released posthumously by Mountain Apple Company; as of July 2015, the two videos as featured on YouTube have collectively received over 198 million views.[12][13]
On September 20, 2003, hundreds paid tribute to Kamakawiwoʻole as a bronze bust of the revered singer was unveiled at the Waianae Neighborhood Community Center on Oʻahu. The singer's widow, Marlene Kamakawiwoʻole, and sculptor Jan-Michelle Sawyer were present for the dedication ceremony.[14]
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