Ray Kane

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Ray Kāne (born on October 2, 1925), is one of Hawaii's acknowledged Masters of the slack-key guitar.^{[citation needed]} Born Raymond Kaleoalohapoinaoleohelemanu Kāne (his middle name is pronounced "kah-layo-ahloha-po-eenah-olay-o-haylay-mah-noo," and means "voice of love will never be forgotten where it comes from, and like a bird away it flies") in Koloa, Kaua'i, he grew up in Nanakuli on O'ahu's Wai'anae Coast where his stepfather worked as a fisherman.

Ray's style is distinctive and deceptively simple. He plays in a number of kihoalu tunings always plucking or brushing the strings with only the thumb and index finger of his right hand. He also plays hammer-ons and pull-offs in a unique way; his finger moving up and out, instead of down and in, after striking a string. He emphasizes that one must play and sing "from the heart." He is never flashy or fast. In Hawaiian, his sound is described as "nahenahe" (sweet sounding).

[edit] Discography

• Slack Key [the “Black and White Album”] (1958)
• Party SOngs, Hawaiian Style, Vol. 2 (1959)
• Nanakuli's Raymond Kane (1974)
• Master of the Slack Key Guitar (1988)
• Punahele (1994)
• Hawai'i Aloha (1996)
• Wa'ahila (1998)
• Hawaiian Sunset Music, Vol. 1 (1998)
• Cherish the Mele of our Elders (with Elodia Kane) (1998)
• Maika'i No Blues (1999)
• Tribute to Lena Machado (with Elodia Kane) (1999)
• Holoholo Slack Key (2000)
• He Leo 'Ohana (with Elodia Kane) (2000)