# Taku Hirano

Takuya Hirano (平野 琢也, Hirano Takuya) (born October 22, 1973, stylized as Taku Hirano) is a Japanese percussionist and recording artist. He has performed as a solo artist and as one half of the duo Tao Of Sound. He has toured with Fleetwood Mac and Whitney Houston as a percussionist.

## Biography

Takuya "Taku" Hirano was born in Osaka, and grew up in Fresno, California and Hong Kong. He attended Hong Kong International School and graduated from Roosevelt School of the Arts at Theodore Roosevelt High School (Fresno), where he studied orchestral percussion, jazz, Afro-Cuban jazz, and salsa music. He then attended Berklee College of Music, studying under Giovanni Hidalgo and Jamey Haddad, graduating in 1995 with a Bachelor of Music as the college's first Hand Percussion principal. He has also studied drum set with Alan Dawson and Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, as well as in Havana, Cuba with Changuito.
As a percussionist, Hirano has toured with Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, Bette Midler, Stevie Nicks, Lionel Richie, Isaac Hayes, Dr. John, Lindsey Buckingham, John Mayer, A.R. Rahman, Hikaru Utada, and with Cirque du Soleil on Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour.
Hirano has recorded with Dr. Dre on 2001, Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, Jay-Z, The Temptations, Hikaru Utada, Stevie Nicks, LeAnn Rimes, Josh Groban, Chromeo, Ziggy Marley, Emmanuel Jal, Nelly Furtado and Lionel Richie, in addition to working on major motion picture soundtracks.
As co-founder of the production duo Tao Of Sound, he has worked as a producer and programmer of commercial sound libraries, and remixer for artists such as Kanye West, Kitaro, and The Ahn Trio. Tao of Sound has released four albums under the record label Domo Records: Metro (2010) Ronin- Extended Play (2012), Ronin (2013), and These Times (2016).
Hirano is a columnist for Drum! magazine, a contributor for Modern Drummer magazine a drum clinician, and has served as an artist-in-residence at Carnegie Mellon University, as a teacher at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, and as a guest lecturer at Loyola University New Orleans College of Music and Fine Arts and New York University Steinhardt. He is a regular visiting artist at Hugh Hodgson School of Music at University of Georgia, and an ongoing regular guest artist, speaker and panelist at his alma mater, Berklee College of Music.
Hirano was listed in Modern Drummer 's Reader's Poll 2014, 2013, and 2012, and Drum!'s Drummies awards 2015 Percussionist of the Year (runner up), 2015 Rock/Pop/Hip-Hop Percussionist (runner-up), 2013 Studio Percussionist (runner-up), 2013 Rock/Pop/Hip-Hop Percussionist (runner-up), 2012 Studio Percussionist (runner-up), 2012 World Percussionist (runner-up), 2011 Percussionist of the Year (runner-up), 2011 Studio Percussionist (runner-up), 2011 Jazz/Fusion Percussionist (runner-up), 2011 Live Performer (runner-up), 2011 Rock/Pop Percussionist of the Year (runner-up), 2010 Rock/Pop Percussionist of the Year, 2009 Rock/Pop Percussionist of the Year, 2008 Percussionist of the Year (runner-up), 2008 Best Worldbeat Percussionist (runner-up), and 2007 Percussion Rising Star.
In 2018 and 2019, Hirano toured with Fleetwood Mac on their An Evening with Fleetwood Mac World Tour. He also served as the percussionist in the house bands for the Fox television shows Showtime at the Apollo and The Four: Battle for Stardom.
Hirano endorses Meinl percussion instruments, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drum heads, Vater Percussion drum sticks, Drum Workshop drums and hardware, and Roland Corporation electronic percussion.
On July 16, 2021, Hirano released his debut single on Ropeadope Records, "Come And Get It" featuring jazz trumpeter Keyon Harrold. On October 1, 2021, Hirano released his debut album "Blu York - Live in NYC" on Ropeadope Records, recorded live at the Nublu Club in New York City in 2020.

