NATHAN AWEAU was born into a musical family - his grandparents played various instruments and performed with a band; his mom is a piano player; and his father, for many years, taught music as a Choir Director, as well as a Polynesian Music Teacher, at various high schools.

Nathan's early years consisted of piano lessons, learning the guitar and ukulele, and having the natural ability to sing. From grades seven through twelve his main instrument was the saxophone…he once thought that this would be his lifetime passion.

In college he performed in the Jazz Ensemble, as a bass player, and the Wind Symphony, as a percussionist. By this time, his passion for the electric bass became his main instrument.

In 1983, during his college years, he began his professional career accompanying performers such as Gabe Baltazar, Henry Kapono, Loyal Garner and Nohelani Cypriano to name a few. He was a member of the Hoku award-winning group Ka'eo, as well as the award-winning group The Ali'i's. He also did a 16-year stint with the legendary Don Ho. Nathan has also done various high school and college level seminars - covering subjects on writing, arranging, and sequencing to computer music.

For a few short years Nathan was a music teacher at various schools in Hawai'i. He's even done a music project with students from Campbell High School. The students had a chance to see the workings of what goes on in producing and recording a song.

Other than being a stage musician, Nathan has performed on commercials for Windward Mall, Meadow Gold, JCB credit card co., etc. He's done background music for various T.V. shows for the Travel Channel, and has done music beds and liners for various radio stations.

In 2002, Nathan released a CD entitled "E Apo Mai", which garnered several awards: "Male Vocalist of the Year", "Song of the Year", and "Contemporary Hawaiian Album of the Year". A few years later, he released a Jazz CD entitled "Bass Etude", which focused on the electric bass…this project was honored with the "Jazz Album of the Year" award.

Currently Nathan and Barry Flanagan, renowned writer/guitar extraordinaire/founding member & owner, make up the group Hapa. In 2005 they released their first album together entitled "Maui", which shot up the Billboard Magazine's World Music chart and peaked at number 7. The following year Hapa went home with 4 out of 6 Hoku Awards for "Maui". Nathan was honored with the "Male Vocalist of the Year" award for his own solo release. This was his second "Male Vocalist of the Year" award, which placed him in a small group of gentlemen who'd won this award more than once - Robert Cazimero and Keali'i Reichel are the other recipients. In 2007 Nathan was honored again with the "Male Vocalist of the Year" award, making him the only male artist to be recognized with this award 2 years consecutively and 3 times total.

In November 2007 Nathan released his long awaited follow up to "E Apo Mai", entitled "Kane'ohe". This CD focuses on songs that celebrate the place that Nathan calls home. He wrote all twelve songs, played every instrument, sang all the lead & background parts, and engineered, mixed and mastered the entire CD. Wayne Harada, Hawaii's own and well respected music critic, once wrote, "Nathan is that distinguished rarity…a jack of all trades, master of a wide domain".

For more information on Nathan, visit www.nathanaweau.org

Look for Nathan Aweau's Next Appearance on the Slack Key Show