Musician. Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole, or Braddah Iz, as he was more commonly known, was a native Hawaiian musician. Iz, also nicknamed "The Gentle Giant," was a cheerful man who loved Hawaii, both its land and the people. As a skilled ukulele player, he fused contemporary music with jazz and reggae to produce his own unique sound using his beautiful tenor voice. He is regarded as one of the major influences in contemporary Hawaiian music. Raised in Kaimuki, he was born to Henry and Evangeline Keale Kamakawiwo, the youngest of three siblings. Almost pure Hawaiian, which is a rare breed, he could trace his ancestral lineage to an island that even today remains the most Hawaiian of all the islands, Ni'ihua. At the age of eleven, he started playing music with his brother and was fortunate to meet several great Hawaiian entertainers such as Peter Moon and Don Ho. He was called "the kid with the ukulele." In 1976, he helped form the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau, and they toured throughout the United States. The Makaha Sons recorded 21 albums, won many Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, and changed Hawaiian music history. In 1990, Iz released his first solo album, which garnered awards for Contemporary Album and Male Vocalist of the Year from the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts. His popular "Somewhere Over the Rainbow-What a Wonderful World" medley was released in 1993 on the "Facing Future" album. The amazing recording was done in a single live take in the wee hours of the morning. "Facing Future" was followed with the release of another five remarkable recordings: "E Ala E" in 1995, "N Dis Life" in 1996, "Iz in Concert: The Man and His Music" in 1998, "Alone in Iz World" in 2001, and "Wonderful World" in 2007. "Facing Future" remains the top-selling Hawaiian music album in the world, and "N Dis Life" was on the charts for 39 weeks. His "Somewhere Over the Rainbow-What a Wonderful World" was used for the movie "Meet Joe Black" and TV commercials worldwide. Author Dean Koontz honored Iz in two of his books, "From the Corner of His Eyes" and "One Door Away From Heaven." The momentum continued into late 2000, as his music was featured in a major motion picture, "Finding Forrester," starring Sean Connery. In his personal life, he was married and had a daughter. Despite not earning a high school diploma, Iz became a role model, promoting Hawaiian independence through his actions, music, and kicking a drug habit. Late in his, life he became a Christian. At Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, he died of heart, lung, and kidney failure related to his obesity and years of abuse of hard drugs. At one point, his weight was 757 pounds on his 6-foot 2-inch frame, making it difficult to travel and maintain his performance schedule. His coffin lay in state at the Capitol in Honolulu, and Hawai'i State Flags flew at half-staff on July 10, 1997. Later his ashes were scattered at Makua Beach.