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Bruddah Iz Somewhere Over The Rainbow

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Israel "Bruddah Iz" Kamakawiwoʻole (May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997) (pronounced IPA [kamakaʋiwoˈʔole]) lived in Hawaiʻi until his death at ... all » the age of 38. He became famous outside Hawaiʻi when his album Facing Future was released in 1993 with his medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World", which has been featured in several films, television programs, and television commercials.

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.

Throughout the later 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 (the other two were Governor John A. Burns and US Senator Spark Matsunaga). Over 10,000 came to pay respects over the course of the first day. His ashes were scattered into the ocean at Mākua Beach. Kamakawiwo'ole 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.

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