Resilience

MY ESSAY


“ Be happy, Live happy,” “ The one thing that can solve our problems is dancing.”

These are famous quotes by two inspiring men. They are James Brown and Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole. Between these two men they are both inspirational and heroes forever.

Some people say he was one of the hardest working men in show business and the Godfather of soul. He is James Brown. He was born on May 3, 1933 in Barnwell, South Carolina. Even though he lived in extreme poverty and in the Great Depression era, his family still tried to make ends meet. They made money by putting everyone to work, even washed cars to make money. During his working, he learned how to play the harmonica given to him by his mother father who left them when he was young. After moving around and making connections with everyone he ran into, he scored a job in the movies in the 1940’s called “Caldonia”. In that movie he sang and danced. At the age of fifteen, he was convicted of armed robbery and went to juvenile hall. His big break happened when he met Bobby Byrd. The funny thing was, they met in prison. When Bobby Byrd saw James Brown perform, he was astonished. In 1995, Bobby asked him to join his vocal group called the “Avons”. Then, the name was changed to the “Flames”. Everything took off from there. Hit after hit he became famous and he was reaching the top of his game, soon to become the Godfather of soul. From “ I Feel Good” to “Papa Got a Brand new Bag” he had made it.

When James Brown was making it big, another resilient musician was being born, named Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole. IZ was born on May 20th, 1959 in the city of Honolulu. He was raised with a good childhood until his parents died when he was seven. After that, he lived with his brother. Then one day, his brother had an idea that they should join and make a band. At age eleven he and his brother Skippy started playing music together. His brother played the bass and IZ was on vocals and played the ukulele to rock the house. Together he and his brother formed a band called the Makaha Sons of Ni’ihau. After making some great albums like Na Mele Henoheno Na Makahiki Mui and helu ‘ekahi, tragety hit when Iz’s brother Skippy died in 1978. IZ stopped recording music until 1990 when he created his first solo album called Ka‘ano‘i. With that album he won an award for best contemporary and vocalist. Once that, album hit the stores, Iz’s music took off. Then his hit song “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” was on everyone’s radio. He made more songs and great albums till he died on June 26, 1997 of respiratory illness due to his obesity. He was a great man full of love and happiness. He brought joy to everyone he met. He truly was the “Gentle Giant.”

How these two men relate to me is I have always had a passion for music like and I have always wanted to try to play the ukulele. When I make my legacy, I will always think of them and I will try to leave happiness and passion were ever I go. I will also never give up and always follows my dreams