BOBBY MODEROW, JR.
INSPIRED
Lokahi Records https://www.bobbymoderowjr.com/
Honolulu, HI - Bobby Moderow, Jr., founding member of the six-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award--winning group Maunalua, is releasing his long-awaited debut solo album "Inspired". The album showcases Moderow's prowess as slack key guitarist, singer (including his trademark falsetto), and songwriter. It features a blend of three original songs and covers of favorite, meaningful songs written by others. A Hawaiian cowboy at heart but staying true to his slack key roots, some songs are in Hawaiian and others have a bit of that country flair.
"Inspired" begins with a treasured recording of Moderow's mentor, the late renowned slack key master Raymond Kane, who walked onstage during Moderow's 1990 performance at the first-ever Hilo slack key festival and explained to the audience the meaning behind the song he had begun to play. It is the only recording of them together. Moderow apprenticed under Kane, who was proclaimed a National Living Treasure by the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts in 1987, and awarded funding for the apprenticeship program under which Moderow studied. As part of his desire to give back for all the he received under "Uncle Raymond", Moderow in turn teaches others, including groups of elementary school children at the Grammy® Museum for the past few years. He is also currently teaching at the University of Hawai'i West Campus on O'ahu.
"Rainbow", one of Moderow's original songs, was inspired by his eldest daughter leaving home for college, but it's also for others who have left Hawai'i to pursue their passions elsewhere. The song's message is that no matter where life leads you, you can always follow your rainbow back home to your roots.
In "Music in Heaven" Moderow writes about his passion for music and his musical heroes who have passed on, and how he prays that the music won't stop when he passes. As he was sitting in a coffee shop trying to finish writing the song, struggling to find an ending, a homeless man who was listening told him how much he liked the song and said, "Why don't you just take your guitar up there?" Thus, the closing lyrics were born.
James Taylorʻs "Carolina In My Mind" is Moderow paying homage to the musicians who have given him so much. His great respect for Taylor, whose music helped Moderow realize that itʻs ok to express yourself through music, is the reason for this songʻs inclusion on the album. This
particular song is difficult to play, but the way Taylor plays it is similar to the slack key styling that Moderow loves so much.
"Inspired" was produced by Moderow, Kamuela Kimokeo, and two-time GRAMMY® Award winner Dave Tucciarone (who also engineered) - all of whom also worked on the vocal and music arrangements. Guest musicians include Kimokeo; Makana (slack key guitar on "Ka'a Ahi Kahului"); Zanuck Lindsey (Telecaster on "Rainbow"); and steel guitarist Denny Hemingson (Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Rogers) on "Music in Heaven" and "Woke Up With You on my Mind".
This is Bobby Moderow, Jr. Inspired.
The CD will be available in retail stores beginning May 17, and at online outlets soon after.
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Listen to clips of a few songs from "Inspired"
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