Raymond Kaleoalohapoinaoleohelemanu Kane, 1925-2008

Ray Kane, 82, died Wednesday night at Kaiser hospital. Kane died only a few days after his cousin Genoa Keawe. To lose both of these legends in less than a week shows the importance of something Kane stressed for years -- passing along musical techniques and traditions to the next generation so performance practices aren't lost. Aunty Genoa was particular about getting the Hawaiian lyrics right; Kane was particular about slack key performers teaching their tunings to the young. When he was young, he had trouble getting anyone to teach him slack-key because musicians didn't want their tunings kapu'ed. Though understandable to a degree, this proprietary view of the tunings and techniques led to slack key almost dying out. Ray Kane was determined not to let that happen. He loved teaching and did it whenever he could. This enriched modern slack key tradition for a couple reasons. For one thing, Kane favored a couple of tunings that not many others were using. For another, he favored a sweet, mellow style (and sometimes very lightly syncopated) without showing off. Just listening to Kane probably made younger performers esteem that style more highly. It probably didn't hurt that Kane was an amiable man who liked to tell stories. Sadly, that particular tradition hasn't carried over to all of the excellent young slack key performers. Maybe they'll pick it up eventually.

Comments

[Ward Stewart and George Vye]

Aloha Ray, Aloha Elodia,

We loved Ray for his music, for his loving and gregarious personality and, most particularly, for his wonderful wife Elodia.

Ward and George
Waikiki