"Caros audiophiles, recently on this blog we were introduced to the ethnic sound of the Paraguayan harp. So today I thought to present another musical instrument, more well known but not so often heard these days: the ukulele from Hawaii. A few weeks ago on my radio I heard a charming performance of one of the most famous songs of the 20th century, Somewhere Over The Rainbow, from the film Wizard Of Oz of course. I had to google to find out who the singer was, and discovered he was a Hawaiian native musician called Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.
A huge man who weighed 340 kilos. But oh goodness, such a surprising sweet voice. He reminds me of Susan Boyle whose unexpected singing voice caused a tv sensation two years ago. How often we need also to remind ourselves to never judge a book by its cover!
I had never heard of Israel K, but now know that he is a national hero in Hawaii who championed the independent rights and culture of his native people and who is the best-selling musical artist ever from Hawaii. When he died, aged only 38, from heart failure due to his weight problems, he was honoured with an official State funeral, with all flags lowered at half-mast, only the third Hawaiian ever to be given this honour.
More than this I do not know. But it is enough that evidently he was much loved and respected in his short life. As someone said, he needed a big body to house his big heart. A giant of a human being.
A proxima.
PO
