John Cruz will play an evening of “Waimea Cowboy Soul Music” at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 in the heart of paniolo country at the Kahilu Theatre, opening the Kahilu 2014-15 season.
John Cruz will play an evening of “Waimea Cowboy Soul Music” at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 in the heart of paniolo country at the Kahilu Theatre, opening the Kahilu 2014-15 season.
This 2005 Grammy Award winner will grace the stage of Kahilu Theatre for one night of music inspired by Motown, country, and Hawaii. His ohana – brothers Ernie Cruz Jr., Guy Cruz and Tony Cruz will join him onstage. This will be a rare chance to see the talented Cruz family jam and talk story together. Special guest Keikilani Lindsey, who has just released a new album entitled “Meleuhane” (Spirit of Song), will open the show.
Cruz’s strong-honeyed voice, paired with passionately honest lyrics have gained him international recognition and taken him to venues from Carnegie Hall to the South by Southwest music festival in Austin. Over the years, Cruz has also attracted some stellar fans – he has toured or collaborated with stars such as Jack Johnson, Eddie Vedder and Jimmy Buffett.
The Cruz ohana, raised in Palolo Valley, on Oahu, was full of music – from their Hawaiian grandmother’s beautiful voice in church, to their mom’s extensive Motown record collection, and dad’s lessons of country music songs. John then developed his musical style and studied and performed acting and dance for twelve years on the U.S. East Coast, then returned home to Hawaii in 1995 to help his brother Ernie record his album with the Kaau Crater Boys.
Playing bass with Kaau Crater Boys spurred Cruz to release the album “Acoustic Soul.” To date, this album has sold more than 150,000 copies in Hawaii alone and includes international hits such as “Shine On,” “Sitting in Limbo” and “Island Style.”
His second album, “One of These Days” was released in 2007 and debuted firmly at the No. 1 spot in Hawaii, No. 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart and No. 6 on the Billboard World Chart. Honolulu Magazine named the album one of the “Top 25 Greatest Hawaii Albums of the New Century” in 2012. Cruz is now working on his third album, to be released soon.
When not on the road, Cruz spends his time supporting cultural and educational projects, such as “Guitars in the Classroom,” helping kids all over the country enrich their lives through music.
This concert was made possible in part by sponsorship by Deviants from the Norm, West Hawaii Today, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development and KAPA Radio, sponsor of Kahilu Theatre’s 2014-2015 Hawaiian Music Series.
Tickets are $66, $46, $36 or $20 and available at kahilutheatre.org, by calling 885-6868, or at the Kahilu Theatre box office, which is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Enter through the east door during construction.