Slack Key ʻOhana’s ‘Hawaiian Cowboy’ up for GRAMMY consideration in two categories

Riding the wave from their recent nomination and performance at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, Slack Key ‘Ohana is now up for GRAMMY® consideration in two categories for it’s “Hawaiian Cowboy” album.

“Hawaiian Cowboy” is a contender in the Best Regional Roots Album category. The 13-song set that debuted at the top of the iTunes world music albums chart, paying tribute to Hawaiʻi’s paniolo (cowboy) and ranching traditions.

“Hawaiian Cowboy” was produced by the band’s frontman Brian Witkin, Chris Hobson, and Kamaka Mullen. The Pacific Records release boasts performances by recognized special guests on the title track including: four-time GRAMMY-winning slack key guitar master George Kahumoku Jr. and ZZ Top’s GRAMMY® nominated guitarist and vocalist Billy Gibbons.

Also joining Slack Key ‘Ohana for a recent performance at the Nā Hōkū Awards was four-time Nā Hōkū award-winning ʻukulele player Brittni Paiva, who was displayed on the first single from “Hawaiian Cowboy.” “One More Day” is a snappy guitar and ʻukulele strum-a-long bolstered by pedal steel accents and lush vocal harmonies.  

Slack Key ‘Ohana reimagines four traditional Hawaiian songs on “Hawaiian Cowboy”: “I Kona” is exemplary of the signature Hawaiian falsetto singing style; “Waimānalo Blues” protests the over development of the tourism industry in Hawai’i; “Aloha ʻOe” was written by Queen Liliʻuokalani; and “Hawai’i Aloha” is a unifying cry for Hawaiians to unite for the love of Hawai’i and its people.  

The ”Hawaiian Cowboy” cover art in being considered for Best Recording Package. Tom “THOR” Thordarson, a Disney Imagineer “revered for his tiki and fantasy artwork, created the colorful album cover depicting Witkin and Mullen riding horseback while playing guitars in full gallop atop crashing ocean waves and leaping dolphins, setting the stage for the whimsical  musical experience heard on the recording.”

Witkin (guitar, lap steel, and vocals) founded three-year-old Slack Key ‘Ohana. The band includes Witkin’s parents and brother as well as pedal steel player Rand Anderson.