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Biography:
George Kahumoku Jr.
He's been called Hawai`i's Renaissance man: George Kahumoku Jr., Hoku Award winning master slack key guitarist, songwriter, world-wide performer, high school teacher, former principal, sculptor, story-teller and a farmer so in tune with his islands that he has won several state and national awards for his work with the land. George began playing music professionally at the age of 13 when he got his start with the legendary singer/songwriter Kui Lee. After graduating from Kamehameha Schools in 1969, George earned a BFA degree at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, California. He returned to Hawai’i where he began farming and leading community efforts such as working with children in native language skills. He recently lived in Santa Cruz CA for two years earning a Masters Degree in Education while also touring and teaching guitar. His 2003 release, George Kahumoku Jr LIVE!! Footprints in the Poi, is a collection of the best from these live performances including both music and stories. Last year (2004), George has released with Daniel Ho three recordings: Classic Hawaiian Hulas, Vol. 1, 2, & 3. These CDs feature favorite songs found in most dancer repertoires. George’s earthy vocals and unique 12-string slack key sound is embellished by Daniel’s beautiful sparkling ukulele. George and Daniel won the Na Hoku Hanohano Award in 2000 for their collaboration on the beautiful Hymns of Hawaii (Aire Music 88922). This year George and Daniel released Hymns of Hawaii, Vol. 2 with another selection of favorite hymns. George is once again living on Maui where he recently remarried and is teaching Ceramics at Lahainaluna High School. Every Tuesday night he hosts the prestigious Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua (www.slackkey.com). Lauded as the “Carnegie Hall of Slack Key”, this unique series features the greatest Slack Key performers of the day presented in the finest acoustic concert hall setting. Recordings from this series are presented on Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Vol. 1: Live in Concert from Maui (DHC80007). George’s music and voice have been described as “earthy and organic—one with the `aina (the land)." His love and respect for Hawai’i and the planet Earth are embedded in his music, which he likes to think of as nature songs; songs of love, hope, desire, and lament. George has deep memories of his childhood on the Big Island with his large musical `ohana (family) where he was exposed daily to traditional Hawaiian music and ki ho`alu (slack key guitar). "When I'm playing a solo instrumental piece," George says, "especially on the 12 string guitar, or when I'm playing together with other players, I often imagine in my musical mind's eye all of the people in my family, grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins, who have had a great influence on my music--that they're all playing or singing along with me. I hope that my grandchildren will one day come to understand and play this music." In his long musical career, George has produced and contributed to many albums including three with his brother Moses, as The Kahumoku Brothers, in the 1980s. So rooted in music, family and the soul of the Islands, it is no surprise that in 1979 he received the highest honor in Hawai`i's recording industry, a Na Hoku Hanohano Award, for his work on Auntie Edith Kanaka`ole's album Hi’ipoi I Ka ‘Aina Aloha (CHERISH THE BELOVED LAND) (Hula 568). George has also played slack key guitar in several documentary films about the music and cultural richness of the Hawaiian Islands, including the soundtrack for the David Kalama/Meleanna Meyer film ‘Onipa’a (Kalama Productions), which chronicles the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, and focuses on issues that have affected Native Hawaiians since the overthrow of Hawai`i's last monarch, Queen Lili`uokalani, in 1893. Playing several of Lili`uokalani's songs in the film inspired George to release his first solo album, E Lili’u (Kealia Farms 1008), a heartfelt tribute to the Queen and her music. In 1997, George released his first album on Dancing Cat Records, the title of which describes how, throughout his life of gathering expertise in many fields, George has always remained so "drenched by music." In addition to George's beautiful and spirited solo slack key guitar playing, Drenched by Music (Dancing Cat 38038) also featured duets with steel guitar wizard Bob Brozman and with `ukulele player and vocalist Diana Aki. George's second Dancing Cat release, Hawaiian Love Songs (NA MELE HO`ONIPONIPO HAWAI`I), produced by George Winston in 2001, includes both evocative originals and soulful interpretations of beautiful Hawaiian classics. Bob and Diana again join George for duets--Bob on the pungent Moloka`i Slide and Diana on the love song Keiki Mahine. Renowned blues harmonica player Norton Buffalo is a new addition to George's guests with his soulful appearance on Lei Pikake. George shares his music in many ways when he is not in the studio. A seasoned traveler, George has performed to audiences all over the world, including such dignitaries as the Queen of England and the Premier of China. He says that while walking out on the stage he knows he doesn't have long with those people out there in the audience, so he relaxes, has a great time, and gives them everything he can. During his annual concert tours on the mainland, George holds slack key workshops as frequently as possible. Every summer in June, he hosts the Annual Maui Slack Key Guitar Workshop at The Mauian Hotel on Maui, with other Dancing Cat greats Ozzie Kotani, Led Kaapana, Dennis Kamakahi, Cyril Pahinui, and others. This workshop is one of the great musical experiences in the Islands today, and the result of George's belief in sharing and celebrating the music of Hawai’i. (www.kahumoku.com/workshops.htm) At a concert or when playing a CD, listeners are often unexpectedly moved by George's unpretentious manner, deep musicality and rich mixture of life experiences. top of page | back to PRESSKIT | view PDF
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