This one flew right by me. A true pioneer of slack key guitar Raymond Kaleoalohapoina’oleohelemanu Kāne died February 27, 2008. Ray Kāne was like the Elvis Presley of slack key guitar. The riffs and runs were already there but he gave the music style, flair, and character.
At age nine, when Ray felt a call to play slack key, he had to turn outside of his family for lessons. This was very difficult at the time. “Back then people wouldn’t teach you unless you were family,” Ray says. “But I was a good diver, so I made a deal with Albert Kawelo. I gave him fish and he gave me lessons.” …he is widely credited with helping revive interest in his instrument in Hawaii and around the world…In the early 1960s, Mr. Kane made his first recordings, singing and playing his own compositions as well as traditional songs. In 1973, he gave what is believed to have been the first full-length solo slack-key guitar recital, at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. The concert brought renewed attention to the instrument. “I don’t know why they picked me,” he said. “I wasn’t famous. I wasn’t playing anywhere. I was just trying to stick to the style I learned back in the 1930s.”
I’m a slack key lover so that is how this initially affected me. However the significance of this is not only the fact that I love slack key guitar and own a couple of his albums but that his last name Kāne (pronounced KAH-neh, not connie), is one of the middle names given to Jet and Oliver. This name was Morées Tutu’s maiden name. It was given to them in order to remember their unique connection to Hawaiian people by blood. An Osage name wasn’t necessary as they will be card carrying members like me. As it ends up Ray Kane lived in Nanakuli, on the island of Oahu which is the same city and island Tutu is from. In other words Morées family(thus Jet and Oliver) are likely related to the Elvis Presely of slack key guitar,..*Read update below even if through a distant relative. Its true that lots of Hawaiians have that as a last name but its a bunch of people on islands so what do you expect? Thats something at least. If you’ve never listened to any slack key guitar before he is a pretty good starting point. He didn’t play the fastest or the fanciest style but the authentic tradition is there and you can hear Hawaii in his voice and strings.
UPDATE:** As you can see in the comments Morée was able to confirm that she is Rays cousin. When her TuTu went back to Hawaii last time someone tried to introduce her to Ray but he just said, “I know her she is my cousin“.
Just a dude with a blog that probably shouldn't have one.
I am talking to my TuTu right now. Ray was her cousin. Ray’s dad, Ray, and my great-granfather, William Kane, were brothers. So yes, I am Ray Kane’s cousin.