Daniel Ho Quintet

From his simple beginnings in Honolulu to his life amid the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, Daniel Ho has worked over the years as a musician, producer, singer/songwriter, arranger, composer, engineer, and record company owner. The most compelling of these roles has been as a six-time GRAMMY Award winning producer, featured slack key guitarist, and artist in the "Best Hawaiian Music Album,” “Best Pop Instrumental Album,” and “Best World Music Album” categories. Ukulele Magazine calls him “Hawaii’s greatest contemporary musical ambassador.”
Daniel's musical inclinations were apparent at an early age. His first instruments were organ and 'ukulele, from which he graduated to classical guitar, piano, electric guitar, bass, drums, and eventually, voice. His passion for music led him to study composing, arranging and film scoring at the Grove School of Music in Los Angeles. He began his professional career as the leader, keyboardist, composer, and producer for Kilauea, a contemporary jazz group he formed in 1990. By 1997, Kilauea had released six chart-topping albums, two of which hit the Top 10 on Billboard's jazz charts.
In 1998, Daniel set his sights on starting an independent record label and launched Daniel Ho Creations. His interests in photography and graphic design complimented the requisite responsibilities of marketing and production. Slowly, the releases grew into collaborative projects that featured himeni (Hawaiian hymnody), hula, 'ukulele, and slack key guitar. To date, Daniel Ho Creations has released over eighty acoustic and Hawaiian-themed CDs by many of Hawai'i's most respected artists, who are first and foremost friends. Daniel has received numerous Hawaiian music industry accolades including three Na Hoku Hanohano awards and fifteen Hawai'i Music Awards.
Daniel has toured throughout the U.S, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Brunei, Thailand, Europe, and Australia. He has served as an American Cultural Ambassador at U.S. Embassies; been featured with the Honolulu Symphony; performed as a keyboardist and guitarist for GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist, Peabo Bryson; guest-lectured at Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA) and Todai University (Tokyo, Japan); authored nine music books; and toured as a clinician for YAMAHA Guitars. On a behind-the-silver-screen note, he sang the Hawaiian-language cover of Prince's “Nothing Compares 2 U” which can be heard during the end credits of the 2008 feature film, Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
With the continued popularity of the 'ukulele, Daniel's original song, “Pineapple Mango (The Breakfast Song),” has risen to fame as an instrumental anthem plentifully covered by 'ukulele enthusiasts around the world on YouTube. Currently, Daniel's Spalted Mango Tiny Tenor 'ukulele is on display at the GRAMMY Museum.   In addition, he continues to collaborate with world renowned luthier Pepe Romero in designing instruments for Romero Creations, including the Tiny Tenor, XS Soprano, and ST Concert 'ukuleles.
In 2014, Daniel’s album Our World In Song (An Odyssey of Musical Treasures) with Luis Conté and Wu Man was nominated for a GRAMMY in the World Music category. In 2017, his album Between The Sky and Prairie, with The Grasslands Ensemble, won two Golden Melody Awards (Taiwan’s Grammy) for Best Crossover Album and Best Arrangement (“Daur Love Song”).
Hailing Daniel as “one of the most prolific and successful musicians Hawaii has ever produced,” Ukulele Magazine featured him on the cover with an extensive article and interview for their Spring 2020 issue.
 
Daniel is a YAMAHA artist/instructor with a comprehensive online music curriculum taught through their Musician’s Creativity Lab. He endorses 'ukuleles made by Romero Creations, and uses Shubb capos.