Full Bio:

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.

Artistic Recognition:

• 57th GRAMMY Awards Nominee, Best World Music Album 2014 (Our World In Song)

• 55th GRAMMY Awards Nominee, Best World Music Album 2012 (On A Gentle Island Breeze)

• 54th GRAMMY Awards Nominee, Best Pop Instrumental Album 2011 (E Kahe Malie)

• 53rd GRAMMY Awards Winner, Best Hawaiian Music Album 2010 (Huana Ke Aloha)

• 53rd GRAMMY Awards Nominee, Best Hawaiian Music Album 2010 (Polani)

• 52nd GRAMMY Awards Winner, Best Hawaiian Music Album 2009 (Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, vol. 2)

• 52nd GRAMMY Awards Nominee, Best Hawaiian Music Album 2009 (He Nani)

• 51st GRAMMY Awards Winner, Best Hawaiian Music Album 2008 (`ikena)

• 51st GRAMMY Awards Nominee, Best Hawaiian Music Album 2008 (The Spirit of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar)

• 50th GRAMMY Awards Winner, Best Hawaiian Music Album 2007 (Treasures of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar)

• 50th GRAMMY Awards Nominee, Best Hawaiian Music Album 2007 (Hawaiiana)

• 49th GRAMMY Awards Winner, Best Hawaiian Music Album 2006 (Legends of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Live from Maui)

• 48th GRAMMY Awards Winner, Best Hawaiian Music Album 2005 (Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, vol. 1)

• Golden Melody Award Winner (Taiwan) - Best Crossover Album (Producer/Featured Artist) 2017 (Between the Sky & Prairie)

• Golden Melody Award Winner (Taiwan) - Best Arrangement 2017 (Daur Love Song, from the album Between the Sky & Prairie)

• Golden Melody Award Winner (Taiwan) - Best Aboriginal Album (Producer/Featured Artist) 2016 (Legends of Passage)

• Golden Melody Award Winner (Taiwan) - Best Instrumental Album Producer 2015 (Our World In Song)

• Golden Melody Award Winner (Taiwan) - Best Aboriginal Album (Producer/Featured Artist) 2014 - To & From the Heart

• Golden Melody Award Winner (Taiwan) - Best Instrumental Album Producer 2013 - On A Gentle Island Breeze

• Hawaii Music Awards - Children's Album of the Year 2011 (Huana Ke Aloha)

• Hawaii Music Awards - Compilation Album of the Year 2010 (Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, vol. 2)

• Hawaii Music Awards - New Age Album of the Year 2010 (Classic Hawaii)

• Hawaii Music Awards - Best Liner Notes (Honehone I Ka Poli) 2009

• Hawaii Music Awards - Contemporary Hawaiian Album of the Year 2009 (`ikena)

• Hawaii Music Awards - Folk Album of the Year 2009 (Sunny Spaces)

• Na Hoku Hanohano Award - Religious Album of the Year 2005 (Hymns of Hawaii, vol. 2)

• Hawaii Music Awards - Inspirational/Gospel Album of the Year 2005 (Hymns of Hawaii, vol. 2)

• Hawaii Music Awards - Adult Contemporary Album of the Year 2004 (Simple as a Sunrise)

• Hawaii Music Awards - Slack Key Album of the Year 2004 (Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, vol. 1)

• Hawaii Music Awards - Slack Key Album of the Year 2003 (Slack Key Guitar Collection)

• Hawaii Music Awards - Studio Musician of the Year 2003

• Hawaii Music Awards - Adult Contemporary Album of the Year 2002 (Coolest Drop of Rain)

• Hawaii Music Awards - Studio Musician of the Year 2002

• Hawaii Music Awards - Adult Contemporary Album of the Year 2001 (Finding My Way)

• Na Hoku Hanohano Award - Song of the Year 2000 (“Saving Forever”)

• Na Hoku Hanohano Award - Religious Album of the Year 1999 (Hymns of Hawaii)

• #1 Radio & Records National Airplay Charts 1991 Antigua Blue

• #1 Radio & Records National Airplay Charts 1992 Tropical Pleasures

• #1 Gavin National Airplay Charts 1992 Tropical Pleasures

• #3 Radio & Records National Airplay Charts 1993 Spring Break

• #4 Radio & Records National Airplay Charts 1994 Midnight on the Blvd.

