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Contact: Diane Tanaka
310-222-5709 office
“EVENING OF ALOHA” DINNER
GALA FEATURES THE CONTEMPORARY MUSCIAL STYLING OF JAKE SHIMABUKURO
Honolulu’s Ukulele Prodigy to Entertain
Attendees November 8
Torrance, CA - (October 6, 2003) -- Strumming
a tiny four-stringed instrument at the early age of four, Jake
Shimabukuro’s passion for performing has truly paid off.
Today the 27-year-old ukulele-master devotes his time to making
music and helping the community, including the Go For Broke Educational
Foundation. On Saturday, November 8, 2003 at the Hyatt Regency
Long Beach Hotel, he along with chefs Roy Yamaguchi of Roy’s
restaurants and Hiroshi Fukui of Honolulu’s L’Uraku
will be in town to treat Evening of Aloha dinner attendees. In
addition, 1997 Miss Universe Brook Mahealani Lee will welcome
guests as the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies with a special
performance by Polynesian dance group Keali’i O Nalani.
Shimabukuro’s performances take the traditional art of
ukulele playing with influences of contemporary Jazz, blues, rock
and funk to create a phenomenal sound inspired by the local Hawaiian
music scene. Opening for such known acts as Diana Krall, John
Popper, Namie Amuro, and Fiona Apple, Shimabukuro’s music
has gained popularity locally as well as internationally, luring
fans from Japan and mainland United States.
Born and raised in Honolulu, Shimabukuro was exposed to the island’s
ukulele legends and jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Frank
Sinatra, by his mother who was his first music teacher. After
studying piano, jazz and classical music in high school Shimabukuro
made his professional debut as a member of Pure Heart. In that
same year, the group won in four categories at the Na Hoku Hanohano
Awards, the Hawaiian equivalent to the Grammy's. After the group
disbanded, Colon was immediately formed and with Shimabukuro as
a leading member, it also won a Na Hoku Hanohano award but split
up shortly thereafter.
Shimabukuro embarked on his own solo career in January 2002 and
his first full-length album debuted in October entitled “Sunday
Morning.” In June 2002 signing with Sony Music Japan, Shimabukuro
released his second album “Crosscurrent” in 2003.
Capitalizing on his success, Shimabukuro serves as spokesperson
for the “Music Is Good Medicine” program established
by the Queens Physician Group. Shimabukuro has taken an active
role visiting schools and nursing homes using music to educate
health of mind and body as well as promote the necessity of art
in schools. After the devastating collision of the Uwajima fisheries
high school training ship in 2001, Shimabukuro donated all proceeds
from his CD hit "Ehimemaru," to the families and victims.
To experience Jake Shimabukuro’s masterful ukulele performance
at Evening of Aloha, tickets are $125 per person. WWII veterans
and their spouses will receive a special rate at $100 per person.
All proceeds of the event will go to the support the Go For Broke
Educational Foundation’s preservation and education programs.
For more information contact the Educational Foundation at 310-328-0907
or go to www.GoForBroke.org.
For out of town guests, a special rate of $99 per room, based
on availability, has been arranged at the Hyatt Regency Hotel
located at 200 S. Pine Avenue in Long Beach. Please contact the
hotel directly at 562-491-1234 or 800-633-7313, and mention the
Evening of Aloha/Go For Broke Educational Foundation for this
special rate.
The Go For Broke Educational Foundation institutes educational
programs focused on the heroism and history of the Japanese American
soldiers of World War II, as well as the forced evacuation and
incarceration of Japanese American and civil liberties issues
raised by those events. Currently the Educational Foundation’s
programs include An American Story Teacher Training Program, Hanashi
Oral History Program, www.GoForBroke.org
educational Web site, and select media projects.
In 1989 Japanese American World War II veterans established the
100th/442nd/MIS WWII Memorial Foundation to build the Go For Broke
Monument as an eternal tribute to the heroics of the segregated
Japanese American units: 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental
Combat Team, MIS (Military Intelligence Service) and the many
other men and women who served overseas during World War II. The
Monument is located in downtown Los Angeles at Temple and Alameda
Streets.
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