MORE ABOUT KAPALI LONG
Kapali is not only a passionate singer-songwriter with a five-octave voice, but he is also a highly skilled guitarist, known for his slide and lap steel playing. Kapaliʻs Hawaiian roots will take you straight to the origins of “Kika Kila”, or Lap Steel, where Kapali was mentored under master steel guitarist Alan Akaka. In 2016, Kapali’s guitar playing caught the attention of Gibson Guitars, and he has been a signed Gibson artist ever since.
Kapali has opened for Artists like legend Robert Earl Keen, Ron Pope, and Howie Day. Kapali has played guitar with Caroline Liar, Nikki Lane, and was slated to be the guitarist for Muddy Waters’ son, Mojo Morganfield, before his untimely passing. He has also played at major venues and festivals from; South By Southwest, Echo Park Rising in Los Angeles, Nikki Lane’s Horseshoe Stage at Stagecoach (1st Native Hawaiian to play Stagecoach), Gibson Garage Fest, WhiskeyJam (Nashville), The Bluebird Cafe (Nashville), 3rd & Lindsley, Grand Ole Echo (The Echo), Lancaster Roots & Blues, The Troubadour, Whiskey Jam & many more.
Kapali comes from a family with a long Hawaiian musical history, and music has been in his life since he can remember. He is the nephew of Hawaiian musical greats Buddy Fo and Mikilani Fo, and his grandparents were well-known musicians and performers, who raised him with the mindset of music and ʻohana (family) from Waimanalo to Punchbowl, where they played Country, Blues, Bluegrass, and Hawaiian music together. If you follow Kapali’s musical roots, they will lead you to connections with many musical trailblazers, including Joseph Kekuku, Jerry Byrd, Hank Sr., Ry Cooder, Chet Atkins, Gabby Pahinui, and many more.
