Biography
Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwoʻole (May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997) (pronounced [kamakaʋiwoˈʔole]) was a Hawaiian musician.
He became famous outside Hawaii when his album Facing Future was released in 1993 with his medley of "Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World", which was subsequently featured in several films, television programs, and commercials.
Read full biography ↓
Kamakawiwoʻole was nicknamed "The Gentle Giant" by his 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. Through his consummate ukulele playing and incorporation of other idioms (such as jazz and reggae), Iz remains one of the major influences in Hawaiian music over the last 15 years.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.