Jake Shimabukuro Biography

Jake Shimabukuro

Jake Shimabukuro has been one of the most celebrated musicians in the world. He is one of the most talented artists of the 21st century. His music is full of emotion, and his lyrics are significant. You will agree that he is the king of Hawaiian music if you have heard his songs.

His style is very different from typical Hawaiian music. He sings in English, and his music is a mix of modern and traditional music. He is a legend in the world of music.

Early Life

He was born in New York and raised in Hawaii. He was exposed to music early and started playing the flute at seven. At 12, he moved back to Japan and began taking classical singing classes. He then went to the prestigious Peabody Conservatory of Music in Nashville, where he studied under renowned opera singer James King. He is a virtuoso musician who plays the guitar, ukulele, and drums. It was at this time that he developed his unique style of playing the guitar.

After graduating, he returned to Japan and joined the Gekidan Gendai Orchestra. He was the lead tenor in the group for the next four years. In 2008, he decided to leave the orchestra and focus on solo performance. He formed his quintet, Jake Shimabukuro Quintet, which released its first album, "New World".

He played his first solo concert at the age of 16, and he also started recording his songs. Now, he has released more than 40 albums.

Career

As we all know, Jake is one of the most popular musicians worldwide and famous for his guitar playing. He is an active member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. He has also won several awards for his musical talent.

He worked with different record labels and companies like Concord Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Japan, BMG Music Japan, and Universal Music Japan.

  • In 2010, he released his first solo album, 'Passion, Pain & Heartache.' This album was a hit and gained him a considerable fan base.
  • His second solo album was released in 2014 with four songs. The album is titled 'Songs For You'. His third album came out in 2016, and it has four songs. It was named 'Songs For You 2'.
  • In 2015, he released another solo album 'Jake Shimabukuro – The Way Of The World. This album hugely impacted his fans as it was his first studio album in 4 years.
  • Jake Shimabukuro has been an artist for more than 25 years and has worked with many famous musicians. Here are some of the best collaborations that he has done with other musicians.
  • Jake Shimabukuro also wrote songs for other artists like Jennifer Hudson, Chris Brown, and Lady Gaga.
  • In November 2021, Jake launched another amazing album known as Jake And Friends that was the blasting album.

Awards & Recognition's

In 2004, Shimabukuro won the prestigious Naoki Prize for his guitar compositions, for which he received $100,000. He also won the "Soloist of the Year" award from Japan's Guitar Association.

Shimabukuro has performed at numerous major festivals, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Fuji Rock Festival, and the Chicago Jazz Festival. In 2010 and 2011, Jake Shimabukuro won the Best Instrumentalist and Best Guitarist Awards.

Wrap Up

In conclusion, Jake Shimabukuro has been at the forefront of the guitar industry since the early 2000's. Since then, he has established himself as one of the most influential guitarists in the world. He is a musician, songwriter, composer, producer, and educator. His music is known for its distinct and diverse style, which incorporates a variety of musical influences.