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Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, affectionately known as "Bruddah Iz" to his fans, was a native Hawaiian musician, singer, and Hawaiian sovereignty activist known for his gentle ukulele playing and soulful voice. Born on May 20, 1959, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Iz grew up surrounded by the rich heritage of Hawaiian music and culture. As a member of the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau, a popular Hawaiian music group in the 1970s and 1980s, he played an instrumental role in the resurgence of traditional Hawaiian music.

However, it was as a solo artist that Kamakawiwo'ole truly left his indelible mark on music. With his poignant 1993 album "Facing Future," he fused traditional Hawaiian sounds with other genres to reach a broad audience. The album features his globally acclaimed medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World," which has since become a beloved rendition worldwide, appealing to international listeners with its hauntingly beautiful re-imagining of classic songs. His other albums, such as "E Ala E," "N Dis Life," and "Alone In Iz World," further showcased his unique ability to blend the old with the new, creating music that was both innovative and deeply rooted in his native culture. Despite his untimely passing at the age of 38 in 1997, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's legacy continues to thrive, as his voice remains an enduring emblem of the Hawaiian spirit and its universal messages of peace, love, and compassion.

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