Daniel Ho Group

A Honolulu native, Daniel’s first instruments at age 8 were organ and ʻukulele, followed by classical guitar, bass, and drums. He spent his teenage years orchestrating big band arrangements. Daniel moved to LA to study composing and film scoring at the Grove School of Music. He began his professional career as the leader, keyboardist, composer, and producer for the contemporary jazz group Kilauea, which had released six chart-topping albums by 1997. In 1998, Daniel launched his independent record label, Daniel Ho Creations. To date, Daniel Ho Creations has released over one hundred acoustic and Hawaiian-themed albums. Daniel has received numerous Hawaiian music industry accolades including three Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards and fifteen Hawaiʻi Music Awards. He is also the recipient of six Taiwanese Golden Melody Awards for his work in world music.

With the continued popularity of the ʻukulele, Daniel’s original song, “Pineapple Mango,” has risen to fame as an instrumental anthem covered by ʻukulele enthusiasts around the world. He is co-designer of the Romero Creations Tiny Tenorʻukulele. He also has a custom tenor ʻukulele on display at the GRAMMY Museum.Daniel tours internationally as a performer and clinician, and has been active in the genres of Hawaiian, World, Folk, Contemporary Jazz/Pop Instrumental, and Classical music.

KEALIʻI CEBALLOS

Kealiʻi Ceballos is an acclaimed hula journeyman who attributes his deep love and appreciation for hula to his parents. He has studied with renowned kumu (teachers) such as Cecilia Cissylani Ceballos, Nona Beamer, George Naʻope, Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, and Robert Uluwehi Cazimero. In 1991, he founded Hālau Hula Kealiʻi o Nālani, and has since taught over 2,000 dancers in the Los Angeles area. In its 28^th year, his award-winning hālau has performed in prestigious events and competitions across the U.S. and internationally. Kealiʻi teaches at UCLA’s Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance, is faculty at Santa Monica College, and travels to Japan, Taiwan, and Mexico to work with hula students under his direction. An equally talented vocalist and ballroom dancer, he’s consulted and choreographed for major motion pictures. Kealiʻi strives to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture—its art, identity, language, and sense of ʻohana (family).

RANDY DRAKE

Randy Drake recently earned a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology with a Doctoral Emphasis Program in Feminist Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara. He received his B.M. in Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas and his M.M. in Jazz Studies at California State University, Long Beach. He has worked as a Teaching Associate and Assistant for Music and Popular Culture in North America, World Music, and for the Feminist Studies course Women, Society, and Culture. He has presented papers at events such as the 2013 and 2012 conferences of the Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM), the 2011 Southern California and Hawaii Chapter of SEM, and the Critical Sexualities Graduate Symposia at UCSB.

Randy is also an accomplished drum set and percussion performer. He has performed with Dan Siegel, Bill Watrous, John Novello, Pat Kelley, and Gregg Karukas. Between 1990 and 1992, he performed and recorded with artists including Birds of a Feather, the Mark Masters Jazz Orchestra, Uncle Festive, Ralph Carmichael, and many other Los Angeles artists. Randy recently toured Japan with Japanese guitarist Tak Matsumoto and the United States with Englebert Humperdinck, and he has performed, recorded, and toured with jazz-pop artist Daniel Ho and Kilauea. Recently, he has been performing and recording with Daniel Ho, Jennifer Leitham, and San Gabriel Seven.

Randy has been teaching drum set at California State University, Long Beach for over fifteen years. His research interests include the intersections of race, class, age, and gender (particularly trans identity) in several genres of music as well as sound studies and popular music. His dissertation considers music’s ability to open up spaces for underrepresented forms of embodiment and identity.

STEVE BILLMAN

Originally from Orange County, California, Steve took up bass at the age of thirteen. He attended Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship and also graduated from Musician’s Institute. He studied with jazz greats such as Jeff Berlin, Bob Magnusson, Herb Mickman, Ray Brown, and Spud Murphy.

Steve has been a long-time instructor at the Los Angeles College of Music in Pasadena. He also taught at the Dick Grove School of Music in Van Nuys, California, working as the orchestra bassist for the Composing and Arranging Program.

For fifteen years, Steve was a core member of the jazz/fusion band Continuum. He has performed and worked with Brian Bromberg, Gerry Brown, Luis Conte, Dave Koz, Brandon Fields, Free Flight, Tony Guerrero, Pat Kelley, Gregg Karukas, Alex Acuna, Tom Brechtlein, Gary Novak, Eric Marienthal, Kilauea, Rob Mullins, Makoto Ozone, Chester Thompson, Daniel Ho, Frank Gambale, 2AZZ1, Jeff Richman, Billy Cobham, Tak Matsumoto, and B’z. He played bass on the 2009 Grammy Award winning album, ‘ikena by Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho.

Steve is known for providing a solid rhythmic foundation and his ability to melodically solo over difficult musical passages. His original compositions range from Fatback funk and swinging jazz, to rich and beautifully orchestrated ballads.

LYDIA MIYASHIRO-HO

Lydia Miyashiro-Ho has been business manager, tour manager, co-producer, and Daniel Ho’s partner in life since 2003. A Los Angeles native, she studied History and Asian American Studies at UCLA. She coordinates and tends to the details of Daniel’s performances, and as one half of their independent record label Daniel Ho Creations, her roles include photographer, graphic designer, liner notes contributor, editor, and occasional song co-writer. Lydia accompanies Daniel on stage singing background vocals and dancing with Hālau Hula Kealiʻi o Nālani. She also assists in Daniel’s workshops for beginning level ʻukulele players.