The Life And Early Death Of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's family was a musical one, and according to his biography, "Facing Future," he was just 6 years old the first time he picked up a ukulele and started participating in his family's music-making. Kamakawiwo'ole fell in love with it, and those who knew him at school recalled that he would much rather sit outside and play music than go to class.
In one interview, Kamakawiwo'ole reminisced about his earliest instruments, saying (via NPR) that he'd had a ukulele for almost as long as he could remember. His first ukulele had been a gift from his uncle, and he said, "You couldn't take the ukulele away from me. I learned, just from listening, and watching. Watching, and listening pays off. No ask questions, when you ask questions, they're not gonna tell you nothing. 'Cos it's kind of like, 'You talk too much... so go away!'"
Five years later, the 11-year-old Kamakawiwo'ole started turning music into a legitimate career, when he began performing alongside his older brother on a Waikiki catamaran boat tour.
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