Actor

John Cruz (Hawaiian/Chamorro/Native American-Cherokee/Japanese/Caucasian) has distinguished himself as one of Hawai'i's most talented and versatile artists, known for his heartfelt melodies, passionate, soulful vocals, and range of styles from Hawaiian to Blues, Folk, Americana, Roots and Country, that his fans have grown to love. John built his career telling stories through songs about everyday people and experiences, celebrating the ties that bind us all and in the process, becoming one of the most beloved artists in Hawai‘i. His song “Island Style” is iconic in Hawai‘i. Over 1 million listeners stream Cruz’s recordings every year, and he is a multi-time Nā Hōkū winner (‘97, ‘08, ‘22), as well as a contributor to the Grammy® award-winning album Slack Key Guitar, Vol. 2.

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John Cruz

The Freight

John Cruz grew up in Hawai‘i in a home immersed in music. He performed with his father and brothers from a young age and moved to the East Coast in 1983 to develop his own style as a singer songwriter. He performed everywhere from New York’s coffeehouses and bars to clubs and local haunts from Martha’s Vineyard to the Boston area, as well as venturing into both theater and dance. He was leading member of the prestigious New World Theater. Returning to Hawaii, John released his first album, Acoustic Soul, in 1996. It was followed by radio hits “Shine On,” “Sitting in Limbo,” and “Island Style,” which won two Na Hoku Awards, including one for “Most Promising Artist,” and has become iconic in Hawai’i. In 2005, John added a Grammy Award® – the first to be awarded for Hawaiian music – to his list of honors, as part of the compilation CD, Slack Key Guitar Volume 2.

John Cruz with Special Guest Faith Ako

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

Captivating guitar playing, heartfelt melodies and passionate, soulful vocals make John Cruz one of Hawai’i’s most beloved singer-songwriters.

Irvine Barclay Theatre

Written in 1997 by Frank McCourt, The Irish… and How They Got That Way highlights traditional Irish through humorous and confident song, dance and storytelling of Irish history — including research by McCourt on how they were used and poorly viewed by the English. 

The Irish & How They got that way

Youngstown Playhouse

From a modest beginning in a small café in Red Bank, NJ, Pat Guadagno has taken BobFest to theaters from San Diego to Nashville and always back home to NJ. For over 25 years, the series changes theme every year, from once performing 60 songs on Dylan’s 60th birthday to mesmerizing audiences last year with bootleg, rare, and alternative versions of songs from the poet’s vast catalog, always with world-class musicians. This year, to honor the Nobel Prize winner Guadagno joins five international award-winning Songwriters to tell their Stories and sing some Bob Dylan Songs – ‘In the Round-Nashville Style’.

Nā Hōkū Hanohano and Grammy Award-winner John Cruz is featured in the Playing for Change Foundation videos supporting the global effort to create positive change through music and arts education. John’s music has been recorded by Jackson Brown and Jack Johnson, and his composition Island Style has become the official Hawaiian anthem.

Actor

John Cruz

Events

Upcoming events

May 28, 2026

BobFest · Count Basie Center for the Arts

Past events

May 9, 2025

John Cruz · The Freight

May 8, 2025

John Cruz with Special Guest Faith Ako · Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

About

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