On this season's American Idol there is a contestant named Deandre Kamele Brackensick. He is 16 years old and lives in San Jose, Ca.
He is a tremendous young talent, who from a very early age has devoted himself to Hawaiian Music and Hula. He has performed at the Merrie Monarch with his Halau, Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea.
This past November he won The Men's Solo Competition at the Northern California Kumu Hula Association's, 30th Annual 'Oe E Ka La Hula Festival.
Here is some video of him singing and doing hula from this past year.
When I first watched the video of "Kuhio Beach" some time back and heard that voice, I was totally stunned. It was AMAZING!!!!!! I said then that he was channeling Sam Bernard. And he sounded so good on American Idol. That is a show I have never ever watched heretofore, but I might just have to join the ranks. What is even more cool is the USA Today article, speaking about Hawaiian falsetto tradition and how difficult it is to sing falsetto. It seems to give acclaim to being able to sing falsetto rather than dismissing it as some dinky folk music type stuff coming from Hawai`i.
I mua!
I wish him all the best!
And mahalo to Norman for keeping us up on his talent way before the TV world ever heard of him.
On American Idol
Posted - 02/17/2011 : 11:18:28 AM