## Awards

* ORIGIN Magazine – 100 Top Creatives (2015)
* Modern Drummer Magazine Reader's Poll 2015 – Best Percussionist (Runner-up)
* Modern Drummer Magazine Reader's Poll 2013 – Best Percussionist (Runner-up)
* Modern Drummer Magazine Reader's Poll 2012 – Best Percussionist (Runner-up)
* Drum! Magazine Drummies 2015 – Percussionist of the Year (Runner-up); Rock/Pop/Hip-Hop Percussionist (Runner-up)
* Drum! Magazine Drummies 2013 – Studio Percussionist (Runner-up); Rock/Pop/Hip-Hop Percussionist (Runner-up)
* Drum! Magazine Drummies 2012 – Studio Percussionist (Runner-up); World Percussionist (Runner-up)
* Drum! Magazine Drummies 2011 – Percussionist of the Year (Runner-up); Studio Percussionist (Runner-up); Jazz/Fusion Percussionist (Runner-up); Live Performer (Runner-up); Rock/Pop Percussionist of the Year (Runner-up)
* Drum! Magazine Drummies 2010 – Rock/Pop Percussionist of the Year
* Drum! Magazine Drummies 2009 – Rock/Pop Percussionist of the Year
* Drum! Magazine Drummies 2008 – Percussionist of the Year (Runner-up); Worldbeat Percussionist (Runner-up)
* Drum! Magazine Drummies 2007 – Percussion Rising Star of the Year; Rock/Pop Percussionist (Runner-up)
* Louis Armstrong award
* Musikmesse Frankfurt International Press Awards (M.I.P.A.) 2010 – Best Percussion Instrument Design: Meinl Percussion Taku Hirano Signature Handbale

## Discography
### As leader

* Blu York - Live in NYC (Ropeadope Records / Modern Icon Recordings 2021)
* Come And Get It (feat. Keyon Harrold) - single release (Ropeadope Records / Modern Icon Recordings 2021)

### With Tao Of Sound

* These Times (Domo Records 2016)
* Ronin (Domo Records 2013)
* Ronin- Extended Play (Domo Records 2012)
* Metro (Domo Records 2010)

