Taku Hirano Update

Taku Hirano is currently working with Bette Midler, performing on her show "The Showgirl Must Go On" in Las Vegas which included a recent private show for President Barack Obama. In addition this, he has recently been performing with Academy Award-winning composer A.R. Rahman ("Slumdog Millionaire"), including appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Tonight Show, and at Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People gala.
Through his production company "Tao Of Sound," Taku has been busy producing and composing for his band Kymira and his project "DJ 8CTOPUS" for Domo Records, as well as remixes for Kanye West's latest album "808's and Heartbreak" and reissues for The Jackson 5 on Universal Motown.
Taku has also been working on the education front recently, performing percussion clinics at the Central California Day of Percussion, and contributing monthly hand percussion lessons for DRUM! Magazine. He also recently was a judge alongside Hidden Beach recording artist Mike Phillips for the NAACP ACT-SO arts and humanities national competition, marking the 30th anniversary for the ACT-SO program and 100th anniversary for the NAACP.
Taku was recently named "Best Rock/Pop Percussionist" in DRUM! Magazine's 2009 Drummie Awards.