Author James Houston, who collaborated with his wife Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston on the book "Farewell to Manzanar," died yesterday in Santa Cruz, Calif., of complications from cancer.

He was 75.

Houston, who lived in Santa Cruz but was a frequent visitor to Hawaii, was recognized with the American Book Award and the Humanitas Prize.

"Farewell to Manzanar," published in 1972, was a memoir of Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston's childhood in an internment camp in California's Owens Valley during World War II.

The book drew attention to the detention of Japanese Americans by the United States during the war.

The Houstons were married in Honolulu, and James Houston wrote widely about Hawaiian history and culture. At the time of his death, he was working on a novel about Queen Liliuokalani.

Houston also was a musician who played stand-up bass and guitar in folk and bluegrass bands.

He was especially fond of Hawaiian music, and developed a close friendship with Eddie Kamae.

He collaborated with Kamae on the film "Sons of Hawaii," a documentary of Kamae's iconic group, which at times counted among its members Gabby Pahinui, Moe Keale, Dennis Kamakahi, Norman Isaacs, David "Feet" Rogers, Sonny Chillingworth and Zulu.

James Houston is survived by his wife Jeanne, and his children Cori, Joshua and Gabrielle. Services are pending.