HONOLULU – Slack Key Legend, Keola Beamer and Weldon Kekauoha, both best sellers this holiday season, got the nod from their colleagues in the music industry with a Grammy nomination in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category.
Keola Beamer
With the release of Malama Ko Aloha (Keep Your Love), he has taken his genius onto the world music stage in a captivating collaboration with nine-time GRAMMY nominee R. Carlos Nakai and jazz pianist Geoffrey Keezer. The CD is the soundtrack to the nationally televised Public Television special produced by PBS Hawaii.
His film credits include the Five-Time Oscar Nominated film “The Descendants” for which Keola performed five sound tracks, which also received a Grammy nomination for Soundtrack of the Year.
Keola Beamer has been described as “the best slack key guitar player on the planet!” by the legendary Willie Nelson. Keola is undeniably one of Hawai’i’s premier singer/songwriters, arrangers, and composers.
“This accolade has meaning for me, because the CD was conceived as a creative partnership with PBS Hawaii and wonderful collaborators, such as R. Carlos Nakai, my wife, Moanalani Beamer, jazz pianist Geoffrey Keezer and Raiatea Helm. The music of the CD explores a precious philosophical message descended from my family, “Malama Ko Aloha”, or “Keep your Love”. Simply put … to nurture the light of aloha within every human heart counters the anger and hostility of a dangerous world. Since I believe that aloha is Hawai’i’s greatest gift to the world, what better way than to use the power of music to expand this idea beyond our shores? If the Grammy’s help call attention to this message, I am grateful indeed.”
Keola Beamer•Lahaina, HI
Weldon Kekauoha
Multiple Na Hoku Hanohano winner Weldon Kekauoha snags his first Grammy nomination with his 2012 release Pilialoha (To Be Bound In Love). Winning Hoku awards for his previous CDs as well as a Hawaii Music Award, Weldon has cemented his place as a intensifying star in Hawaiian music. His interest in and commitment to traditional Hawaiian music comprises singing, arranging and composing and he grows each and every time he releases a new project.
Respected Honolulu Advertiser’s entertainment critic Wayne Harada has said of Weldon, “Kekauoha reached his zenith; it doesn’t get any better than this.”
Weldon’s reaction to this amazing news today was simple:
“Incredible! Still on an adrenaline rush since receiving the news! Humbled and honored for starters and just thrilled to be along for the ride! Congratulations to the other Hawai’i nominees, Keola Beamer, Daniel Ho, and all the Hawaiian musicians who participated on the Descendants sound track!”
Weldon Kekauoha•Honolulu, Hawai`i
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