 KEVIN
BROWN was born on November 17, 1955, but his beautiful slack key
guitar style dates back a generation or two earlier. Like most other
slack key masters, Kevin learned to play from previous generations of
his family. His father Harry is a well-known Hawaiian musician,
and it was natural for Kevin and his brother Sheldon to learn
to play ukulele, steel guitar and slack key guitar.The two
brothers, who grew up on Maui, trained as paramedics and worked a
48-hour -on/48-hour-off shift at a facility on Front Street in
Lahaina. This schedule gave them free time to practice and play music
together. Encouraged by the many police and fire department personnel
who heard them, they became professional musicians, forming the
Waiehu Sons in 1970. They played music for 17 years at the
Stouffer’s Resort in Wailea (now the Marriott Renaissance). Their fame
spread to other islands, and for a number of years they played music
in Honolulu for the opening session of the Hawaii State Legislature
along with such famous groups as Hui Ohana.
Later, Kevin also became a teacher of slack key music at Baldwin
High School, a position he held for 14 years. A warm and caring
teacher, Kevin leads a long-running weekly kani kapila (jam
session) on Maui. He delights in teaching and mentoring slack key
guitar students.
The Brown Family has been helping to perpetuate the 160 year old
art form of ki ho’alu for three generations. Ikaika, who
learned slack key from his dad, Kevin, has been performing since he
was ten years old. Ikaika has recorded three CD’s, including the
cherished “Generations,” which features both his father
and grandfather.
Kevin last performed as guest host in The Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key
Guitar Concert Series at The Napili Kai Beach Resort, Maui on
July 18, 2007. Before that, Kevin appeared on March
21, 2007 and as guest host on March
29, 2006 , February
8, 2006 and August 10,
2004 and as Master Artist on November 8, 2006 and April 12, 2005 and May 11, 2004.
His son Ikaika Brown sometimes performs with him. |
