Ernie Cruz Sr., singer, musician, recording artist and patriarch of the talented Cruz family of Hawaii island, died Saturday at his home in Glendale, Ariz. He was 76.
Cruz’s daughter, Tiffa Cruz Garza, said her father had been suffering from congestive heart failure for almost 10 years and died peacefully with his wife and children around him. Garza said that he talked with each of them, told his wife, Maggie, that he loved her and went to sleep.
About an hour later, Maggie Cruz took his face in her hands and told him that she loved him but it was OK if he needed to go. Cruz took a final breath, then stopped breathing.
Ernie Cruz was born in Modesto, Calif. He came to Hawaii in 1958 and eventually settled on Hawaii island. He introduced himself as a Hawaii recording artist with a 45-rpm single, “I Wonder Where You Are Tonight,” released by David “Kawika” Crowley’s Hilo-based Kawika Records label in the late 1970s. He recorded several full-length albums for other labels in the years that followed. One of his later albums was “Only Better!” which he recorded with guest performances by three of his daughters — Tiffa, Connie and Marisa — and one of his sons, multiple Hoku Award winner John Cruz; it received a Hawaii Music Award for Country Album of the Year in 2007.
Two other sons were also Hoku Award winners. Ernie Cruz Jr. earned several Hokus in the early 1990s for his work as half of the Ka‘au Crater Boys. Guy Cruz won a Hoku Award for his work as a member of Colon, the successor group to Pure Heart, in 2001.
Another daughter, Desiree Moana Cruz, was named Miss Hawaii in 1988.
He is also survived by two other sons and three other daughters, numerous grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Garza said a memorial celebration will be held sometime in June in Hilo.
