It's been 14 years since Israel passed away from respiratory complications, what a legacy this uncommon singer left behind. Israel was a Hawaiian Superman, who'd been relatively unknown to musical fans on the U.S. Mainland. A producer from the TV show ER, upon hearing IZ sing, purchased a large amount of his CDs, had the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" played during one episode. IZ's version of the famous song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", a song previously made famous by Judy Garland, became extremely popular after his tragic death. The public started asking who sang the song, as everyone couldn't believe such a man had been blessed with a voice that really touched your soul.
While helping my family with a housing construction project on their house in the early 1990's, I became aware of who Israel Kamakawiwo'ole was. Braddah Iz, as he was affectionately known through out Hawaii, had a singing voice like no artist I'd ever heard sing. I'd never been a huge fan of hawaiian music, as it just didn't strike a cord of interest in me at the time. A local radio station played the song In this Life, a song originally written by former NFL player Mike Reid, and I was at a loss for words to how the essence of the song touched me. Country singer Colin Raye had recorded the song several years earlier, but his version, seriously lacked something that words couldn't express. As Iz sang the song, I was nearly brought to tears, as Iz's rendition of the song was simply amazing, and really touched me. I'd never been so touched by a singer's rendition of a song in the same manner.
The CD N Dis Life won 5 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards- the equivalent of the grammy awards. Throughout his life Iz battled morbid obesity, that required him to have an oxygen tank with him every moment of his life. His top weight reached over 700 lbs, yet as people around the world saw photos of him, no one initially believed he was the man behind the magical voice, until a song was played. Iz was a "hawaiian superman" as he fought for hawaiian sovereignty on behalf of native hawaiian residents. Iz was also a family man, married to his childhood sweetheart Marlene, who bore him a daughter name
Ceslie-Ann "Wehi" shortly after their 1982 wedding.
When Iz died on June 26th, 1997 all local residents of Hawaii were saddened by the news. His many fans were aware of the health problems he'd been dealing with in recent months. Despite the various efforts to help Iz shed weight off of his 6'2" frame, Iz lost his battle with morbid obesity due to respiratory complications. You could feel the sadness in the air, when news of his death reached his many beloved fans throughout Hawaii. Although it was sad losing such a talented singer, the fact Iz wouldn't have to suffer with any more health issues proved reassuring. Iz left behind a magical musical legacy that catapulted to unexpected heights never thought possible after his death.
In the year 1998, Kamakawiwo'ole's recording of "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" featured as a sound track in the movies Meet Joe Black and Finding Forrester.[7]
"Over the Rainbow" was also used in the 2004 movie 50 First Dates.
"Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" reached #12 on Billboard's Hot Digital Tracks chart the week of January 31, 2004 (for the survey week ending January 18, 2004), and passed the 2 million paid downloads mark in the USA as of September 27, 2009.
On July 4, 2007, Kamakawiwoʻole debuted at No. 44 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart with "Wonderful World," selling 17,000 units.[8]
In April 2007, "Over the Rainbow" entered the UK charts at #68, and eventually climbed to #46, spending 10 weeks in the Top 100 over a 2 year period.
In October 2010, following its use on a TV advertisement – for Axe deodorant (which is itself a revival of the advertisement originally aired in 2004) [9] – it hit #1 on the German singles chart, selling 300,000 copies.[10]
The 2010 IMAX: Hubble 3D feature uses both "What a Wonderful World" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with the latter playing over the ending credits.
As of November 1, 2010, "Over the Rainbow" peaked at No. 6 on the OE3 Austria charts, which largely reflect airplay on Austria's government-operated Top 40 radio network.[11] It also peaked at No.1 in France and Switzerland in late December 2010. It also peaked at No.1 in Germany at November 3.
On December 6, 2010, "Iz" was named one of the 50 great voices on National Public Radio.
When a Iz performance broadcast live on local TV stations in Hawaii, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Iz's singing style is unlike I've ever heard in my lifetime, it's doubtful a voice such as his is gonna be heard again. On the day of his funeral every radio station played an assortment of IZ songs in tribute.
When Iz died over 10,000 people attended his funeral on July 10th 1997, His koa wood coffin lay in state at the Capitol building in Honolulu. He was the third person in Hawaiian history to be awarded this honor, and the only one who was not a government official. Then Governor Ben Cayetano granted special permission for IZ to be granted such an honor. He was the third person in Hawaiian history to be accorded this honor (the other two were Senator Spark Matsunaga and Governor John A. Burns)
His ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at M'kua Beach on July 12, 1997.
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