Biography
Raymond Kāne (October 2, 1925 - February 27, 2008), was one of Hawaii's acknowledged Masters of the slack-key guitar. Born Raymond Kaleoalohapoinaoleohelemanu Kāne (his middle name is pronounced "kah-layo-ahloha-po-eenah-olay-o-haylay-mah-noo," and means "voice of love will never be forgotten where it comes from, and like a bird away it flies") in Koloa, Kaua'i, he grew up in Nanakuli on O'ahu's Wai'anae Coast where his stepfather worked as a fisherman.
Ray's style was distinctive and deceptively simple. He played in a number of ki ho'alu tunings always plucking or brushing the strings with only the thumb and index finger of his right hand. He also played hammer-ons and pull-offs in a unique way; his finger moving up and out, instead of down and in, after striking a string. He emphasized that one must play and sing "from the heart." He was never flashy or fast. In Hawaiian, his sound is described as "nahenahe" (sweet sounding).
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In 1987, Ray was honored as a "National Living Treasure" by the National Endowment for the Arts with an NEA National Heritage Fellowship.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.