From the time he was a young boy growing up in Palolo Valley on Oahu, John Cruz knew he was destined to play

music. Whether inside or outside the home, his earliest memories were filled with song. His Hawaiian grandmother

had a beautiful voice and sang in church. His mom loved the Motown sound and had an extensive record collection.

His dad played country music and taught John to perform live shows at a very young age. His brothers and sisters

were all musically inclined and, along with numerous aunties, uncles, cousins, neighbors and friends, they have

surrounded John with the gift of music for his entire life.

Although John grew up in Hawaii, it wasn't until he moved to the East Coast in 1983 that he developed his own

style as a singer songwriter. During his 12 years in the Northeast, John cut his musical teeth in subways,

coffeehouses and bars in New York's Greenwich Village, as well as in the clubs and local haunts from

Martha's Vineyard to the Boston area. While attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, John ventured

in to acting and dancing, which strengthened his command of the stage.

He spent six years in theatre and dance companies, performing everywhere from Lincoln Center to Washington D.C.

John starred in a variety of shows, including ensemble productions, two-man plays and gospel inspired musicals.

Often the leading man, his roles spanned a wide range of characters and ethnicities. He has played a Chinese immigrant,

an embittered Native American and a Hispanic hustler, to name a few. As a member of the prestigious

New World Theater, John played the lead role in "The Dance and the Railroad," by Tony Award winning

Broadway playwright, David Henry Hwang, of M. Butterfly fame. John's outstanding performance was nationally

recognized in the finals of a collegiate drama competition.

John returned to Hawaii in 1995 to help his brother Ernie record his album. At the time, Ernie was in the immensely

popular band, the Ka'au Crater Boys. He invited John to play bass with them and to play his own songs during their

shows. The exposure to large crowds gave John's music a substantial fan base before it was even recorded.

When his first album, Acoustic Soul was released in 1996, it made an artistic and commercial impact like

few other recordings in Hawaiian musical history.

Acoustic Soul to date has sold about 100,000 copies in Hawaii alone. John produced the album himself and released

it on his own label, Lilikoi Records. It spawned the radio hits "Shine On," "Sitting in Limbo" and "Island Style,"

which has become a local anthem. Most songs from the album still receive daily radio airplay and can be

heard on numerous compilation CDs, in hotels, airports, shopping malls, school music classes, commercials and

just about everywhere else music is played within the state. Acoustic Soul won two .

Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in 1997 -- one for Contemporary Album of the Year and one for

Most Promising Artist.In 2005, John added the Grammy Award to his list of honors. His original song

"Jo Bo's Night" wasfeatured on the compilation CD Slack Key Guitar Volume 2, which won the

first Grammy ever awarded for Hawaiian music.

Over the years, John has attracted some stellar fans. Stars like Jack Johnson, Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffett, Trey

Anastasio, Lisa Loeb and others, have shown their support in various ways. World Champion surfer

Kelly Slater featured three of John's songs on his new DVD, "Letting Go," which was released worldwide in the

Spring of 2006. He invited John to play at the Quiksilver Pro surf contest in Hossegor, France, as well as on

his MTV special, "The Kelly Slater Celebrity Surf Invitational 2006."

John's recent touring has included stops at the massive Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee,

the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Summerstage in New York's Central Park, Carnegie Hall

and prominent national venues up and down both coasts.

In October 2006, a documentary film on his life, "Made of Music - The Story of John Cruz," debuted at the

Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival in Honolulu. A few weeks later, it was honored with the

Aloha Visionary Filmmaker Award at the Molokai Film Festival. It was recently chosen to be screened

at the Pacifika Hawaiian Film Festival in New York City. It features John's signature candor and wit, as well

as a personal story that tugs at the heartstrings, and music that will delight and inspire. Jack Johnson,

Jackson Browne, Kelly Slater and Jake Shimabukuro add color and insight to an already powerful story.

John has distinguished himself as one of the most talented songwriters that has ever come from Hawaii. T

his well-earned reputation will become even more solidified when he releases his long-awaited second album,

"One of These Days," on September 25, 2007. It promises more of the warm, heartfelt melodies and passionate,

soulful vocals that John's fans have grown to know and love.

John Cruz jamming at the Diamond Head Cove.

Diamond Head Cove Health Bar