Click to play
I'll Remember you
Kui Lee (1933-1966) died of cancer on Dec. 3, 1966. As I write this exactly 39 years later on Dec 3, 2005, we still remember him. Kui left a wife and four young children, he was 34 years old. He made only two albums, both recorded during the time that he knew he was dying. The first premiered May 22, 1966 and the second on Dec. 2, 1966, the day before Lee's death.
Press accounts of the period credit Lee with composing up to 80 original songs, some of which were recorded by more than 100 artists worldwide including Elvis Presley who did a recording of I"ll Remember You, and sang it often in his concerts including his famous "Aloha from Hawaii" television special. People often call Kui Lee the John Lenon of Hawaii. Who knows what great music he would have continued to write had he lived.
I was introduced to Kui Lee's music when I was about 20 years old and living on a sail boat in Honolulu. I had recently sailed over from Los Angeles. For extra money I would do some street busking in busy Waikiki. It was there that Kui's sister heard me play and asked if I would like to perform in a show about her brother's life at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. She invited me into her familly home and shared with me the stories behind his songs. Though Kui was already gone before I arrived in 1969, I felt like I knew him. I was honored to be invited into Hawaii and Hawaiian culture by this wonderful family and Kui's music.
Here is Pierre Grill's and my rendition of "I'll Remember You" for pan-flute and piano. This piece is from a new CD of classic Hawaiian songs to be released by Pierre and I in 2006.
Aloha - Brad White (12-3-05)
I'll remember you,
Your voice as soft
As a warm summer breeze.
Your sweet laughter,
Mornings after,
Ever after, ooh, I'll remember you
Please Visit: Pan-Flute.Com