Ray Kane

Raymond Kāne (October 2 1925 - February 27 2008), was one of Hawaii's acknowledged Masters of the slack-key guitar. Born Raymond Kaleoalohapoinaoleohelemanu Kāne (his middle name is pronounced "kah-layo-ahloha-po-eenah-olay-o-haylay-mah-noo," and means "voice of love will never be forgotten where it comes from, and like a bird away it flies") in Koloa, Kaua'i, he grew up in Nanakuli on O'ahu's Wai'anae Coast where his stepfather worked as a fisherman.

Ray's style was distinctive and deceptively simple. He played in a number of ki ho'alu tunings always plucking or brushing the strings with only the thumb and index finger of his right hand. He also played hammer-ons and pull-offs in a unique way; his finger moving up and out, instead of down and in, after striking a string. He emphasized that one must play and sing "from the heart." He was never flashy or fast. In Hawaiian, his sound is described as "nahenahe" (sweet sounding).

In 1987, Ray was honored as a "National Living Treasure" by the National Endowment for the Arts with an [http://www.nea.gov/honors/heritage/fellows/fellow.php?id=1987_07 NEA National Heritage Fellowship] .

Discography

*"Slack Key [the “Black and White Album”] " (1958)
*"Party SOngs, Hawaiian Style, Vol. 2" (1959)
*"Nanakuli's Raymond Kane" (1974)
*"Master of the Slack Key Guitar" (1988)
*"Punahele" (1994)
*"Hawai'i Aloha" (1996)
*"Wa'ahila" (1998)
*"Hawaiian Sunset Music, Vol. 1" (1998)
*"Cherish the Mele of our Elders (with Elodia Kane)" (1998)
*"Maika'i No Blues" (1999)
*"Tribute to Lena Machado (with Elodia Kane)" (1999)
*"Holoholo Slack Key" (2000)
*"He Leo 'Ohana (with Elodia Kane)" (2000)

External links

* [http://www.dancingcat.com/artists/Ray_Kane.php Raymond Kane biography at Dancing Cats Records]
* [http://www.thegtw.com/artists/ray_kane/ray_kane_main.htm Instructional video featuring Raymond Kane at The Guitar Workshop]
* [http://www.taropatch.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=40 Review of "That's Slack Key Guitar" film featuring Raymond Kane at the Taropatch.net online community]
* [http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2008/2/28/slack_key_guitar_legend_Raymond_Kane_dies Slack-key guitar legend Raymond Kane dies]