Taku Hirano

Class of
1995
Position
Percussionist
Biography

Taku Hirano '95 has become one of the top percussionists on the touring and recording circuit, having toured with Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, Bette Midler, Lionel Richie, Isaac Hayes, Japanese pop superstar Utada Hikaru, and Academy Award-winning composer A. R. Rahman H'14.

His live performance credits also include Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, John Mayer '98, Usher, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Shakira, Mary J. Blige, Josh Groban, LeAnn Rimes, Chaka Khan, Jamie Foxx, Brandy, Don Henley, Barry Manilow, Travis Tritt, Yolanda Adams, Cece Winans, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. 

Further, he has recorded with Fleetwood Mac, Dr. Dre, Whitney Houston, Jay-Z, The Temptations, Nelly Furtado, Stevie Nicks, Ziggy Marley, Jason Mraz, Josh Groban, Chromeo, and Lionel Richie; contributed to several scores and soundtracks; acted as a consultant to Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails for the “Lights in the Sky” tour; and has started his own clothing company, 3rd Culture Style.

He also served as percussionist and a soloist on Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour; has made televison appearances with Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, and Aretha Franklin; and performed at the White House alongside Patti LaBelle, Melissa Etheridge '80, Jill Scott, and Janelle Monáe. Hirano frequently works with fellow alumni and session players in LA, including guitarist Tariqh Akoni '91 of Bette Midler's core touring group.

 

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