The Mighty Iz!

You know an artist is good when you cannot pick a favorite song by that artist.  In other words, he has a ton of really great songs.  Iz is just like that.  He has so much variety in his music that it's impossible to pin him down in a certain style. 

Iz initially became famous outside Hawaii with the release of his album Facing Future  in 1993. His renditions of  "Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World" have been featured in several films, TV programs, and commercials.

Through his ukulele playing and incorporation of other genres such as jazz and reggae (to name a few), Israel Kamakawiwoʻole continues and will continue to remain one of the major influences in Hawaiian music.

Sadly, Iz died in 1997 of respiratory failure at the young age of 38.  His music can be heard all over the islands.  Some of my favorites are the traditional Hawaiian tunes, and the songs he wrote from his own imagination.  It is impossible to say how vast his impact would have been on the music world should he have lived to a ripe old age.  His fame had just begun before he was suddenly taken away.  No telling what collaborations he would have made, what albums he would have given to the world. 

Here's a link one of my favorite original songs written and performed by the Mighty Iz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV2WNGjrCEE