Jake Shimabukuro Coming to Miami Regionals' Dave Finkelman Auditorium

Ukulele virtuoso and composer Jake Shimabukuro will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 2 at Miami University Regionals' Middletown campus Dave Finkelman Auditorium.

Shimabukuro started playing the ukulele at the age of four, urged by his mother who also played. From Hawaii he took his inspiration from some of the islands' great uke players—Eddie Kamae, Ohta-San and Peter Moon. But he quickly expanded his scope from there, drawing influences from across the musical spectrum.

As a member of the group Pure Heart, Shimabukuro became a local phenomenon. From Hawaii, his fame next spread to Japan. He was signed to Epic Records (Sony/Japan) in 2001 as a solo artist. It was the start of what would become a deep catalog of solo albums, noted for their dazzling fretwork, ambitious repertoire and wistful melodicism. And in 2005, Shimabukuro became an international phenomenon when a video of him performing the George Harrison song While My Guitar Gently Weeps went viral on YouTube.

He has collaborated with a wide range of artists including Jimmy Buffett, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Bette Midler, Cyndi Lauper, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Michael McDonald and Marty Friedman. In addition to his original compositions, his repertoire includes Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, Schubert's Ave Maria and Cohen'sHallelujah. Shimabukuro has sold out prestigious venues, festivals and has played for Queen Elizabeth II at The Royal Variety Performance in Blackpool, England.

Ticket prices are $30 for adults, $28 for seniors and Miami staff/faculty, and $20 for college students and children under 12. Other performances scheduled for the 2016-2017 Artist Series at Miami Hamilton's Parrish Auditorium include Sam Bush with special guest Molly Tuttle on November 5, and Balsam Range with special guests Rob Ickes and Trey Hensely on April 15.

Artist Series performances at Miami Middletown's Dave Finkelman Auditorium include The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on March 12, Rhonda Vincent and The Rage on April 8, and The Wailin' Jennys on April 22.

Tickets are available online at www.miamioh.edu/boxoffice or by calling (513) 529-3200 ext. 1. A service charge applies to online orders.

Miami University Regionals' Middletown campus is located at 4200 N. University Blvd. Miami Regionals' Hamilton campus is located at 1601 University Blvd.