From the time he was a young boy growing up in Palolo Valley on Oahu, John Cruz knew he was destined to play music. Whether inside or outside the home, his earliest memories were filled with song. His Hawaiian grandmother had a beautiful voice and sang in church. His mom loved the Motown sound and had an extensive record collection. His dad played country music and taught John to perform live shows at a very young age. His brothers and sisters were all musically inclined and, along with numerous aunties, uncles, cousins, neighbors and friends, they have surrounded John with the gift of music for his entire life.
Although John grew up in Hawaii, it wasn't until he moved to the East Coast in 1983 that he developed his own style as a singer songwriter. During his 12 years in the Northeast, John cut his musical teeth in subways, coffeehouses and bars in New York's Greenwich Village, as well as in the clubs and local haunts from Martha's Vineyard to the Boston area. While attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, John ventured in to acting and dancing, which strengthened his command of the stage.
He spent six years in theatre and dance companies, performing everywhere from Lincoln Center to Washington D.C. As a member of the prestigious New World Theater, John played the lead role in "The Dance and the Railroad," by Tony Award winning Broadway playwright, David Henry Hwang, of M. Butterfly fame. John's outstanding performance was nationally recognized in the finals of a collegiate drama competition.
John returned to Hawaii in 1995 to help his brother Ernie record his album. At the time, Ernie was in the immensely popular band, the Ka'au Crater Boys. He invited John to play bass with them and to play his own songs during their shows. The exposure to large crowds gave John's music a substantial fan base before it was even recorded. When his first album, Acoustic Soul was released in 1996, it made an artistic and commercial impact like few other recordings in Hawaiian musical history.
Acoustic Soul to date has sold about 100,000 copies in Hawaii alone. John produced the album himself and released it on his own label, Lilikoi Records. It spawned the radio hits "Shine On," "Sitting in Limbo" and "Island Style," which has become a local anthem. Most songs from the album still receive daily radio airplay and can be heard on numerous compilation CDs, in hotels, airports, shopping malls, school music classes, commercials and just about everywhere else music is played within the state. Acoustic Soul won two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in 1997 -- one for Contemporary Album of the Year and one for Most Promising Artist.
In 2005, John added the Grammy Award to his list of honors. His original song "Jo Bo's Night" was featured on the compilation CD Slack Key Guitar Volume 2, which won the first Grammy ever awarded for Hawaiian music.
Over the years, John has attracted some stellar fans. Stars like Jack Johnson, Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffett, Lisa Loeb, Trey Anastasio and others, have shown their support in various ways. John co-wrote a song with Trey called "A Case of Ice and Snow," which was released on the Phish frontman's solo CD, Bar 17. World Champion surfer Kelly Slater featured three of John's songs on his DVD, "Letting Go," in 2006. Jack Johnson has released "Island Style" on several CDs and plays it frequently in concert. John joined Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, along with other quality singer songwriters, on the WMVY radio compilation CD, Fresh Produce Volume 4, with his hit song "Missing You."
In October 2006, a documentary film on his life, "Made of Music - The Story of John Cruz," debuted at the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival in Honolulu. A few weeks later, it was honored with the Aloha Visionary Filmmaker Award at the Molokai Film Festival. It features John's signature candor and wit, as well as a personal story that tugs at the heartstrings, and music that will delight and inspire. Jack Johnson, Jackson Browne, Kelly Slater and Jake Shimabukuro add color and insight to an already powerful story.
John is the official spokesman for Sprint Hawaii's Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, which donates free ukuleles to school music programs in need. He visits classrooms and gives surprise performances to inspire kids to achieve and believe in themselves.
John's recent touring has included stops at the massive Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Summerstage in New York's Central Park, Carnegie Hall and prominent national venues up and down both coasts. He headlined four galas during Barack Obama's inauguration and played 14 shows at the prestigious SXSW (South by Southwest) music festival in Austin, Texas in March 2009, as one of the first Hawaiians ever invited to showcase there.
John has distinguished himself as one of the most talented artists that has ever come from Hawaii and was named the Best Singer Songwriter by Hawaii Magazine in 2008. After a classic hit first album, this well-earned reputation became even more solidified when he released his long-awaited second album, One of These Days, on September 25th, 2007. After its debut week, the album landed firmly at 1 in Hawaii, 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart for the Pacific Region and 6 on the Billboard World Chart. Critics described it as "brilliant" and "one of the year's finest albums, local or otherwise." The Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts gave the CD its highest honor in June of 2008, by awarding John the Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Contemporary Album of the Year. It delivers more of the warm, heartfelt melodies and passionate, soulful vocals that John's fans have grown to know and love.
Midsummer Mardi Gras! "once a year is just not enough"
TONIGHT from 6-8pm @ INDIGO
Hey na! Hey na! Get ready for an evening of New Orleans style fun. John Cannizzaro of Delta Skelta, will be joined by Bobo Buteris for a rockin big easy set to kick off the Summer in Style in the Green Room. This is part of a series of local shows, before leaving for the West Coast for the "Aloha Ya'll" Summer Tour. Come on out and pass a good time with us.
Aloha!!!! Hey, Stratus Blue is playing Friday night at OnStage Drinks and Grinds at 802 Kapahulu Ave. in Kaimuki from 6 to 9 p.m. This is a cool casual venue with pool table and darts. A great way to start the weekend. After we are done with our set of original rock with a taste of blues, jazz and R&B, you can have them fire up the Karaoke machine. Hope you can make it. Peace!
Hey John, Just had to tell you how much I have been enjoying your music today. It really hits that music spot deep down in my soul. I'm past ready for a new CD from you. I Hope it will be soon. Your music makes me want to "SEIZE THE DAY"...Speaking of The Day, I hope that yours is "Blessed." Your #1 Florida Fan. That's The Truth!
07/02/2009
08:00 PM - Don Ho’s - Aloha Tower Market Place Thursday
Aloha
Tower - 1 Aloha Tower Drive
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
US
Cost: $10 pre sale - $15 door - $20 with CD
Description: Typical
Hawaiians CD RELEASE PARTY!!! Celebrating 3rd n New CD " Piece Of The Aina
". Also
New Hit Single Release on itunes " Honolulu City Life " featuring
Shanti Town from Jamaica. Along with the new Primo Jingle Produced by: Thomson
Enos aka Kikomon of the TYPICAL HAWAIIANS. Ten Feet, Ka’ala Boys, n Pohaku will
be performing as well! Come down to enjoy live music n good time galore with
the TYPICAL HAWAIIANS N FRIENDS! ALOHA!!! ;-)
Hey Cruzer, Looks like you'll be around in July. Hope to see you then. Congrats on your inauguration shows. They sure know how to raise them right out in Hawaii. Peace & love, Hope & change, T
eh bradah john, i got a place for you to stay for the san diego tour. We can acomodate u with all your needs in Pacific Beach. This is the spot for u, it's beautiful. Check out Capri by the sea, allseasonsresortloding.com for ur visit. Shaka n keep it island style.
