Jake Shimabukuro

NOTE: This blog entry is from March 2011

by Chad Campbell, senior producer

We interview lots of talented and famous artists, actors, writers, filmmakers and musicians on this program, but no one embodies the combination of humility and artistry like Jake Shimabukuro. He is literally the nicest, most laid-back guy I’ve ever met and I’m so glad he stopped by our performance studio during his recent tour of the mainland. (Click here to read his bio.) Jake is a fifth-generation Japanese-American who was born, raised and still lives in Hawaii and says that despite living in paradise, going on tour and performing only once a night is actually like a vacation. In Hawaii, he sometimes squeezes in several shows in each day, many of them involve performing at schools, hospitals and nursing homes for an organization he started called Music is Good Medicine.

Jake plays what he calls “an instrument of peace” and truly believes that if everyone played the ukulele, the world would be a better place. His latest CD is called Peace Love Ukulele.

Jake Shimabukuro is only 34 years old, but he already has 30 years of experience on the ukulele – and he has put that time to good use. He composes his own original songs, but he’s better known for his mind-blowing covers of established songs. Here’s a video he made a few years ago of While My Guitar Gently Weeps which went viral on YouTube and took Jake’s renown to the next level.

and here is a live performance of his latest amazing cover, Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

Jake is playing a show in Hawaii this weekend, but will be touring up and down the west coast of the mainland for the next few weeks. Click this link to see if he’s playing near you. Jake Shimabukuro’s tour dates.