In 1990, Iz released his first solo album Ka'ano, which won him awards for Contemporary Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year from the Hawaii 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 "Hawaii 78", "White Sandy Beach of Hawaii", "Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man", and "Kaulana Kawaihae". Facing Future debuted at ..25 on Billboard Magazine's Top Pop Catalogue chart. On October 26, 2005, "Facing Future" became Hawaii's first certified platinum album, selling more than a million CDs in the United States, according to figures furnished by the Recording Industry Association of America.[1] On July 21, 2006 BBC Radio 1 announced that "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" would be released as a single.
In 1994, Iz was voted favorite entertainer of the year by HARA.
E Ala E (1995) featured the political title song "E Ala E" and "Kaleohano", and N 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 honored by HARA at the Annual N.. H..k.. Hanohano awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Favorite Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Island Contemporary Album of the Year. He watched the awards ceremony from a hospital room.
Alone In IZ World (2001) debuted at ..1 on Billboard's World Chart and ..133 on Billboard's Top 200, ..13 on the Top Independent Albums Chart, and ..15 on the Top Internet Album Sales chart.
Israel "Bruddah Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole (May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997) was a musician who lived in Hawaii until his death at the age of 38.
He became famous outside Hawaii when his album Facing Future was released in 1993 with his medley of "Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World", which was subsequently featured in several films, television programs, and commercials.
Kamakawiwo'ole was nicknamed "The Gentle Giant" by his admirers. He was described as always cheerful and positive, and he was best known for his love of the land and of the people of Hawaii. Through his consummate ukulele playing and incorporation of other rhythms (such as jazz and reggae), Iz remains one of the major influences in Hawaiian music over the last 15 years.
Throughout the latter part of his life, Iz was significantly obese and at one point carried 758 pounds (343 kg) on his 6 foot, 2 inch (1.88 m) frame. He endured several hospitalizations and died of weight-related respiratory illness on June 26, 1997 at 12:18 am at the age of 38.[2]
The Hawaii State Flag flew at half-staff on July 10, 1997, the day of Iz's funeral. His koa wood coffin lay in state at the Capitol building in Honolulu. He was the third person in Hawaiian history to be accorded this honor, and the only non-politician (the other two were Governor John A. Burns and Senator Spark Matsunaga). Over 10,000 people attended his funeral. His ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at M..kua Beach on July 12, 1997.[3]
On September 20, 2003, hundreds paid tribute to Iz as a 200-pound bronze bust of the revered singer was unveiled at the Waianae Neighborhood Community Center on O'ahu. The singer's widow, Marlene Kamakawiwo'ole, and sculptor Jan-Michelle Sawyer were present for the dedication ceremony.
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