RIP Uncle Willie K

[eightmoremiles]

Willie K, virtuoso multi-instrumentalist and singer, died last night at his home in Maui at age 59, following a two year struggle with small-cell lung cancer. If you were lucky enough to have seen him perform you would have been witness to a real force of nature-lightning fast hands, principally on uke or guitar (he told me he could play mando and loved bluegrass); a booming voice that could outrange any tenor or basso; encyclopedic knowledge of traditional Hawaaian music, pop music or grand opera; and the energy to draw in an audience of 50 or 50,000.
I have never seen anything like him. Willie Kahaiali'i, 1960-2020.

[cletusmarley]

RIP Willie K.