Taku Hirano, one of the top percussionists on the touring and recording circuit, has been referred to by rock legend Mick Fleetwood, founder and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer for Fleetwood Mac, as his “Secret Weapon” for good reason. His training encompasses Classical concert percussion, jazz drum set, and traditional Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, West African, Middle Eastern, Indian and Japanese styles and instruments.
Taku’s client list of luminaries spans practically every genre. He has toured the world with Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, John Mayer, Bette Midler, Stevie Nicks, Lionel Richie, Isaac Hayes, Japanese pop superstar Utada Hikaru, Academy Award-winning composer A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire), and as a featured soloist on the #7 top- grossing concert tour of all time, Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour. Taku is currently touring on drums and percussion with LeAnn Rimes for her 2022-2023 tour.
Live performance credits also include Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Annie Lennox, Steven Tyler, Miley Cyrus, Usher, Pharrell Williams, Shakira, Jennifer Hudson, Ed Sheeran, Lorde, The Jonas Brothers, Smokey Robinson, Willie Nelson, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande, Patti LaBelle, Melissa Etheridge, Josh Groban, John Legend, HER, Sheryl Crow, Alison Krauss, Joe Zawinul, Chaka Khan, Babyface, Don Henley, Sammy Hagar, Gary Clark, Jr., Peter Frampton, Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, Andrea Bocelli, Juanes, George Duke, Yolanda Adams, Blue Man Group and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Taku has recorded with Dr. Dre (on the seminal 2001 album), Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, Jay Z, The Temptations, Nelly Furtado, Stevie Nicks, Ziggy Marley, Jason Mraz, Josh Groban and Lionel Richie, in addition to numerous major motion picture scores and soundtracks, television shows, and national commercials.
Taku’s debut album Blu York: Live in NYC was released on Ropeadope in 2021.