• #4 Radio & Records National Airplay Charts 1995 Diamond Collection

• #4 BRE National Airplay Charts 1995 Diamond Collection

• #11 Billboard National Sales Charts 1991 Antigua Blue

• #10 Billboard National Sales Charts 1992 Tropical Pleasures

• #10 Billboard National Sales Charts 1993 Spring Break

• Young Keyboard Artists International Piano Competition 1986 Semi-Finalist

Selected Performances:

World Trade Center New York, New York Noontime Concert Series
Blaisdell Concert Hall Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu Symphony Pops Series 2001
Blaisdell Concert Hall Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu Symphony Pops Series 2003
World Expo Hannover, Germany Slack Key Guitar Festival
Gotanda U-port Tokyo, Japan Ukulele Festival
Jazztrax Cruise Ensinada, Mexico
Aloha Stadium Honolulu, Hawaii Hawaii Bowl Halftime Show
Stergrove Festival San Francisco, California
Juan De Fuca Festival Port Angeles, Washington
Pleasure Isle, Disneyworld Orlando, Florida
Southern California Jazz Festival Irvine, California
Berk’s Jazz Festival Reading, Pennsylvania
Fox Theater Detroit, Michigan
Symphony Space New York, New York
Spirit Square Charlotte, North Carolina
Gilly’s Dayton, Ohio
Bakersfield Jazz Festival Bakersfield, California
Culbertson Winery Temecula, California
Scottsdale Performing Arts Scottsdale, Arizona
St. Marks Venice, California
Flagstaff Jazz Festival Flagstaff, Arizona
Blues Alley Washington D.C.
Glendale Jazz Festival Glendale, California
Thornton Winery Temecula, California
Tower Theater Fresno, California
Pre-Playboy Jazz Festival Van Nuys, California
Aloha Festival Heritage Square, Phoenix, Arizona
Glam Slam Minneapolis, Minnesota
Honolulu Academy of Arts Honolulu, Hawaii
Mamiya Theater Honolulu, Hawaii "Finding My Way" TV special
Carrowinds Raleigh, North Carolina
Jersey Jazz Festival Camden, New Jersey
Penn’s Landing Philidelphia, Pennsylvania
Congregational Church Deep River, Connecticut Slack Key Festival
The Palladium Las Vegas, Nevada
Caravan of Dreams Forth Worth, Texas
Fort DuPont Washington, D.C.
Pacific Jazz Festival Monterey, California
Tower Theater Modesto, California
Las Vegas Ho’olaulea Las Vegas, Nevada
Birdland Tokyo, Japan
Spring Mountain Jazz Festival Las Vegas, Nevada
Luther Burbank Center Santa Rosa, California
Mountain Winery Saratoga, California
Street Festival San Jose, California
KKSF Listener Party Mountain View, California
Chateau St. Michelle Winery Seattle, Washington
Kimball’s East Emeryville, California
Carter Baron Amphitheatre Washington, D.C.
The Bastille Hanford, California
Riverfront Park Reading, Pennsylvania
The Wave on Stage Santa Monica, California
Catalina Jazz Festival Avalon, Catalina Island
Marsee Auditorium El Camino College, Torrance, California
Japan American Theater Los Angeles, California
Main Street International Music Festival San Bernadino, California
Oak Leaf Festival Thousand Oaks, California
Yosemite Jazz Festival Yosemite, California
Lotus Festival Echo Park, California
The Front Row Cleveland, Ohio
Humphrey’s San Diego, California
Wild Animal Park San Diego, California
Rodney Strong Winery Santa Rosa, California
Taste of Salt Lake Salt Lake City, Utah
KKSF Listener Party San Francisco, California
Cubby Bear Chicago, Illinois
Century City Marketplace Century City, California
New Orleans Room, The Fairmont Hotel San Francisco, California
Freedom Plaza Washington, D.C.
JACL Los Angeles, California
KIFM Anniversary Party San Diego, California
Club Jazz San Jose, California
Michael’s on Main Santa Monica, California
Concerts by the Bay Monterey, California
San Jose Jazz Festival San Jose, California
Yodler Pavillion Mammoth, California
Irvine Barclay Theater Irvine, California
St. John’s Presbyterian Church Berkeley, California
Taylor Meade PAC Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon
Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, Minnesota
Old Town School of Folk Music Chicago, Illinois
The Ark Ann Arbor, Michigan
Rams Head Tavern Annapolis, Maryland
Wolf Trap Barns Vienna, Virginia
Somerville Theater Somerville, Massachusetts
Crystal Cathedral Garden Grove, California
Palookaville Santa Cruz, California
Freight & Salvage Berkeley, California
Aloha Festival San Rafael, California
Blue Jay Jazz Festival Blue Jay, California
Ruth B. Shannon Center Whittier, California
Coombs Riverbend Ranch Madera, California
Belly Up San Diego, California
Sebastopol Community Arts Center Sebastopol, California
KKCR Kauai Community College Kauai, Hawaii
Mauian Napili, Maui, Hawaii
Hyatt Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe, California
Unity Christ Church Tucson, Arizona
