39. Jake Shimabukuro: From YouTube sensation to ukulele legend

Jake Shimabukuro is an award-winning Japanese-American Ukulele virtuoso from the island of Oʻahu. He has been playing the ukulele since he was 4 years old and has proven time and time again that there isnʻt any style of music that he canʻt play and he is not limited by four strings. His music combines elements of Jazz, Blues, Funk, Rock, Bluegrass, Classical, Folk, and Flamenco. This musician has gone from local phenom to YouTube sensation, from playing in tiny clubs to headlining the worldʻs most prestigious concert venues like the Hollywood bowl, Lincoln Center, and the Sydney opera house. Jake is also a husband and father of two sons and has performed on the biggest TV shows and in front of people like Queen Elizabeth. He has released a string of award-winning, chart topping albums and most recently he was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as a member for the national council of the arts. He is a living ukulele legend and has been called the Jimi Hendrix of the Ukulele. In this episode we talk about the history of the ukulele, how he honed his skill, his passion for what he does, and so much more. Plus, a special ukulele performance live on the podcast! Enjoy!  Recorded at https://www.summitmediacorp.com/honolulu Buy our merch on: https://keepitaloha.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kamakadias Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KeepitAlohaPod/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod