"As a freshman in high school, math was not my favorite subject. One day I decided to cut my math class. And that is when my life in the music world started. While sitting under a tree, not far from me, was another class. There teacher was playing on his guitar. Then I heard this music that captured my ear, a sound I never heard before. When the recess bell rang the teacher passed me and I asked him what kind of music he was playing? He said it's an old style of Hawaiian music called slack key. I asked him if he would teach me, he said if I gave up all my recess and came to him, he would. I thought I'll give up my recess for awhile, then after I get bored I just won't come. We'll for 4 years I gave up my recess and came to this teacher, he thought me everything he knew from songs, to tuning's. His name is Henry Meyer."

When Kevin got out of high school he went into the medical field as a ambulance driver and attendant. His brother Sheldon worked on the same shifts. While waiting for calls they would bring their instruments to work and play. Police officers would come to the ambulance station to work on there reports and everyone would say, why aren't you out there playing music for the people? Kevin was playing slack key and Sheldon followed him on the ukulele. A year later they left the ambulance service and formed a group called "Waiehu Son's" in 1974. They based all their music around the Hawaiian slack key. The members were Sheldon Brown playing slack uke,Atta Betts on upright bass, and Kevin on slack key guitar.

Coming from a background of musical families, their dad set the way for them , taking them to his performances in their younger day's, every weekend with no choice at all, they grew up around Hawaiian music all of their lives. When dad retired from music, years after, Kevin and Sheldon stepped in and took over. As Waiehu Son's, their first performances were in friends garage, from a small beginning, many doors opened for them. After playing in one of the hotels on Maui for 18 years, they had the opportunity to record in 1983. Ho'olu was the name of the album. That year they were nominated for the Hoku Awards, for..... Most Promising Artist and Hawaiian Contemporary Album of the year.

The Hoku awards opened up another opportunity for them to record another album in 1984 called Wailele Waiehu. A song their Dad CO-wrote with composer David Alawa speaking of their birth place, "Waiehu". Slack key has played a big role in Kevin's life, he was offered to teach this art form of kiho'alu in one of the high schools. The exact school he had attended for 4 years and cut his math class (Baldwin High) Now he had the opportunity to give back. He taught in the school for 15 years. Working with the youths is a joy in it's self. They will be the next carrier of this torch. (Kiho'alu) Also working at different slack key workshops like George Kahumoku's and Keola Beamer's was another experience, this time working with adults. Sharing and passing it on and watching this art form continue, is a reward in it's self.

Now holding weekly slack key jam sessions, meeting different slacker's is a good feeling for Kevin to know this art form is being played not just here but, all over the world. And this all started because he cut his math class.

Playing slack key almost all Kevin's life has it's rewards, but at times you tend to over look the members in their family. In 1993 Kevin's youngest son came up to him and asked if he could play like that guy on TV. He walked into his room and on the television John Keawe was playing. It was the Bankoh Slack Key Festival that is aired on TV once a year. His son Ikaika asked him if he could teach him to play like that guy. Kevin told him "come back in 3 years I think you'll understand better about slack key." (he was 9) Kevin's wife Joleen said "You tried with the other 3 children they said they didn't want to learn, and the very one that asked you to teach him and you tell him no!" That night Kevin's music career changed. From that one lesson he taught Ikaika at age 9, they have been playing together ever since.

In 7th grade at Iao Intermediate School, Ikaika's teacher, Lei'ohu Ryder, challenged the students to write about their talents. That's how he ended up composing "Kalo Man". As Ikaika progressed through the years, he had the opportunity the record a CD at age 13. "Kalo Man" was the name of that first CD and it was nominated for Na Hoku Hanohano awards in 1997 as Most Promising Artist and Instrumental Album of the Year.

By 16 Ikaika had developed his own versatile style. His original instrumental "Maunaloa Jam" has all the right ingredients and unique flavor to become a timeless classic.

His talent and love for music stem from another blessing -- generations of gifted entertainers. Ikaika's musical creativity and spontaneity from Grandpa, Harry H. Brown SR has taken root in performing and songwriting. Grandpa is doubly blessed since his debut recording with his son, Kevin, and his grandson which makes 'Ekolu Hanauna Nei a cherished heirloom. In 2000 they received the Na Hoku award for Haku Mele "Opiopio"

It all started in their garage when Ka'ena was in the 10th grade. Ikaika and Kevin were rehearsing in the garage preparing for an up coming concert. The CD player in the house was playing too loud, so Kevin called out to his older son, to soften the CD player so they could practice.

They could still hear singing in the house, so Kevin called out again to his older son, soften the CD! He called back and said, he'd turned off the CD it's Ka'ena singing! They called her into the garage and told her to sing the same song she was singing in the house. Ikaika and Kevin both looked at each other with their mouths wide open. They asked her to sing that same song with Ikaika and Kevin in a concert that was coming up. And that was her first start.

Education was her first priority, she was always fascinated with law in-forcement. Music never crossed her mind.

In her senior year, Ikaika was recording his 2nd CD, (3 generations) and the mail came that day saying she'd gotten accepted at the university on Oahu that taught criminal justice. She was so excited. Kevin then thought, since she was going away, he asked her if she would do a song with her brother on the CD 3 generations.

Ikaika was going into the studio that day to record the song called "Give it all to Jesus". Kevin told her to sing it with her brother, she never knew the words, or the song, but we told her she could use the words in the studio. A little rehearsal before going into the studio and she went in and recorded the song with Ikaika. That song was one of the hit's from 3 generations.

Instead of going to the university she decided to stay on Maui because the college here was teaching the same thing. So she stayed on Maui, got her degree in criminal justice, and her free room and board was "home". She now works for what she was going after, law - enforcement.

Kevin and Ikaika have been trying to have her come to all of their performance, but because of work schedule she couldn't. But now with time in the force, she can request for some time off or vacation and can perform with them.

She has been doing several performances with them and is starting to feel comfortable. They enjoy every chance Ka'ena has to perform with them. She and her brother blend well together and they've in-planted a 3rd party to the band. With out interfering with her work schedule, Ka'ena joins them every opportunity she can.