### Other artists/projects

* LeAnn Rimes – God's Work (2022)
* Killing Me Softly With His Songs (Documentary Film Score/On-camera) (2022)
* The Masked Singer - The Masked Singer (American season 8) (2022)
* Lionel Richie – Renaissance Deluxe Edition (2021)
* Dumpstaphunk – Where Do We Go From Here (2021)
* Julius Rodriguez – Midnight Sun (2021)
* The Masked Singer - The Masked Singer (American season 5) (2021)
* LeAnn Rimes – Chant: The Human & the Holy (2020)
* Gorden Campbell – Conversations (2020)
* Mike Phillips – Pulling Off The Covers (2020)
* Will Downing – Romantique, Pt. 1 (2019)
* The Bronx, USA (HBO Documentary Film Score/On-camera) (2019)
* Lindsey Buckingham – Solo Anthology: The Best of Lindsey Buckingham (2018)
* iZombie (TV series) – Season 3 (2017)
* Naveen Kumar – Silence Is Bliss (2015)
* Jessy J – My One and Only One (2015)
* Ziggy Marley – Fly Rasta (2014)
* Chromeo – White Women (2014)
* Hikaru Utada – Utada: In the Flesh 2010 (Concert DVD/Live Album) (2013)
* Dino Soldo – Human (2012)
* Josh Groban – iTunes Live from SoHo (2010)
* American Idol – American Idol (season 8) (2009)
* James Day - Natural Things (2009)
* Lindsey Buckingham – Live at the Bass Performance Hall (Concert DVD/Live Album) (2008)
* Ahn Trio – Lullaby For My Favorite Insomniac (2008)
* Emmanuel Jal – Warchild (2008)
* La Corona (film) (Documentary Film Score) (2008)
* Stevie Nicks – Crystal Visions... The Very Best of Stevie Nicks ("Landslide" and "Edge of Seventeen" live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra) (2007)
* Random House of Soul – Random House of Soul (2007)
* Nelly Furtado – Loose (2006)
* Hikaru Utada – Utada United 2006 (Concert DVD/Live Album) (2006)
* Lindsey Buckingham – Soundstage Presents Lindsey Buckingham (Concert DVD/Live Album) (2005)
* Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac: Live in Boston (Concert DVD/Live Album) (2004)
* Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac: Destiny Rules (Documentary) (2004)
* Lionel Richie – Encore (2004)
* Lionel Richie – Just for You (2004)
* Hikaru Utada – Utada Hikaru in Budokan 2004: Hikaru no 5 (ヒカルの5, "Hikaru's 5") (Concert DVD/Live Album) (2004)
* Fleetwood Mac – Say You Will Limited Edition (Peacekeeper (Fleetwood Mac song) live from AOL Sessions; Say You Will (Fleetwood Mac song) live from AOL Sessions) (2003)
* Jay-Z – Blueprint 2.1 ("The Watcher 2") (2003)
* Dino Soldo – Thread (2003)
* Biker Boyz (Motion Picture Film Score) (2003)
* WOW Gospel 2003 ("Beautiful" - Brent Jones & The TP Mobb)(2003)
* Dr. Dre featuring Knoc-turn'al: Bad Intentions - UK Release (2002)
* Jay-Z – The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse ("The Watcher 2") (2002)
* Brent Jones (musician) – Beautiful (2002)
* Lionel Richie – Don't Stop The Music (Europe Release CD/Maxi) (2001)
* Lionel Richie – Cinderella (Europe Release CD/Maxi) (2001)
* Hikaru Utada – Utada Hikaru Unplugged (Concert DVD/Live Album) (2001)
* Lucy Pearl – Lucy Pearl (2000)
* Lionel Richie – Renaissance (2000)
* Brent Jones (musician) – Brent Jones & The T.P. Mobb (2000)
* Lucy Pearl – Love & Basketball (Motion Picture Soundtrack) ("Dance Tonight") (2000)
* Dr. Dre – 2001 (1999)
* Dr. Dre – 2001 (Instrumentals Only) (1999)
* Cherokee – I Love You... Me (1999)
* Howard Cosell: Telling It Like It Is – (HBO Documentary Film Score) (1999)
* Vesta Williams – Relationships (1998)
* The Temptations – Phoenix Rising (1998)
* Dawn Robinson – Dr. Dolittle: The Album (Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1998)
* The Tiger Woods Story (HBO Film Score) (1998)
* The Firm (hip hop group) – The Album (The Firm album) (1997)
* Tracie Spencer – Good Burger (Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1997)
* Sonny Liston The Mysterious Life and Death of a Champion (HBO Documentary Film Score) (1995)
* Malcolm X: Make It Plain (PBS Documentary Film Score) (1994)

