Does anyone know the banjo artist who plays and sings Over the Rainbow?”
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (known to his fans as Iz or Izzy) was a Hawaiian singer known as much for his amazing, clear, poignant tenor as his very large size…at one point he weighed in over 750 lbs. He was a consummate ukulele player (a common instrument in Hawaiian music), which is what he used (not a banjo) to accompany himself on what has now become a modern classic rendition of the Judy Garland classic from the Wizard of Oz. He also released it as a medley with the Louis Armstrong hit “What a Wonderful World”, which if memory serves first came to the attention of mainland TV viewers during one of the last episodes of the hospital drama ER, when one of the primary characters was in Hawaii dying of a brain tumor. You can find versions of Iz’s Over the Rainbow on his releases “Alone in IZ World” and “Facing Future” (the latter is, in my opinion, his best album). Unfortunately Iz passed in 1997. Hope that helps.
