www.myspace.com/erniecruzjr

Hawaiian musician Ernie Cruz, Jr. is the oldest brother in a musical family; his father, Ernie Cruz, was a singer and guitarist on the Islands in the 1970s.  Younger brother Guy Cruz performs in the Hawaiian ensemble Pure Heart, while John Cruz released an album in 1996 and has numerous Hoku awards to his name.

Ernie Cruz, Jr. first came to the attention of Hawaiian music fans as a member of the Ka’au Crater Boys, one of the most popular groups on the Islands, who combine traditional sounds with a contemporary feel. In 1997, Cruz released his first solo album, Time and a Season. His 2001 release, Portraits, was met with critical acclaim, and demonstrates his soulful vocal style and dexterous guitar and ukulele work. Cruz, Jr. picked up two Hoku awards for the album including Male Vocalist of the Year. The album features the work of Bobby Ingano on lap steel, Greg Sardinho on steel guitar, Barry Flanagan and Shawn Ishimoto on guitars, and vocalist Fiji.  Five of the tracks were penned by Cruz, Jr. himself.

In April 2007, he appeared with Eddie Vedder and Jack Johnson at Honolulu's Kokua Music Festival. Cruz also performs as an accompanist with his cousin, the award-winning vocalist Amy Hanaiali’i Gilliom.