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Jon de Mello
Born Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Genres Hawaiian
Instrument(s) Piano
Website mountainapplecompany.com
Jon de Mello is an American record producer, manager, composer, artist, who was
born in Honolulu and raised in Waikiki, and notable for producing Israel "IZ"
Kamakawiwoʻole.[1][2]

Early years
Jon de Mello's father was composer Jack de Mello.[3] Jon de Mello began playing the
piano at the age of five, and began learning his father's trade by sitting in on
recording sessions and business meetings. His interest expanded to fine art, and he
studied painting at the California College of Arts and Crafts, graduating in 1970
with a fine arts degree. When he returned to Hawaii, he continued his artistic
studies at the University of Hawaiʻi while simultaneously embarking on several
business ventures.[4]

Career
In 1974, de Mello started Mountain Apple Company and in 1978, signed The Brothers
Cazimero as the company's first act. Since then, Jon de Mello has produced over 150
recording projects that range from traditional Hawaiian to contemporary Hawaiian to
island music, most notably being Israel Kamakawiwoʻoleʻs multi-platinum selling
Facing Future and Alone in Iz World albums. In 2002, he became the first producer
from a Hawai'i record label to have achieved an RIAA certified Gold Record and 2005
achieved Platinum. He also served as an entertainment consultant to Sheraton
Hotels' Pacific Division, Westin Hotels, and the SS Monterey Luxury Liner.[4]
He worked closely in developing a CD that was nominated on the 2002 final Grammy
Award ballot for "Reggae Album of the Year." In 2005, he was a part of the campaign
of the creation of Grammy Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album. This category was a
part of the Grammy Awards from 2005 to 2011, in which he was a part of the
production of many nominated albums. The recording projects he has developed and
worked with have garnered over 100 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. In 2010, the song he is
best known for producing, 'Over the Rainbow' won "Hit of the Year" at the German
Echo Awards where Jon accepted the award on Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole's behalf.[5]

Today, de Mello composes original music for television shows and motion pictures,
produces, mixes and arranges recordings of his company's artists, designs album
covers and point-of-purchase display material, and edits music videos.[4]

References
Montagne, Renee (March 9, 2011). "Israel Kamakawiwo'ole: The Voice Of Hawaii".
NPR. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
Keany, Michael (June 1, 2004). "Q+A Jon de Mello". Honolulu magazine. Archived
from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
"Founder of Mountain Apple Company and composer, Jack de Mello, dies at 103".
KHON-TV. April 28, 2019.
"JON de MELLO". Greatergoodradio.com. April 19, 2006. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
"Eminem, Linkin Park, 'IZ' Win German ECHO Awards, Bruno Mars Performs (Watch) |
Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved
November 15, 2013.
External links
mountainapplecompany.com
Mountain Apple Company YouTube
Jon de Mello Page Archived December 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
Discogs: Jon de Mello page
PBS Hawaii: Interview by Leslie Wilcox with Jon de Mello
Greater Good Radio Interview
Authority control Edit this at Wikidata
International
VIAFWorldCat
Artists
MusicBrainz
Categories: Living peopleRecord producers from HawaiiNa Hoku Hanohano Award
winnersUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa alumni
This page was last edited on 20 March 2023, at 12:09 (UTC).
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