## Touring credits

Taku has been a percussionist on many tours since the late 1990s.
| Artist | Tour Name | Date |
| LeAnn Rimes | Live Dates - North America | January 2025 - August 2025 |
| LeAnn Rimes | Live Dates - U.K. and North America | May 2024 - November 2024 |
| LeAnn Rimes | the story... so far Tour - North America Tour | January 2023 - September 2023 |
| LeAnn Rimes | Joy: The Holiday Show Tour - North America Tour | December 2022 |
| LeAnn Rimes | the story... so far Tour - North America Tour | May 2022 - September 2022 |
| Jake Shimabukuro | Christmas In Hawaii Tour - North America / Hawaiian islands Tour | November 2021 - December 2021 |
| Fleetwood Mac | An Evening with Fleetwood Mac - North America Tour | October 2019 - November 2019 |
| Fleetwood Mac | An Evening with Fleetwood Mac - Australia / New Zealand Tour | August 2019 - September 2019 |
| Fleetwood Mac | An Evening with Fleetwood Mac - Europe / UK Tour | June 2019 |
| Fleetwood Mac | An Evening with Fleetwood Mac - North America Tour | September 2018 - April 2019 |
| Les Nubians | Up Close & Personal Tour - North America | June 2017 - July 2017 |
| Dr. John | Live Dates - North America; New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival | April 2017 - December 2017 |
| Bette Midler | Divine Intervention Tour - UK | July 2015 |
| Bette Midler | Divine Intervention Tour - North America | May 2015 - June 2015 |
| Iggy Azalea | The New Classic Promo Dates and Appearances | November 2014 |
| Cirque du Soleil | Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour - Japan | June 2013 |
| John Mayer | Born and Raised Promo; New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival | April 2013 - May 2013 |
| Cirque du Soleil | Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour - UK | October 2012 – May 2013 |
| Cirque du Soleil | Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour - Mexico | August 2012 – September 2012 |
| Cirque du Soleil | Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour - North America | October 2011 – August 2012 |
| A.R. Rahman | A. R. Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour - Singapore | March 2011 |
| Josh Groban | Illuminations (Josh Groban album) Promo Dates and Appearances | October 2010 – February 2011 |
| A.R. Rahman | A. R. Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour - South Africa | November 2010 |
| A.R. Rahman | A. R. Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour - North America | September 2010 |
| Stevie Nicks | North American Tour | August 2010 |
| A.R. Rahman | A. R. Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour - UK | July 2010 |
| A.R. Rahman | A. R. Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour - North America | June 2010 |
| Shakira | She Wolf Promo Dates and Appearances | April 2010 |
| Hikaru Utada | Utada: In the Flesh 2010 U.S./U.K. Tour | January 2010 – February 2010 |
| Bette Midler | The Showgirl Must Go On Las Vegas Residency | January 2008 – January 2010 |
| Stevie Nicks | Crystal Visions North America Tour | February 2007 – March 2007 |
| Lindsey Buckingham | Under The Skin North America Tour; Live at the Bass Performance Hall | October 2006 – February 2007 |
| Hikaru Utada | Utada United 2006 Japan Tour | July 2006 – August 2006 |
| Stevie Nicks | Gold Dust North America Tour | June 2006 – August 2006 |
| Stevie Nicks | Two Voices North America Tour (with Don Henley) | June 2006 |
| Giorgia | Unplugged Session Tour | November 2005 – January 2006 |
| Stevie Nicks | Australia Tour; Crystal Visions – The Very Best of Stevie Nicks (Live recording with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra) | February 2006 – March 2006 |
| Bette Midler | From the Big Apple to the Big Easy | September 2005 |
| Bette Midler | Kiss My Brass Australia Tour | April 2005 – May 2005 |
| Bette Midler | Kiss My Brass North America Tour | September 2004 – December 2004 |
| Fleetwood Mac | Say You Will Tour - North America | May 2004 – September 2004 |
| Lionel Richie | Just For You European Promo Dates and Appearances | March 2004 |
| Fleetwood Mac | Say You Will Tour - Australia | February 2004 – March 2004 |
| Fleetwood Mac | Say You Will Tour - Europe | November 2003 – December 2003 |
| Fleetwood Mac | Say You Will Tour - North America; Fleetwood Mac: Live in Boston | May 2003 – October 2003 |
| Fleetwood Mac | Say You Will Promo Dates and Appearances | February 2003 – April 2003 |
| Lionel Richie | Promo Dates and Appearances | December 2002 – February 2002 |
| LeAnn Rimes | Promo Dates and Appearances, Jingle Ball | December 2002 |
| Hikaru Utada | Japan Promo Appearances, MTV Unplugged | July 2001 |
| Lionel Richie | Renaissance Europe Tour | April 2001 – May 2001 |
| Lionel Richie | European Tour; Montreux Jazz Festival | July 2000 |
| Lionel Richie | Tina Turner Twenty Four Seven Tour - Europe | July 2000 |
| Lionel Richie | Tina Turner Twenty Four Seven Tour - North America | March 2000 – June 2000 |
| Whitney Houston | My Love Is Your Love World Tour - Europe | August 1999 – November 1999 |
| Whitney Houston | My Love Is Your Love World Tour - North America | June 1999 – July 1999 |
| Isaac Hayes | TV Appearances; Live Dates - North America; New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival | October 1998 – April 1999 |
| Kenny Lattimore | South Africa Tour | July 1998 |
| Kenny Lattimore | From The Soul Of Man North America Tour | June 1998 |
| Jonathan Butler | Do You Love Me? Promo Dates and Appearances | October 1997 – April 1998 |
| Puff Daddy | No Way Out Promo Dates and Appearances | August 1997 |
| Kenny Lattimore | For You (Kenny Lattimore song) Tour | May 1997 – September 1997 |
| Tevin Campbell | Back to the World Japan Tour; South Africa Tour | November – December 1996 |
| Tevin Campbell | Back to the World Promo Dates and Appearances | September 1996 |