Obama Roots Bolsters Hawaiian Music Image/Sales

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With the recent release of his newest Hawaiian album, Makin' Love Ukulele Style, celebrated pop-artist and singer/songwriter, Ukulele Ray noted the new president-elect's roots as a "powerful" influence for people to "discover all that is Hawaiian, especially its music."

"My iTunes and Amazon sales have soared since the November election," said Ukulele Ray. "I attribute much of this new interest, in Hawaiian music, to Mr. Obama. Not only is he our first 'man-of-color' in The White House, but he's also the first president ever elected from the State of Hawaii."

Ray's Hawaiian album, features a variety of traditional "hapa-haole" island favorites, including Don Ho classics Tiny Bubbles and Pearly Shells as well as his own updated arrangements of Elvis' Blue Hawaii and the Bruddah Iz hit, Over The Rainbow, both recorded LIVE from the Save The Earth Concert at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre in San Francisco in 2006.

"This is a collection of the Hawaiian songs I grew up with, influenced by my Portuguese-Hawaiian-born grandfather, who grew up on the streets of Waikiki, playing his ukulele," said Ray. "He taught me to play the ukulele, and this is truly a tribute to him as well."

"Obama's election was a call to action for me to get closer to my Hawaiian roots," Ray added. "I can tell he's already influenced me and my song sales, and I have confidence that he'll have the same affect on the economy and world peace, if people will just believe... remember, dreams do come true!"