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Walter Aipolani

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Walter Aipolani
Also known asBruddah Waltah
The Father of Hawaiian Reggae
Born1955 (1955)
OriginHilo, Hawaii Territory, U.S.
Died (aged 68)
GenresReggae, Hawaiian, Jawaiian
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1979–2023
Formerly ofIsland Afternoon
Websitebruddahwaltah.com//

Walter Aipolani (1955 – August 17, 2023), known as Bruddah Waltah, was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist of Hawaiian music.[1] He was born in Keaukaha near Hilo, and moved to Oahu as a child with his family. In the 1980s, he began playing gigs in Waikiki. He was called the Father of Hawaiian Reggae as he and bands he played with, such as Island Afternoon, popularized Hawaiian-style reggae music in the 1980s and 1990s.[2]

Career

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Aipolani's first performances, in 1980, were with his brothers, in their band Aku Palu (which means “Bloody Fish Guts”). [3] Their manager was shot just as they were preparing to release their first recording, and the band broke up, to play for a time with their uncle's Hawaiian music group, Na Mele Kani.[4] Their sister, a dancer and musician who was performing in New Zealand, had sent the brothers a cassette tape of Bob Marley's music.[5][6] Later, as the brothers learned more about Rasta culture and music, they started a series of free concerts in Honolulu in 1983, called Tumbleland Jams.[7]

One of Aipolani's best-known works, "Sweet Lady of Waiāhole," described local fruit vendor Fujiko Shimabukuro.[8] Another song, “Keep Hawaiian Lands” was inspired by Bob Marley's “Waiting in Vain”.[9] In his covers of reggae classics such as No Woman No Cry, Waltah changed many of the lyrics to fit the particularities of Hawaiian culture and politics:

By relocating Marley's smash hit to Hawai‘i, Aipolani's lyrics reverberate strongly with Native Hawaiians; by using Marley's song and identity, Aipolani links the conditions of poverty and oppression experienced by Native Hawaiians to those experienced by Jamaicans . . . its relationship with ‘‘Keep Hawaiian Lands’’ turns it into a patriotic song demonstrating love for the land, an anthem of protest against development, colonial dispossession, and Western encroachment. The chorus, ‘‘Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘a ̄ina i ka pono (the life of the Land is perpetuated in righteousness)’’ is often recognized as the government motto for the state of Hawai‘i.[10]

Aipolani's first recorded album, Hawaiian Reggae was a top hit in Hawaii in the early 1990s, selling nearly 100,000 cassette tapes as the Hawaiian reggae, or Jawaiian craze took off.[11] Aipolani and several other Hawaiian reggae musicians disliked the term “Jawaiian”, preferring to describe their music as Hawaiian. The term Jawaiian sparked controversy, with some musicians and critics feeling it was disrespectful to both Hawaiian and Jamaican cultures.[12]

Aipolani was influenced by Bob Marley, Elton John, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Bee Gees, and The Beatles, He has played with Ryan Hiraoka, Keaka Kawaauhau, HHB, Dirty Roots, Mana‘o Company, Sons of Yeshua, and Ho‘aikane. He has also toured extensively, opening for Steel Pulse, Gregory Isaacs, Inner Circle, UB40, and other top 40 musicians. His brothers, and a sister, were also musicians, as is his nephew, Ruban Nielson of the group Unknown Mortal Orchestra.[13]

Aipolani lived in Hilo and played regularly at venues in the Hawaiian Islands and the U.S. mainland.[14]

Death

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Aipolani died on August 17, 2023, at the age of 68.[15]

Awards

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Discography

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  • Hawaiian Reggae 1991
  • Take My Lovin’, 1994, Platinum Pacific Records
  • Ka Hoʻina, 1997, JussahNuddahBruddah Records (Walter Aipolani & Joed Miller)

References

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  1. ^ "How reggae came to Hawai'i". University of California. 2024-05-02. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  2. ^ Gleason, Lea (2014-01-02). "Bruddah Waltah: The Father of Hawaiian Reggae". Ke Ola Magazine. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
  3. ^ "Who Is Bruddah Waltah Wife Denise Leionaona Aipolani? Kids And Family ·". mokiyiyegh.s3.uk.io.cloud.ovh.net. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  4. ^ Gleason, Lea (2014-01-02). "Bruddah Waltah: The Father of Hawaiian Reggae". Ke Ola Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  5. ^ Burnett, John (July 24, 2022). "Celebrating a legend: Palace presents star-studded benefit for Bruddah Waltah". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  6. ^ none (2023-08-19). "'Bruddah Waltah' Aipolani dies at 68; 'Father of Hawaiian Reggae' suffered from liver cancer". West Hawaii Today. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  7. ^ Kale, Sunaina Keonaona (2021-01-01). ""Music is Here to Stay": Hawaiian, Local, and Global in Reggae in Hawai'i. Dissertation". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ "Sweet Lady of Waiāhole". FLUX. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
  9. ^ Chun, Gary C.W. (Aug 8, 1990). "The time has come for Bruddah Waltah and band". The Honolulu Advertiser. p. 50.
  10. ^ ho'omanawanui, ku‘ualoha (2006). "From Ocean to O-shen: Reggae, Rap, and Hip Hop in Hawai'i". In Holland, Sharon Patricia; Miles, Tiya (eds.). Crossing Waters, Crossing Worlds: The African Diaspora in Indian Country. United Kingdom: Duke University Press. pp. 293–294.
  11. ^ Burlingame, Burl (May 1, 1991). "Jammin to Jawaiian: Jawaiian Music". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. pp. E-1.
  12. ^ "Popular tag jams Hawaii reggae: Musicians balk at the 'Jawaiian' label". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Oct 31, 1991. pp. C-1, C3.
  13. ^ Lee, Stanley (24 Feb 2017). "Known Quantity: Unknown Mortal Orchestra, making its isle debut, has family ties to Hawaiian music". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. pp. T-8. Retrieved Jan 21, 2023.
  14. ^ Roby, Steve (2022-08-05). "Stars come out for Bruddah Waltah tribute: Father of Hawaiian Reggae honored with 3-hour concert". West Hawaii Today. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
  15. ^ Ancheta, Dillon (August 18, 2023). "Bruddah Waltah, man who made 'Sweet Lady of Waiahole' famous, dies at 68". hawaiinewsnow.com. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
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