Fa’anana Jerome Grey, the son of a carpenter and composer, and sibling to 20 others, is no stranger to humble beginnings. Yet through all the challenges life has dealt him, he has succeeded in leaving an indelible mark on Samoa, and across the Pacific Islands. Grey has made a profound statement in the island music scene, and is the architect of a style of music that has impacted the hearts of his countrymen and beyond, over the past four decades. Grey also wrote songs of social and political importance, effecting widespread change with his music, sometimes infusing comedy into otherwise serious issues, like “Eleni,” “LHD/RHD,” and “Lo’u Tau Au Ete Mapu Ai.” Well-known hits like “Sau Sau Ia (Jambalaya),” “Lo’u Sei Oriana”, and “Apian Lady,” were born of Jerome’s experiences in his homeland. After relocating to Honolulu in the 1990s, his rendition of “Sweet Lady of Waiahole,” along with “Sau Sau Ia (Jambalaya),” and “Apian Lady” rocked the airwaves in Hawai’i, topping the KCCN charts and getting consistent airplay on radio stations statewide.