About me
One of the leading personas in contemporary percussion and rhythm, KENNY ENDO is at the vanguard of the taiko genre, continuing to carve new territory in this Japanese style of drumming. Originally a member of ground-breaking Kinnara Taiko of Los Angeles and the San Francisco Taiko Dojo, he has been the Artistic Director of Taiko Center of the Pacific in Honolulu, a school of traditional and contemporary taiko based in Honolulu since 1994.
A performer, composer, and teacher of taiko, he received special recognition in Japan as the first non-Japanese to receive a “natori,” (stage name and master’s license) in hogaku hayashi (Japanese classical drumming) from the Mochizuki school. During his residence in Japan (1980-90), Kenny also studied Edo Bayashi with Kenjiro Maru of the Wakayama School and was a performing member of Osuwa Daiko and O Edo Sukeroku Taiko. Kenny had the opportunity to work with some of the top musicians in Tokyo in both Western and Japanese styles. He has released ten albums of original music featuring taiko.
He has performed for such musicians as the late Michael Jackson and Prince, opened for The Who, performed a duet with singer Bobby McFerrin, and is featured on the soundtracks for Kayo Hatta’s film “Picture Bride”, Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now”, and also worked on James Cameron’s “Avatar”. Kenny was a featured artist on the PBS special “Spirit of Taiko” in 2005. He has had a day named for him in by the Mayor of Honolulu “Kenny Endo Day,” and was honoured by the National Endowment for the Arts for American Masterpieces. Kenny recently received a US Artists award, Hawaii Living Treasures award, Japan-America Society of Hawaii Bridge award, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii's, Sharing the Spirit of Aloha award, and the Japan Consul General's Commendation award.
Kenny Endo is a consummate artist, blending Japanese taiko with rhythms influenced by his world music background and through collaborations with artists from around the world. He is arguably one of the most versatile musicians in the genre, crossing easily between classical Japanese music and his own neo-traditional, globally inspired variety.
