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Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
Singer

Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

Famoose for

Bringing Hawaiian music to a worldwide audience with Over the Rainbow.

Ka ʻAnoʻi · Facing Future

Born
20 May 1959
Birthplace
Honolulu
Died
26 June 1997

More people

Lin-Manuel MirandaCreating the musical Hamilton.Freddie MercuryFronting Queen and writing Bohemian Rhapsody.Aretha FranklinTurning Respect into a soul anthem.

Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, often known as IZ, was a Hawaiian singer and ukulele player. His solo recordings combined Hawaiian repertoire with gently arranged popular standards.

Early life

Honolulu

Grew up around working musicians and began performing with relatives as a child.

Career

  1. 1976

    Makaha Sons

    Recorded with the Makaha Sons of Niʻihau.

  2. 1990

    Solo debut

    Released Ka ʻAnoʻi.

  3. 1993

    Facing Future

    Released the album that brought his voice to international audiences.

Selected work

Ka ʻAnoʻi

His first solo album.

Facing Future

Includes Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World and Hawaiʻi ’78.

Beyond work

Family

Married Marlene in 1982; they had a daughter.

Sources & photo creditBiography and career ↗Biographical data and references ↗

Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.

Photo: Creator not stated; see image source. Copyrighted image; source credit retained · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.