Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole (Hawaiian pronunciation: [kəˌmɐkəˌvivoˈʔole]; meaning 'the fearless eye, the bold face';[2] May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997), also called Bruddah IZ or just simply IZ, was a Hawaiian musician, singer, songwriter and Hawaiian sovereignty activist.[3]
He achieved commercial success outside Hawaii when his album Facing Future was released in 1993. His medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World