|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
Nä Hökü Hanohano Award Winner- Male Vocalist of the Year 2001 and Liner notes and Hawaiian Album of the Year 2010! |
|
ULUWEHI GUERRERO ~ Traditional and Contemporary Hawaiian Music & Hula
Nä Hökü Hanohano and People's Choice Award Winner from the island of Maui 
It is said that if one could
hear an angel sing, it would have the voice of Uluwehi. Uluwehi, which
means "growing in beauty," is a name fitting to this spirited talent.
His sweet, soothing voice, soaring harmonies, intriguing arrangements,
and powerful falsetto stylings - which were already well-known within
Hawai´i's hula community- stunned the Hawaiian music industry in 1996,
with the release of his first self-titled CD. "Ka Manawa Pono" received
3 prestigious
Nä Hökü Hanohano
award nominations (equivalent to a "Hawaiian Grammy.")
Since that time, Uluwehi has toured
non-stop. He has been critically acclaimed from California to New York,
Canada to Japan. He has performed at one of the world's most coveted
venues, Carnegie Hall. Uluwehi continues to garner new fans with every
performance, pushing Hawaiian music ever closer to the
global world
music.
"Ulu," as he is known to those closest to
him, was born in Wailuku, Maui, and studied hula with Peter Pekelo Day
from Ke´anae. When Pekelo moved to Hilo in 1982, Ulu and Keali’i
Reichel formed
Hälau Hula O Ka Makani Wili
Mäkaha O Kaua´ula,
which eventually became one of Maui's most decorated,
award-winning Hula
Hälau
(traditional hula school.) It was during the early 80’s that Ulu honed
his musical skills through
hälau
performances, paying close attention to falsetto blending and unique,
one-of-a-kind arrangements, which won him top honors at several
falsetto competitions throughout the State.
Uluwehi has an innate ability to create
visual beauty out of Hawaiian lyrics through hula. Sophistication and
elegance are the trademarks of an unprecedented style that is "Uniquely
Uluwehi." His innovative choreography for the modern Hula ´Auana has
brought the art form to a new level, including international
recognition for the staged hula productions of the
Kükahi
concert series. Active with his own dedicated Hula students of all
ages, he recently re-named his
Hälau, Halau Hula
"
Kauluokalä,
"
which means " Rising of the Sun." Ulu has judged many hula competitions
in Hawai´i, the mainland, and Guam, and often leads well-attended hula
workshops throughout Hawai´i, the Pacific basin, and Japan. In
addition, he has helped numerous local organizations in their
fund-raising efforts through concert performances, contributing his
talents to their worthy community projects. Never one to rest on his
laurels, he has lent his time and incredible musical and vocal
arrangements to other recording artists, such as Keali´i Reichel and
Lei´ohu Ryder of Maui.
2001 was a big and very special year for
Uluwehi. At the prestigious
Nä Hökü Hanohano
Awards, he was nominated in four categories, and was named
Winner- Best Male Vocalist of the Year, a title
truly earned. Maui’s Mayor
Kimo
Apana honored him with a special ceremony and proclamation at his
office, as did the County Council later in the year, declaring Uluwehi
Guerrero a local Hero in their resolution. Ulu performed for two
different
Hälau at
the Merrie
Monarch Festival, live in Hilo. His first large-scale
production solo Maui show, "Uluwehi- In My Heart-The Concert,"
was a sold-out, standing-room-only gala event; an exquisite performance
which critics and the crowd raved about for months. In Fukushima,
Japan, Mr. Guerrero performed for their government with a lively
cultural display of song and dance, and was granted special membership
in the Iwaki-Hawai’i Exchange Association, furthering the sister-city
relationship. He was also the Special Guest Soloist for the holiday
concert with the Maui Symphony.
The 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 Maui
Concerts, were also all sell-outs, with many new songs being debuted
for the very first time to an enthralled and appreciative audience.
Uluwehi performed with the Honolulu Symphony as a
special guest for their Pops Concert Series under the direction of
Maestro Matt Catingub, along with Keola Beamer.
For 2 nights in November, Uluwehi enchanted the full-house crowds,
receiving standing ovations and excellent press commentary.
Ulu's much anticipated second solo CD,
"In My Heart," (recorded and produced with the Mountain
Apple Company, 2000) brought his many talents to the
forefront. He once again showcased a diverse array of beautiful musical
selections, seamlessly blended traditional and contemporary Hawaiian
music, bold yet sensitive originals, and favorite cover tunes. "In My
Heart" continues to be a sure delight to young and old alike,
aficionados of Hawaiian music and those new to the genre.
 Uluwehi
is proud to have released his newest third CD, June 2009, entitled
"Uluwehi Sings Na Mele Hula Aloha - beloved hula songs." The nearly one
hour recording includes many traditional songs, some rarely recorded,
all in Hawaiian, with Uluwehi’s own rich, warm vocal harmonies.
Old-time favorites and original arrangements will leave you feeling
happy and ready to get up and Hula, while generating a spirit of hope,
peace, and love.For this latest CD recording,
in 2010, he won the People's Choice Award
for Best Traditional Hawaiian Album in the Hawai'i
Music Awards. Uluwehi is deeply grateful and humbled to have
won Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for Hawaiian
Album of the Year and Liner
Notes; he earned 7 Nominations for the prestigious
33rd Annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (equivalent of the Hawaiian
Grammies) in the following categories: Male Vocalist, Hawaiian Album,
Song of the Year, Favorite Entertainer, Liner Notes, Hawaiian Language
Performance as well as Album of the Year.
For booking, sponsorship and
product information, please contact:
Kauluponomusic@yahoo.com
www.kaulupono.com 808-280-5299 Pono Fried,
Assistant to Uluwehi
Kaulupono Music
P.O. Box 324 Makawao, HI 96768
|
