The Chang-Wells Ohana
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Friends and family can sometimes become a little distant, and it isn’t anyone’s fault. It’s the natural progression of where our lives take us. It is the bonds of our past that help to keep us all connected, and it just so happens for Kevin Chang, his sister Elina (Erin Chang) Wells and her husband Tyrone Wells who were on MidWeek’s cover Dec. 18, 2008 it is music that ultimately complements the talented family as each pursues their own endeavors.
Erin and Tyrone, who call Chino, Calif., home, have matured from aspiring musical talents to professionals who creatively feed off and support one another in their musical marriage.
“Tyrone was there for me when I was struggling a bit, that is how we basically met. He is encouragement for me. Some people wonder how musicians can co-exist in a relationship, but we both support each other in everything we do,” says Erin, pictured above with her spouse and brother.
Erin has released a new album Mesmerized, which she recorded both in California and Nashville while on tour with Tyrone. After a video of her live performance of the Hawaiian hymn Kanaka wai wai was discovered on youtube.com, she was asked to perform the song in a soon-to-be-released feature film (title to remain undisclosed), in which she also will have a small speaking role. She also has high praise for brother Kevin, saying, “I am always impressed by my brother’s voice. He can come off as a strong person, but the passion and emotion are always in his voice.”
Tyrone has begun to make a quite a name for himself in the music industry, with many of his songs recently included in a number of films and television shows, including his song Running Around In My Dreams which is the end title in the film Something Borrowed. This past weekend, Tyrone played with Grammy-nominated artist Sara Bareilles. In 2010, he and Erin were able to release their duet album Different As Can Be.
“It was fun to record that album with my wife, exploring our relationship, our differences, our love and the working elements of being a couple,” says Tyrone, who with Erin is appropriately thrilled and terrified about the imminent birth of their first child. He also is excited about Yahoo News’ Inspiring Moments of 2011 video in which his song Remain is featured. It can be found at yearinreview.yahoo.com/2011/blog/1263/inspiring-video.
Kevin plays with his band Kupa’aina, performing the third Thursday of each month at Diamond Head Cove Health Bar. As of last week, Kevin, an attorney, also took a position as executive director of Hawaii Community Stewardship Network, an organization for which he is working diligently to establish its non-for-profit status. Complimenting his sister and brother-in-law, Kevin says, “I am really proud of them. They’ve worked hard to make a living doing what they love. When they play music together it is kind of grossly romantic you know, good for them, but not good for everyone else,” he says with a chuckle.
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