Israel "Bruddah Iz" Kamakawiwo‘ole ( May 20, 1959– June 26, 1997) was a popular entertainer and singer in Hawai‘i until his death at the age of 38. He became famous outside Hawai‘i when his album Facing Future was released in 1993 with his medley of " Somewhere Over the Rainbow/ What a Wonderful World". The song has been included in the end of several movies, including, Finding Forrester, Meet Joe Black, 50 First Dates and also in a chapter of ER (TV series).
Facing Future (1993) debuted at #25 on Billboard Magazine's Top Pop Catalog chart. Alone In IZ World, (2001) debuted at #1 on Billboard's World Chart and #135 on Billboard's Top 200, #13 on the Top Independent Albums Chart, and #15 on the Top Internet Album Sales chart .
Israel Ka‘ano‘i Kamakawiwo‘ole was born in 1959 on the island of O‘ahu at Kuakini Hospital to Henry Kaleialoha Naniwa and Evangeline Leinani Kamakawiwo‘ole. He was raised in the community of Kaimuki on the outskirts of Waikīkī where his parents met and married. He began playing music with his older brother Skippy at the age of 11, being privy to the music of the great Hawaiian entertainers of the time such as the likes of Peter Moon, Palani Vaughn, and Don Ho, who frequented the establishment where Iz's parents worked.
In his early teens, his family moved to Makaha. There, he met Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Sam Gray and Jerome Koko. Together with his brother Skippy they formed the Makaha Sons of Ni‘ihau. From 1976 throughout the 1980s, the Hawaiian contemporary band gained in popularity as they toured Hawai‘i and the continental United States and released 10 successful albums.
In 1982 Iz's brother Skippy Kamakawiwo‘ole died of a heart attack. In that same year, Iz married his childhood sweetheart Marlene and soon after had a daughter who they named Ceslieanne "Wehi."
