Community

Musicians/Mentors

BRAD FITCH
Winner of the Western Music Association’s Cowboy Singer of the
Year Award, this Colorado musician extraordinaire is also my brother! Brad was also invited to play for the President of the United States in 2001.  Brad got me started in music and gave me my first guitar!
www.cowboybrad.com

LEDWARD KAAPANA
A living legend, Led Kaapana is the consummate slack key guitar master. Nearing his 40th year as a professional musician, his mastery of stringed instruments, particularly slack key guitar, is extraordinary.  His baritone and leo ki`eki`e (falsetto) voice have made him a musical legend.  Led has earned numerous Na Hoku Hanohano Awards as well as Grammy nominations in 2006 and 2007.  Led is as kind and generous as he is talented.
www.ledkaapana.com

RAYMOND KANE
Raymond Kaleoalohapoina’oleohelemanu Kane was born in 1925 and passed away Feb. 2008. Ray Kane (pronounced Kah-neh) will forever be known as the slack key ambassador because he helped open many doors for this beautiful and unique guitar style. Raymond was named a Living Treasure by the Hawaii State Legislature and was a winner of the 1987 National Endowment for the Arts Folk Heritage Fellowship. Uncle Ray was one of the first slack key masters to play public concerts, tour widely, perform in documentary films and teach on a regular basis. His middle name can be translated into English as “the voice of love that comes and goes like a bird and will never be forgotten.” Like his music, his aloha was pure, genuine, and beautiful.  He’ll be missed!
www.dancingcat.com/artists/Ray_Kane.php

OZZIE KOTANI
Ozzie Kotani is an amazing and revered teacher, arranger, composer and accompanist as well as a solo performer. He has played kiho’alu, Hawaiian slack key guitar, for over 20 years, representing it on the Mainland, in Spain and Japan, as well as all around the Hawaiian Islands. Ozzie has been a contributor to several Grammy Award winning slack key compilation recordings. Like the late slack key master Sonny Chillingworth, with whom he studied, he freely interjects his own personality into his playing, preserving and expanding the tradition.
www.ozziekotani.com