Daniel Ho ~ bio

DANIEL was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He grew up listening to his father play Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole records, but soon Daniel's tastes ranged from The Beatles to Chicago to Queen. He studied organ in second grade, ukulele in third, classical guitar in fourth, piano in fifth and sixth, electric guitar and electric bass in seventh and eighth, and in ninth grade, he took up the drums. In high school, he played bass in the school's jazz band and drums in the marching band. He also managed to have his own garage bands throughout high school. When he wasn't playing music, he would go surfing and fishing as often as he could. In his senior year, he made the semi-finals at the Young Keyboard Artists International Piano Competition at the University of Michigan; but when he heard nine-year-olds playing concertos better than he ever imagined, he decided to pursue composing over performing classical music.

   He moved to Los Angeles, attended the Grove School of Music where he studied composing, arranging, and film scoring. In the middle of his studies, his father became ill and he returned to Hawaii where he received a scholarship to the University of Hawaii's music program. In 1990, he was offered a job at a publishing company in Orange County and has been in California ever since. In the last seven years, his primary instrument has been the keyboards; however, during that time, his love for the acoustic guitar grew and he found himself playing slack key in the style of his childhood memories.hood memories.hood memories.

   Over the course of a decade, Daniel Ho has produced, arranged, composed, and/or performed on 34 records ranging from pop, to smooth jazz, to contemporary Hawaiian music. As the former leader of Kilauea, Daniel released six best selling smooth jazz albums reviewed as "some of the finest, most popular and melodic contemporary jazz music available." Three records reached Billboard's top ten, two hit number one on the national airplay charts, and all placed in the top five. the top five. the top five. the top five. the top five. the top five. the top five. the top five. the top five. the top five. the top five. the top five. the top five. the top five.

   Daniel has since dropped the name Kilauea to perform and record as Daniel Ho, the solo artist. His debut solo record, Watercolors, is a brilliant blend of Daniel's classic smooth jazz sound infused with highlights of Hawaiian slack key guitar. To complete this unique contemporary jazz/Hawaiian concept, Daniel asked Wyland, the world's premier undersea artist, to create the artwork. Together, Daniel and Wyland are donating a portion of the proceeds to the Wyland Foundation and it's mission toward greater ocean awareness.

   Daniel was so taken by the slack key guitar during the making of Watercolors, that he set out to record an entire album of solo Hawaiian slack key guitar. The result was the Voyage Home, a collection of classic Hawaiian music and original compositions by Daniel. His innovative approach to traditional slack key guitar incorporates elements of jazz, blues, and inner counter-melodies. Daniel's uniquely creative style has earned him the distinction as "the Newest Slack Key Master". Master". Master". Master". Master". Master". Master". Master". Master". Master". Master". Master".

On his latest cd release, Coolest Drop of Rain, Daniel debuts as a solo vocalist and once again proves that his musical talent has no boundaries. This acoustic alternative CD marks the first all-vocal performance by Ho, who is best known as a multi-instrumentalist/composer.

“It has been a dream of mine to perform and sing,” explains Ho, who is a self-proclaimed fan of music legend James Taylor. “It is empowering to finally explore and express this newest facet of myself.”

Enjoy all of Daniel's varied work and look for continued musical artistry from this great talent.