Dennis Kamakahi, Grammy Award Winner 2007

My Interview with Dennis Kamakahi: Febuary-07

Again, sincere Congratulations on your Grammy win!

How long have you been involved with music/ performing live?

2007 will be 40 years in professional music and live performance.

What instilled the interest of music in you?

The earliest I can remember is my mom singing and playing ukulele so I began to play along with her at age 3. My dad was a member and trombonist with the Royal Hawaiian Band and my grandfather was also a musician.

How long have you played slack key? Do you play other instruments as well, if so what?

I began to play slack key at the age of 10 so that would be 44 years. I play the trombone, the ukulele, the autoharp, 5 string banjo (bluegrass), steel guitar, and harmonica, electric bass, and stand up bass.

Where & how long have you been involved with music, where? Anywhere outside of Hawaii?

Since the age of 3 I’ve been involved with music so that makes 50 years first in Hawai’I and from 1992 to present (15 years) across the U.S. Mainland and Japan.

Do you tour the mainland? Where?

I tour the all over the U.S. mainland extensively. West Coast, Midwest, Southern States, and East Coast. I have performed in all 50 states.

Are there any hurdles you still need to accomplish? Dreams you wish to complete?

At this time in my music career I think I’ve overcome most hurdles but my one dream is to write a book on my musical life.

Have you worked with others as well? Singers, performers? Please name a few.

Gabby Pahinui, Atta Isaacs, Sonny Chillingworth, Uncle Fred Punahoa, Raymond Kane, Leonard Kwan, Ledward Ka’apana, Dennis Pavao, Ozzie Kotani, Eddie Kamae and the Sons of Hawaii, Cyril Pahinui, Martin Pahinui, Bla Pahinui, George Kuo, Mike Ka’awa, Greg Sardinha, Auntie Genoa Keawe, John Pi’ilani Watkins, Auntie Alice Namakelua, Auntie Vickie I’i Rodrigues. Peter Moon, Amy Hanai’ali’i Gilliom, Kawika Kahiapo, Taj Mahal, Johnny Gimble (fiddler), and Chet Atkins.

What's the best and worst part of being involved with your profession?

I would say the worst part of the music profession is being egostical. If you have an inflated ego you’ll never make it in this business. The other thing is learning how to take success with the downside of your career. It’s a constant rollercoaster ride. If you can handle it you’ll be successful in this business.

What are some of your personal favorite songs?

That’s probably a hard decision to make. I think the song “As Time Goes By” reflects my music career and my favorite movie. Of course the songs I’ve written like Wahine ‘Ilikea, Pua Hone, Koke’e and a new one not yet released “ Far Away”.

Who was inspirational to you in music and why?

6 people were very inspirational to me in pursuing my musical career.

1) My grandfather David Naoo Kamakahi who taught me slack key at age 10.

2) My father Kenneth Kamakahi who encouraged me to study music.

3) David Lorch my band teacher at Kamehameha High School who taught me advanced music theory and arranging.

4) Charles Brennan my college teacher who taught me orchestration and music composition.

5) Mary Kawena Pukui whose valuable guidance taught me Hawaiian poetry and Hawaiian lyric writing.

6) Eddie Kamae who guided me in the research of Hawaiian Folk Music.

Do you have many people do you receive feedback from about your shows? Music?

Most feedback I get after a performance is for the storytelling and information about each song I do.

In your opinion, how do you fell about the amount of time it took for Hawaiian music and it's artists to be represented/recognized through the Grammy Awards.

In my 40 years in professional music the Grammys for Hawaiian music has been long overdue

There has been some controversy regarding why slack key has taken the Grammy these last 3 years and the answer is quite simple, exposure. We slackers tour constantly across the U.S. and have built up, these last 15 years, a huge fan base from playing in bluegrass festivals, music festivals, and performing arts centers across the Nation as well as gathering fans among different musical styles. It’s the first type of Hawaiian folk music to cross over and winning many fans among numerous music genres not just one. And this is why for the last 3 years, slack key has taken the Grammy Award plus the live performances.

