Israel Kamakawiwo'ole / The Music Career and Death

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole / The Music Career and Death

The Music Career

In 1990, Iz released his first solo album Kaʻanoʻi, which won him awards for Contemporary Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year from the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts (HARA). Facing Future was released in 1993. Considered his "best" album by many, it featured his most popular song, the medley "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World", along with "Hawaiʻi 78", "White Sandy Beach of Hawaiʻi", "Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man", and "Kaulana Kawaihae". In 1994, Iz was voted favorite entertainer of the year by HARA.

ʻE Ala ʻE (1995) featured the political title song "ʻE Ala ʻE" and "Kaleohano", and In Dis Life (1996) featured "In This Life" and "Starting All Over Again".

As his career progressed, Iz was known for promoting Hawaiian rights and Hawaiian independence, both through his music (whose lyrics often stated the case for independence directly) and through his life.

In 1997, Iz was again honored by the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts at the Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Favorite Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Island Contemporary Album of the Year. He watched the awards ceremony from a hospital room. Many say that Isreal Kamakiwo'ole had the voice of an angel.

As noted earlier his version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" has been featured in several films, television programs, and television commercials.
1998 - It appears in the closing credits of Meet Joe Black.
2002 - It appears in the tv series "E.R.", se08ep21 (On The Beach), it is playing on "Rachel's" headphones as she puts them on "Mark Greene".
2004 - It appears in the movie "50 First Dates" but not on the official soundtrack.
2006 - It appears in the tv series "Scrubs", se5ep7 (My Way Home) towards the end of the episode, although it's the IZ version it is covered by "Ted's" band "The Blanks".


Death

Throughout the latter part of his life, Iz was morbidly obese and at one point carried over 750 pounds (340 kg) on his 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) frame. He endured several hospitalizations and died of weight-related respiratory illness on June 26, 1997 at 12:18 am at the age of 38. The Hawaiʻi State Flag flew at half-mast throughout the day. Iz lay in state at the Capitol building in Honolulu. He was only the third person in Hawaiian history to have this honor bestowed, and the only non-politician (the other two were Governor John A. Burns and US Senator Spark Matsunaga). Over 20,000 came to pay respects over the course of the first day. His ashes were scattered into the ocean at Mākua Beach. Kamakawiwoʻole was nicknamed "The Gentle Giant" by his many admirers. He was described as always cheerful and positive, and he was best known for his love of the land and of the people of Hawaiʻi.