THE LATE "IZ" EARNS GOLD FOR HAWAI'I
HONOLULU, Hawaii (September 19, 2002) -- Israel "IZ"
Kamakawiwo'ole's, Facing Future, has just become the first-ever full
length album from Hawai'i to be certified GOLD by the RIAA; and the
first-ever GOLD Record awarded a Native Hawaiian owned record company
or any record company from Hawai'i.
Facing Future, "IZ"'s first release, is now recognized by
people around the world through movies, television, radio, magazines,
books and the more powerful than ever "word of mouth."
This success has catapulted "IZ" to a level unheard of by
other entertainers from Hawai'i, other than Don Ho and Jack Lord.
Israel's fans have wildly accepted his music whether they are just
discovering "IZ" or have been a fan for years. His latest
album, released posthumously, has been in the top 5 on Billboard
Magazine's World Chart for an unprecedented 51 weeks and #1 for 13
weeks. Facing Future has remained on the Billboard Chart for 177
weeks and jumped back to the #1 spot where it has remained all
summer. He is the voice of the modern day Hawaiian and speaks
through his music to not only Hawai'i residents, but also to the
millions of people who visit Hawai'i and the millions who are
Hawaiians at heart..
The path to this Gold record has been paved with the support of a
diverse group of supporters and champions. From film producers and
directors such as Martin Brest and John Wells, authors such as Dean
Koontz and Paul Theroux, to entertainers and artists such as Sarah
Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, Paul Simon and countless others that
became passionate about "IZ" and his music.
In a day when technology promotes the creation of big productions and
complicated electronic beats and sounds, the latest GOLD record
certified by the RIAA has been awarded to an artist whose popularity
is based on the simple sounds of his 'ukulele and vocal, a sound that
the world is responding to because of its gift of purity.
"IZ", born and raised in Hawai'i, was a founding member of
the Hawaiian legendary musical group, The Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau.
"IZ" left the Makaha Sons in 1993 and began his own record
label, Big Boy Records. Originally, "IZ" asked to be a
recording artist with the successful Mountain Apple Company, but
Owner Jon de Mello insisted this pure Hawaiian needed to own his
music and guided him through the creation of developing Big Boy
Records. As a result of the Big Boy Records-Mountain Apple Company
association, Big Boy Records is one of the most successful Hawaiian
owned businesses.
"IZ, who died in l997, didn't live to see the enormous
international success of his music. To the people of Hawai'i,
"IZ" has become a spiritual voice and a guiding light. The
popularity of his music has brought attention and greater
understanding of the Hawaiian people and their causes in the new
millennium.
