Israel Kamakawiwoole could serenade an entire room into awestruck silence with only his voice and a ukulele. Before the beloved Hawaiian singer-songwriter also known as Bruddah Iz died at just 38 in 1997, he had that effect on people around the world time and again, thanks in large part to his rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.Meanwhile, among Hawaiis Indigenous community, Israel Kamakawiwoole is proudly remembered for helping his people fight for their identity as an activist for state sovereignty. To this day, Israel Kamakawiwoole is widely remembered as the voice of Hawaii.Universal MusicKnown for his version of Over the Rainbow, Israel Kamakawiwoole became one of Hawaiian musics most iconic singers before his tragic death at just 38 in 1997.This is the captivating story of Israel Kamakawiwoole, from his one-of-a-kind music to his untimely death.Israel Kamakawiwooles Love Of Music From An Early AgeIsrael Kaanoi Kamakawiwoole was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on May 20, 1959 to Henry Hank Kaleialoha Naniwa Kamakawiwoole Jr. and Evangaline Angie Leinani Kamakawiwoole, both of whom worked at a popular nightclub in Waikiki. Angie managed the club while Hank served as a bouncer and drove a sanitation truck at the U.S. Navy shipyard at Pearl Harbor. He quickly gravitated to the ukulele and began playing with his brother and cousin when he was 11. While it certainly helped that his uncle, Moe Keale, was a musician himself (and starred in Hawaii Five-O), Kamakawiwoole paved his own way.officializhawaii/InstagramIsrael Kamakawiwoole started playing the ukulele at 11.While the time he spent with his cousin and brother was foundational, so too were the summers he spent with his grandparents on Niihau. Its not only the westernmost main island of Hawaii, but one that remains entirely populated by its Indigenous people. Only relatives, invited guests, government officials, and supervised tourists are allowed on it.As a child, Kamakawiwoole became fascinated with the music of other popular Hawaiian entertainers, especially Peter Moon, Palani Vaughan, Keola Beamer, and Don Ho, and those influences would later be seen in Kamakawiwooles own music.Bruddah Iz Forms A BandIsrael Kamakawiwoole was 17 years old when he formed Mkaha Sons with his older brother Skippy. Their music blended contemporary and traditional stylings, and it proved to be immensely popular. Despite dropping out of high school and becoming dependent on drugs and alcohol, he found himself at a graduation party where most of his peers heard him sing for the first time. His friend Del Beazley has never forgotten that moment.As soon as Israel Kamakawiwoole opened his mouth and sang, that whole place went quiet, said Beazley. Every great singer has something special. Its almost a nasal or head tone. And that thing just cut right through the air, stopped everybody in their tracks.Long after Israel Kamakawiwooles death at age 38 on June 26, 1997, his legacy lives on thanks to his beloved version of Over the Rainbow.Mkaha Sons gave their Hawaiian brethren authentic songs of their homeland. It was a time when most Hawaiian music was bastardized commercial art aimed to satisfy the misconceptions of mainland America. This was, to the Hawaiians, known as hapa haole, songs that were more overtly sexualized and, frankly, racist.Mkaha Sons, however, were seen as a major part of the Hawaiian Renaissance, which sought to restore the islands distinct cultural identity and move away from the tourism-based culture it had become known for. Despite launching his career and finding his voice by speaking to and for his people, Kamakawiwoole suffered a major setback when Skippy died in 1982 of an obesity-related heart attack at the young age of just 28 years old. It was a tragic loss but it also served as ominous foreshadowing for Kamakawiwooles own death 15 years later. Israel Kamakawiwoole kept at it, however, and eventually changed his life forever with one simple recording in 1988. It was 2:30 a.m. when he drunkenly called recording engineer Milan Bertosa from a payphone at Sparkys Bar, a notorious hub of Honolulus cocaine trade and kindly requested an audience.Please, can I come in? he pleaded. I got this idea.Israel Kamakawiwooles Iconic Rendition Of Over The RainbowAnd in walks the largest human being I had seen in my life, Bertosa recalled, alluding to Israel Kamakawiwooles weight. The first thing at hand is to find something for him to sit on. Then I put up some microphones, do a quick soundcheck, roll tape, and the first thing he does is Somewhere Over the Rainbow. He played and sang, one take, and it was over.Israel Kamakawiwooles famous version of Over The Rainbow.And that song would be requested on stage at every show until Israel Kamakawiwooles death.While Kamakawiwooles debut