John Cruz’s beloved songs include “Island Style,” “Shine On” and “One of These Days.” Courtesy photo

Editor’s note: This is the first article in a two-part series.

Back on island after touring the mainland, multi-Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winner John Cruz will present a “Songs and Stories: Tour” show June 13 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center, performing as a trio with Blayne Asing and Steve Sargenti.

One of Hawaii’s most talented and beloved artists, the Kula resident is looking forward to returning to the MACC.

“It’s going to be an acoustic-based show,” said Cruz, who opened for Dionne Warwick in December. “It will be pretty much standard. Tell some stories, sing some songs and I’m going to have my brother Tony join me. Tony will be with us and maybe a few surprises.”

One of Maui’s most notable songwriters for four decades, Sargenti covers a range of styles from country and folk to blues and jazz.

“I met Steve on Maui and we’ve been playing twice a month at least,” said Cruz. “Steve brings a different color. He has the mandolin and guitar and plays wonderful harmonica.”

Now based in Waimea, Asing won the 2016 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Most Promising Artist for his album “Young, Old Soul.”

“Blayne has been on the last three tours that I’ve done,” said Cruz. “What a joy it is to play with him because he’s played bass on one of my tours and he played lead guitar on one tour and on this tour, he’s playing percussion. He’s super talented. My brother Ernie mentored him when he was 10 years old. When I first met Blayne, we were jamming at some gig on Maui. I’m singing these songs, and it was like he was channeling my brother Ernie. It was so freaky. I kept looking at him while we’re on stage. His inflections in his voice and the way he would harmonize these certain songs. I didn’t know at the time that he had spent all that time when he was young with Ernie.”

The son of legendary Hawaiian country artist Ernie Cruz Sr., John Cruz was playing bass in his father’s band by age 15. Raised with talented siblings, including brothers Ernie Cruz Jr. and Guy Cruz, he decided it would be best to pursue his love for music on the mainland. While on the East Coast, he briefly studied political science and philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and then switched to theater and dance.

Returning to the islands, he began playing with his brother Ernie in the Ka’au Crater Boys, which gave him the opportunity to showcase the skills that would eventually ignite his own career with the release of his best-selling debut solo album.

Few artists in Hawaii have released such an accomplished debut as Cruz’s “Acoustic Soul.” Memorable original songs like “Island Style” and “Shine On” were mixed with a few choice covers, including Jimmy Cliff’s classic “Sitting in Limbo” and a beautiful rendition of Frank Kawaikapuokalani ‘Hewett’s “Kawailehua’a’alakahonua.”

Years after its release, the Hōkū-winning album has attained timeless, iconic status. “I feel extremely lucky and grateful,” said Cruz. “When you make an album, you hope to have some kind of lasting impact. It’s an album that’s still alive.”

Some of the most significant songs about Hawaii, from Henry Kapono’s “Home in the Islands” to Keola Beamer’s “Honolulu City Lights” and Cruz’s “Island Style,” were all composed while these acclaimed artists were on the mainland reminiscing about their homeland.

“For me, it was, ‘What do I miss about home?'” Cruz explained. “I had left Hawaii for a while because I wanted to expand my musical being.”

Cruz followed up in 2007 with the Hōkū-winning “One of These Days,” one of the best contemporary albums released by a Hawaii artist in many years. A landmark recording bursting with memorable songs, it marked a triumphant progression from his debut, displaying his gift as a vocalist, guitarist, composer, arranger and producer. Honolulu Magazine proclaimed it one of the “Top 25 Greatest Hawaii Albums of the New Century.”

Cruz later formed the Rough Riders with Henry Kapono and Brother Noland, recording “We Ride,” which won a Hōkū for Best EP of the Year.

In 2021, he released the single “It’s Time to Build a Bridge,” which addressed our polarized, divisive time. The song “talks about basically building a bridge back to each other,” he explained. “We all are entitled to our views and opinions and to express them.”

Co-composed with Mark Herschler, this potent song sounded like a cross between what Marvin Gaye and Bob Dylan might sing. “It’s got a groove that’s kind of a R&B and soulful vibe, and the lyrics are kind of Dylanesque,” he noted. A video of the song won a Hōkū in 2022 for Music Video of the Year.

In a benefit for those affected by the Maui fires, “Songs For MAUI (Live at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, 2012),” Cruz was featured with Jack Johnson and Paula Fuga, performing hits like “Country Road,” “Banana Pancakes” and “Island Style.”

In part two of an interview, which will be published on June 12, Cruz will talk about his love for recording songs for the Playing For Change organization, including one just filmed at Paia’s Rainbow Park, singing lead on Steve Grimes’ powerful “Lahaina Town” song, his role in a forthcoming Hawaiian slack key guitar documentary and album, and a new Hawaiian paniolo feature film project with actor Jeff Bridges.

“John Cruz: Songs & Stories” will be presented in the MACC’s McCoy Studio Theater at 7:30 p.m. June 13. Tickets are $35, $45, $55, with a limited number for $75, plus applicable fees. Ticket holders who bring donations for the Maui Food Bank will have the opportunity to enter a drawing to win an autographed poster and a private meet and greet with Cruz.