Jake Shimokuburo - biography

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1976, Jake Shimabukuro is a fifth-generation Japanese-American. At the age of four his mother, is a veteran ukulele player and singer herself, handed him a ukulele and he started to practice for hours every day.

In 1998, while working a clerk at a musical instrument store, he formed a band with several friends. Together, they won the Na Hoku Hana Hana Award, which is said to be "Hawaii's Grammy Award" and then he released his first album. Four years later, a Japanese music production company signed him, and he has since released an albums in Japan.

In 2006, a famous guitarist posted his wonderful performance on Youtube (without his knowledge) and became internationally famous. He played Bohemian Rhapsody on TED-talks TV, with just his ukulele, to  in 2011.

Now, he has become a master ukulele player,  playing super-fast "like lightning" and with an unrivaled technique. Known as the "Jimi Hendrix of Hawaii", he is still active , regularly collaborating with famous singers and performers.

Posted for Masaya S.