ZZ Top’s frontman performed the title track of the first-time Nā Hōkū Awards nominated band’s “Hawaiian Cowboy” album at the prestigious awards show.
HONOLULU (8 AUGUST 2024): ZZ Top’s guitarist-vocalist Billy F. Gibbons is iconic and instantly identifiable thus keeping his surprise appearance with Slack Key ‘Ohana at last Saturday’s (August 3) Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards (the Hawaiian Grammy Awards) a secret ahead of time was a challenge. But they pulled it off and when Gibbons walked onto the Hawai’i Convention Center stage to join Slack Key ‘Ohana to perform the title track of the first-time Nā Hōkū Awards nominated band’s No. 1 album, “Hawaiian Cowboy,” the crowd went wild.
“Hawaiian Cowboy” is a cross-cultural song about the paniolos, or Hawaiian cowboys. On Slack Key ‘Ohana’s album, the unified voices of cowboys from the American south and Hawai’i are performed by Gibbons and four-time Grammy-winning slack key guitar master George Kahumoku Jr. respectively. A multiple Nā Hōkū Awards winner who was nominated this year, Kahumoku Jr. was also on stage with Slack Key ‘Ohana and Gibbons as was four-time Nā Hōkū Award-winning ukulele player Brittni Paiva. Together they played two songs: “Hawaiian Cowboy” and Paiva’s “Heartbeat Melody,” which won Instrumental Song of the Year that evening.
“What an incredible night. We got in a quick rehearsal the night before with Billy and it went great, so really the hardest part of the event was keeping everything secret until showtime,” said Slack Key ‘Ohana’s Brian Witkin after the awards ceremony held by the Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts.
Gibbons said, “I was enamored by the invitation and opportunity to join Slack Key ‘Ohana for the awards show…Have mercy!”
Slack Key ‘Ohana’s video for “Nahenahe Ka Leo o Ka Wahine Uʻi,” a song from “Hawaiian Cowboy,” received a Nā Hōkū Awards nomination in the Hawaiian Music Video of the Year category although it didn’t win. However, the track won a San Diego Music Award earlier this year for Best World Music Song.
“Hawaiian Cowboy” was produced by Chris Hobson and the Pacific Records collection debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes world music albums chart when it dropped last April. The set list consists of nine original songs penned by the band along with interpretations of four traditional Hawaiian classics. The record showcases the group’s unique synthesis of authentic Hawaiian music and culture melded with rootsy Americana country music. Paiva features playing on the album’s lushly melodic first single, “One More Day.”
Slack Key ‘Ohana is a family band comprised of Brian Witkin (guitar, lap steel and vocals), Carol Witkin (ukulele and vocals), Joe Witkin (bass, piano and vocals), who performed at the original Woodstock as a member of Sha Na Na; and Sean Witkin(drums and percussion). Pedal steel player Rand Anderson completes the lineup often augmented by Hulu dancers Alana and Allyssa Godoy.
After the awards show performance, Slack Key ‘Ohana played two shows on Maui this week before returning to their California base for a gig this Saturday in San Diego at The Grass Skirt.
For more information, please visit https://slackkeyohana.com.
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