Masters of Hawaiian Music Bring Delightful Hawaiian Sound to Mainstage Center for the Arts

Gloucester Township, NJ -- George Kahumoku, Jr., Ledward Kaapa, and Jeff Peterson have created multiple Grammy Award-winning CDs. They’ve delighted tens of thousands of fans through the renowned Slack Key Show on Maui.

And now, Delaware Valley audiences have the opportunity to enjoy their Hawaiian experience as the Masters of Hawaiian Music perform at Camden County College’s Dennis Flyer Theatre, Thursday, March 3, 7:30 p.m. Their concert is the final event in the Sounds of Paradise series presented by Mainstage Center for the Arts

“Many people who frequent our Masters of Hawaiian Music show on Maui live all over the US where we will be traveling on tour. It will be great to bring Hawaii and its warmth to these cold areas through our music. We find the colder it is and more snow on the ground, the more packed our Hawaiian shows are. We love Mainstage and hope to sell it out!” said Kahumoku.

Their performance features the sounds of the slack key guitar, the ‘Ukulele; and Hawaiian vocals. The slack key guitar, kī hō‘alu, is one of the world’s great acoustic guitar traditions. Relatively unknown outside of Hawaii, slack key guitar is often confused with and actually pre-dates the more well-known Hawaiian lap steel that developed in the late 1880s or 1890s.

Slack key was developed by Hawaiian cowboys who “slacked” the strings of guitars brought by Mexican cowboys hired by King Kamehameha III to teach Hawaiians better ranching methods. Slack key is a finger-picked style, and the tradition continues to evolve from techniques and tunings handed down through the generations.

About the artists

Gearge Kahamoku, Jr. four-time Grammy-winner has truly mastered the slack key guitar. Known as “Hawai‘i’s Renaissance Man. He is a multiple Na Hōkū Hanohano (Hawaiian Grammy) Award winner , vocalist, storyteller, songwriter & author, teacher, artist, sculptor, farmer, and chef. George is known for playing slack key on a jumbo12-string guitar because he loves the full sound and the lower bass tones. He lives on Maui, directing and teaching at the Institute of Hawaiian Music at the University of Hawaii-Maui College. Each June, he organizes George Kahumoku Jr.’s Annual Maui Slack Key Guitar and Ukulele Workshop, featuring the finest music instructors.

Ledward Kaapana, a master of the slack key guitar and National Heritage Fellow, has been one of Hawaii’s most influential musicians for four decades. His mastery of stringed instruments, his exceptional picking style on slack key guitar and ‘ukulele, plus his extraordinary baritone to leo ki’eki’e (falsetto) vocal range, have made him a musical legend. Raised in the village of Kalapana, with no electricity or TV, Ledward was surrounded by traditional Hawaiian music and culture, which impacted his life’s work. He has received four Grammy nominations and three wins on slack key compilations.

Jeff Peterson, recognized as one of Hawaii’s most versatile musicians, is at the heart of today’s Hawaiian music scene. His passion for the guitar has allowed him to shine as a solo artist and has given him the opportunity to collaborate with a wide variety of artists from Hawaii, across the US, and abroad. Five of Jeff’s songs are featured in the award-winning George Clooney film, the Descendants. His focus on Slack Key guitar, classical, and jazz music has allowed him to develop a unique and transcendent voice on the guitar while being deeply rooted in the traditions of his Hawaiian heritage.He has contributed to two Grammy Award-winning recordings and has been honored with four Na Hōkū Hanohano Awards (Hawaiian Grammys) .

Here is a sample of the Hawaiian Masters in action: https://www.dropbox.com/s/w5ltcrdy9omysm8/Masters2016BLACKWOOD.mp4?dl=0

Special Guests

Closing for the Hawaiian Masters is MCA’s High School Show Choir, Harmony. They are performing a song written by Pops KoAloha called America’s Song. Last Summer, Harmony toured on the Island of Oahu this summer, performing for local residents and learning Hawaiian culture. During their visit, they had the opportunity to meet Pops KoAloha. He presented each of them a new Wow Ukulele that is the first creation in a new company he and his wife, Trish, have launched called Ukulele Specialties America, LLC. This new, affordable high-quality instrument produces a sound similar to one created by much more expensive ukuleles. It is even more impressive to musicians playing it.

Opportunity to Win new Wow Ukulele created by Pops KoAloha

Pops KoAloha loves sharing the Hawaiian culture and is so generous. Not only did he create the new Wow Ukulele through his new company, Ukulele Specialties America, LLC. He also donated one for Mainstage to award randomly to one lucky ticket holder at the Masters of Hawaiian Music Concert on March 3, Dennis Flyer Theatre, Camden County College. This is a beautiful, handcrafted instrument with a high-quality sound. Mainstage greatly appreciates this donation and looks forward to giving away this brand new ukulele.

Tickets to the Masters of Hawaiian Music performance are $20 for seniors/students 12 and under and $25 - $30 for adults. To order, visit www.mainstage.org or call toll free( 855) 936-2467 ext 3.