solo album in 1990 included that song, it was produced with added instrumentation and formed into a medley with a cover of Louis Armstrongs What a Wonderful World. It was the acoustic version that would conquer the world and that version, which hed been tinkering with for years, remained in Bertosas archives for years, a technically imperfect song recorded in one take, with changed lyrics and the occasional bad chord.Perhaps those imperfections only made it more human. Only in 1993 while working on Kamakawiwooles follow-up album Facing Future did Bertosa realize it had to be included. He was right, as the album went platinum as one of Hawaiis highest-selling records ever.Mountain Apple Company/InstagramHawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwoole touched the world with his ukulele version of Over The Rainbow before he died at just 38.It was just that special, he recalled. Whatever was going on that night, he was inspired. It was like we just caught the moment.It couldnt have come at a better time for Kamakawiwoole, either. By that point, he had a family of his own, a wife and child he was struggling to take care of because he was making so little on welfare. The breakout success of Facing Future, however, put an end to Kamakawiwooles financial struggles.While that song was co-opted for everything from Rice Krispies to cologne advertisements, Hawaiians gravitated to Hawaii 78. The track imagined what their ancestors must have felt, seeing the islands overtaken by profiteers who cared not an inch for culture but did anything for money, with its powerful and resonant lyrics:Could you just imagine they came backAnd saw traffic lights and railroad tracksHow would they feel about this modern city life?Unfortunately, financial security and rising notoriety couldnt prevent the inevitable and Kamakawiwooles health issues, much like his brothers before him, brought his life to a sudden, early end.Israel Kamakawiwooles Death And The Tragic Story Behind ItToward the end of his life, Israel Kamakawiwooles weight became unsustainable. He was unable to perform and carried an oxygen tank with him. He frequently stayed in the hospital where friends smuggled him Oreos, despite his brothers early death. And despite an increasing need for a forklift to get on stage, he carried an inner peace that never left.Im not scared for myself for dying, he said. Because we Hawaiians, we live in both worlds. When our time comes, dont cry for me.Wikimedia CommonsA monument on Oahu in Israel Kamakawiwooles honor.On June 26, 1997, The Honolulu Star-Register announced that Bruddah Iz, the voice of Hawaii, had died at just 38 years old. Israel Kamakawiwooles cause of death was respiratory failure. Crying callers phoned into the KCCN-FM radio station for hours, while his family and friends built a casket with wood from all the islands.On the day of his funeral, the flag flew at half-mast.About 10,000 people gathered in the ocean to watch his ashes be paddled to Makua Beach. Israel Kamakawiwooles death made for a day of mourning for what seemed like all of Hawaii. Hundreds paddled alongside his ashes, as the respectful air horns from trucks on land echoed across waters, and Israel Kamakawiwooles ashes were scattered.The Proud Legacy Of A Big Man With An Even Bigger HeartUniversal MusicThe funeral of Hawaiian legend Israel Kamakawiwoole.Bruddah Iz was six-foot-two and obese his entire life. When he died in 1997, he weighed over 1,000 pounds. Israel Kamakawiwooles weight hovered around an average of 750 pounds throughout his life.But Bruddah Izs physical presence was nothing compared to his love for the Hawaiian people. As a lifelong proponent of Hawaiian sovereignty against tourism and corporate encroachment, its no wonder that the entire island of Oahu gathered to send him off.Kamakawiwooles body was even lain in public at the state Capitol courtyard. This honor had only previously been awarded twice, and for two members of government. The Hawaiian governor at the time, Benjamin Cayetano, received some criticism for the decision, but he stood by it. Israel was a state treasure. He was a giant in his field, he said. He had achieved a special status. The state Capitol is a facility thats owned by the people of the state and symbolizes the public trust.For those far removed from Hawaii and its Indigenous culture, Israel Kamakawiwoole is merely the faceless voice of various commercials and Hollywood films. For Hawaiians, Israel Kamakawiwoole was the gentle giant who died too soon but galvanized his people before he did.After learning about Israel Kamakawiwoole, Hawaiis beloved Bruddah Iz, read about the tragic death of Chris Cornell. Then, learn about the murder of Selena.The post Inside Israel Kamakawiwooles Inspiring Life And Tragic Death appeared first on All That's Interesting.