Any idea how we can change this? Is there anything a small person with a website can do to help?

Since the first Grammy Award of the Hawaiian music category, I could sense that having one form of Hawaiian music as an overall winner in one category was going to be a problem. I was the lone voice among many who advocated an expanded category to cover the different kinds of Hawaiian music but it fell on deaf ears. And so, you have this constant bickering as to why the Grammys are unfair.

The only answer I have to those non slack key artists is to tour like we do. It took us 15 years to establish our fan base and winning over of the influential people in the music business to achieve what we slackers got today.

What is the Real Sound of Hawaii?

Along with the call of the conch, slack-key guitar music has become synonymous with the sound of Hawaii. And for the third consecutive year, a slack-key album took the Grammy for Best Hawaiian Album. But islanders say there is much more to their music. Online with Daniel Ho, producer of the Grammy winning Legends Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Live from Maui, and Hawaiian journalist Gary Chun, about Hawaiian music today.

Discussion which took place in New York concerning the Grammy Win this year.

And why do you think it is so difficult to acquire Hawaiian music on the Mainland?

Because of the popularity of slack key, it is not difficult to acquire. Other types of Hawaiian music still needs to be exposed to the vast music public on the mainland. That only comes with constant touring and performing.

Questions pertaining to Danny Couch please:

If you have seen Danny Couch perform - what would you tell a friend about him?

I think the thing that impresses me about Danny's performance is the warmth he portrays through his voice and stage presence.

If you have his CD’s – what would you say about them?

His CD’s show the maturity of his music as the years went by. Like a good bottle of aged wine, his music soothes the senses and makes one feel euphoric.

How long you have known Danny, and where did you meet him?

I think the first time I met Danny was when he was with the Ali’is. I was still a young musician with Eddie Kamae and the Sons of Hawaii. It was a magical time in Waikiki. Music everywhere. A time long missed.

Have you worked with Danny?

I know we’ve done several of those telethons back in the days of old but never a joint concert or show.

What was the first Danny song you recall hearing?

Lady You’re My Rainbow

Your favorite Danny CD and song, and maybe why that's your favorite.

Ah, My Hawai’i is probably my favorite. It has a catchy rhythm which I like.

Have you seen Danny perform live? What are some of your favorite things about his performances?

Yes I have seen Danny perform and he’s still as dynamic artist as ever. His stage presence, his song delivery, and of course his voice.

Where else have you seen him perform?

I’ve seen him at the Hawaii Music Awards when I was up for an award with my former group, Na ‘Oiwi

Do you have any comments of your own about Danny Couch and his music/performances?

Keep performing !!!!

In going over the questions I realized I had forgotten to add the most important subject and question of all, silly me.. Would you please add some of your own comments about the experience you have just had in the Nomination and receipt of The Grammy Award for Best Hawaiian Album of the Year. How has it felt since the nomination, what is it like to part of this outstanding album.. What’s next for your career ect.

Overall it's been a great experience and one of many hi lights in my musical career but it's not really a priority of what my goal is. I feel just the same now as I felt before this honor. No difference.

With a recent honor last year of an Individual Fellowship Award from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, I'm still active in the research I'm doing with many of the stories that have been given me about the travels of the native Hawaiian people between 1820 - 1900. Where they settled outside Hawaii and the contributions they made within the local communities and the preservation of the Hawaiian culture within their locale. My interviews with members of the First Nation tribes of America and the Native Alaskans have lead me to interesting connections between the Hawaiian people and Hawaiian music written about important events outside of Hawaii. It's an interesting topic and one I'm surely going to pursue as much as possible.

By the way, when are you coming to Seattle again? Thank you once again

Don't really know the answer to that question. I'd love to perform in Seattle again if arrangements between my booking agent and a promoter can be made.

Mahalo nui loa to Dennis Kamakahi for taking the time to add to our website~

Discography

What is the Real Sound of Hawaii?