HONOLULU (March 29, 2010) – World renown singer, composer and Slack key master Keola Beamer “ and two-time Grammy nominee, Raiatea Helm, partner on a brand new CD, “Keola Beamer and Raiatea” released as a world music stage production in last April from Mountain Apple Records (mountainapplecompany.com).
When two of the most powerful Hawaiian music stars devote 14 months of their lives to a recording studio the result is pure magic. Blending traditional and contemporary Hawaiian musical styles, Keola and Raiatea have created a CD that is infused with the spirit of the islands and thrives with innovative rhythms.
“Keola Beamer & Raiatea” is guaranteed to become an all-time favorite for Hawaiian and world music fans and all those who esteem slack key guitar as well as the pure vocalizations of Hawaii’s preeminent female songstress.
“Artists from Hawai’i have been making their mark on the world music scene and charts for decades, and Mountain Apple is thrilled to present ‘Keola Beamer & Raiatea,’ two beloved artists who have come together to make the most beautiful music,” said Jon de Mello, founder, Mountain Apple Company Hawai’i. “With the international popularity of the slack key guitar, there are many artists that have been called masters.
“In our opinion, Keola Beamer is a true ‘master.’ And, Raiatea, who is at the top of the industry at such a young age, grows with every new song and never ceases to amaze us,” he added.
One of Hawai’i’s premier singer-songwriters, arrangers, composers and masters of the Hawaiian slack key guitar, Keola Beamer’s breadth of talent springs from five generations of Hawai’i’s most illustrious musical families. Keola established himself early as a leader in the wave of contemporary Hawaiian music when he wrote the classic “Honolulu City Lights,” which is one of the all-time best-selling recordings in the history of Hawaiian music. He has recorded and produced more than a dozen albums, winning numerous Hanohano Awards from the Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts, and has appeared on national television.
Raiatea Helm made history in 2006 as Hawai’i’s first solo female vocalist ever to receive a Grammy Nomination for her sophomore CD “Sweet and Lovely.” The Arts and Leisure Desk of the New York Times went further to comment that “[Raiatea Helm] is poised and utterly elegant …” Raiatea received her second Grammy Nomination in 2008 for her follow-up release, “Hawaiian Blossom.” Her debut recording, “Far Away Heaven,” captured the prestigious Female Vocalist of the Yearand Most Promising Artist Awards from the 2003 Hanohano Awards.
