H?k? Zuttermeister shares melodies, memories, and people near and dear to his heart in an upcoming HPR Atherton Studio concert. On July 23 at 7:30 p.m., he performs from his multi-H?k?-Award-winning CD “?ina K?puna,” from his recent release “Ku?u Pua Sakura,” as well as favorite Hawaiian standards. Accompanying him are Solomon “King” Kanahele on bass, with hula from Susan Misae Zuttermeister, the artist?s mother, to whom his latest album is dedicated.
Reservations for this intimate concert with H?k? Zuttermeister may be made online at www.hprtickets.org or by calling the station (955-8821) during regular business hours. Tickets are $30 general, $25 for HPR members, and $15 for students with ID; plus online service charge. The Atherton Studio is located at Hawai?i Public Radio, 738 K?heka Street. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.; music begins at 7:30 p.m. CD sales and signing will be available after the show.
Zuttermeister maintains that “Hawaiian music is a feeling, not just the notes on a chart. My years as a dancer give me a unique perspective on a song and its interpretation, and I try to use that knowledge to help express the feeling at its core.”
About the artist
H?k? Zuttermeister was born and raised in K?ne‘ohe, Hawai‘i. At a very young age, he started dancing hula, and in intermediate school, progressed to teaching himself how to play the ‘ukulele, guitar and bass. He comes from a Hawaiian family dynasty that encompasses both the hula and music communities. His great-grandmother, Kau‘i Zuttermeister, penned the beloved song, “N? Pua Lei ‘Ilima,” and his great-aunt is Kumu Hula Noe Zuttermeister.
As H?k? grew into his musical abilities, he and his friends gravitated to the music that their elders listened to and performed: the music of the Hawaiian renaissance. As these friends grew closer, they honed their musical skills, and in 1992, during Zuttermeister’s senior year in high school, the singing group K?na‘e was born. This young group of musicians performed the nahenahe style of Hawaiian music at a time when traditional Hawaiian music was faltering in its popularity and "Jawaiian" filled the airwaves.
After high school, Zuttermeister performed with such Hawaiian music greats as Ku‘uipo Kumukahi, Jerry Santos, Sean Na‘auao, Raiatea Helm, N? Palapalai, Mahela Ichinose, Ho‘okena, and Side Order Band. It is from these musicians and others that H?k? learned the intricacies of starting and maintaining a musical career. He credits their influence on his musical style, one he describes as being “Hawaiian, but with a more contemporary flair.”
Some of the songwriters whose compositions Zuttermeister enjoys playing the most include Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, Kawena Puku‘i, and Maddy Lam. H?k??s vocal range -- from deep and resonating to falsetto -- coupled with his mastery of guitar, bass, and ‘ukulele make for a signature and recognizable sound.
His highly-anticipated debut album, “‘?ina K?puna”, was released in 2007 and, in the following year, won N? H?k? Hanohano Awards including Hawaiian Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Hawaiian Language Performance, Most Promising New Artist, and Liner Notes.