Unity of the Southwest Tempe, Arizona
Aloha Concert Cruise Long Beach, California
Aloha on the Island Alameda, California
The Dance Palace Point Reyes, California
19th & Broadway Fairfax, California
Henflings Ben Lomond, California
NCCA Northern CA Arts Center Grass Valley, California
Sylvan’s Santa Cruz, California
Fox & Firkin Corvallis, Oregon
Unity of Portland Portland, Oregon
San Jose Repertory Theater San Jose, California
The Wharf Santa Cruz, California
Unity Palo Alto Palo Alto, California
Stanford University Palo Alto, California
The Artvark Café Aptos, California
Pacific Rim 2000 Conference Burlingame, California
The Block Orange, California
Real Orange Orange, California
Maui Ocean Center Ma’alaea, Maui, Hawaii
Naniloa Hotel Hilo, Hawaii
Taste of Honolulu Honolulu, Hawaii
Pacific Islander Festival San Diego, California
California State Fair Sacramento, California
OCA Image Awards Los Angeles, California
OC-16 Christmas Mele, Ihilani Hotel Honolulu, Hawaii
Takanawa Prince Hotel Tokyo, Japan
Ebisu Ninnikuya Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Japan
Yamano Music Tokyo, Japan
Iolani School Honolulu, Hawaii
Bon Appetite Westwood, California
East West Players Theater Los Angeles, California
PVT Nanakuli, Hawaii
Asian Pacific Women’s Center Pasadena, California
May Day in Las Vegas at the Cal. Las Vegas, Nevada
St. George’s Church Waimanalo, Hawaii
Waikiki Aquarium Honolulu, Hawaii
Waikiki Bandstand Honolulu, Hawaii
The State Room South San Francisco, California
Dayton Street Festival Dayton, Ohio
Ward Theater Honolulu, Hawaii
Dragon Boat Festival, Ala Moana Honolulu, Hawaii
KSCI-TV Harvest Moon Festival Arcadia, California
Island Legends Gardena, California
Surfer’s Table Harajuku, Japan
Shonan Beach FM Kamakura, Japan
Titas Video Release Party Kamakura, Japan
Camarillo Community Center Camarillo, California
Cherry Blossom Festival Pasadena, California
Fashion Island Newport Beach, California
Coronado Island San Diego, California
Birdland West Long Beach, California
Grenada Jazz Festival Grenada, West Indies
Benedum Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Bradley Center Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Farish Street Festival Jackson, Mississippi
BB King New York, New York
Mohegan Sun Uncasville, Connecticut
Bally’s Casino New Orleans, Louisiana
Pleasantdale Chateau West Orange, New Jersey
Wyndam Hotel Palm Springs, California
Congress Center Atlanta, Georgia
Yvonne Kennedy Auditorium Mobile, Alabama
De Moines Civic Center De Moines, Iowa
Aronoff Theater Cincinnati, Ohio
Lyric Theater Baltimore, Maryland
Oakdale Theatre Wallingford, Connecticut
Proctor Theatre Schnectady, New York
Eisenhower Hall University Park, Pennsylvania
Palace Theater Columbus, Ohio
Memorial Auditorium Dayton, Ohio
DuPont Playhouse Wilmington, Delaware
Shea’s Theatre Buffalo, New York
MGM Grand Las Vegas, Nevada
Macon Auditorium Macon, Georgia
The Dell East Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Miami Convention Center Miami, Florida
Wisconsin State Fair Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Blue Note, Fukuoka, Japan
Blue Note, Osaka, Japan
Blue Note, Nagoya, Japan
Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan
Constable Jack's, Newcastle, California
Hukilau, San Jose, California
Templebar, Berkeley, California
Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, California
Berklee Performance Center, Boston, Massachusetts
Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Kahului, Maui, Hawaii
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Buffalo, New York
Aloha Theater, Kona, Hawaii
Ritz Carlton, Kapalua, Maui
Raddisson Ballroom, Lihue, Kauai
Atherton Theater, Honolulu, Hawaii
Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine
Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel
Hilton Hotel, San Francisco, California
Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C.
Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Almansor Court, Alhambra, California
Kentucky Center for the Arts, Louisville, Kentucky
Ridgecrest, California
5th Avenue Theater, Seattle, Washington
San Francisco Marriott Hotel, San Francisco, California
AT&T Wildest Show in Town, Honolulu, Hawaii
Parc Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii
Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii
34th Annual Ukulele Festival, Honolulu, Hawaii
Add Cafe, Shmokitazawa, Tokyo, Japan
Yoyogi Koen, Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan
Blue Moon, Hayama, Yokohama, Japan
Jazz on the Green, New Haven, Connecticut
Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi
San Diego Ukulele Festival, Coronado Island, San Diego, California