At 3 a.m. one night in 1988, Hawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwo'ole called a local studio and said he needed to record something immediately. He pleaded with the engineer: "Please, can I come in? I have an idea." Kamakawiwo'ole recorded the iconic version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" in one take, which would soon touch countless people across the globe.
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole: A Voice Larger Than Life historydefined.net/israel-kamakaw… historydefined.net/israel-kamakaw…
Kamakawiwo`ole Died in 1997 But Said He Wasn’t Afraid of Dying Tragically, Kamakawiwo`ole did not live a long life and certainly not long enough to see his 61st birthday. According to Vice, he “succumbed to the respiratory failure and other ongoing illnesses that stemmed from his massive size.” He was 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighed over 1,000 pounds when he died, the site reported.
In the heart of New Orleans in the 1950s, legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong felt an urgent creative spark. One late night, he rushed into a recording studio, insisting on laying down a track that had been brewing in his mind. Armstrong fervently conveyed to the producer, "I've got this tune in my head, it's like a dream waiting to be born. Please, let's capture it now." In a single, impassioned session, Armstrong's rendition of "What a Wonderful World" poured out in an emotional, unforgettable performance. That iconic recording would go on to resonate profoundly with audiences worldwide, leaving an enduring legacy of hope and appreciation for life's simple joys.
On the day of his funeral all the Semi Trucks island wide had one memorial drive out to Waianae for the service. Traffic was at a stand still I worked for Meadow Gold dairies back then and Waianae was at the end of my route. I lived Makaha so it was perfect. That day nobody made it anywhere on the west side on time. We all jammed inside traffic with IZ playing for hours as we all waited. At times people just started partying on roads chronic kapila kine and singing together. IZ and his music had a spiritual impact and you can hear the heart of many, many Hawaiians and Kama Aina in the songs he sang. Mahalo IZ.
@fasc1nate wow, I always just assumed this was a Disney song. thanks for that.