Josh Kekoa Cho -BIO

ukulele, lap steel guitar, hawaiian music

Hawaii-born professional ukulele singer and lap steel guitarist Josh Kekoa Cho has had the pleasure of performing at the most exclusive events and venues in the area, including headlining at Flushing Town Hall and appearing at the 2011 Strawberry Festival on Madison Ave. 2010 US OPEN Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, NY (four separate engagements), Bette Midler's Hulaween party featuring Crosby, Stills and Nash; numerous dates at the Mohegan Sun Casino; at the Wollfer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, NY, with The Kende Trio; and live on Sirius Satellite Radio on the 50th Anniversary of Hawaii Statehood.

Featuring the the ukulele and steel guitar, in both background and leading rolls, the performances also showcase the beautiful Hawaiian language.

The band's heritage draws from Josh's upbringing on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where many songs were learned and performed for May Day celebrations in the Hawaiian school system, which is where he was introduced to ukulele playing and building.

Along with both traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music, the band's set list embraces the Hapa Haole era of Hawaiian song, which features mostly English lyrics and makes extensive use of the Kika Kila, or steel guitar, which is often referred to on the Mainland as the lap steel guitar or slide guitar. Josh Kekoa is the pre-eminent lap steel guitarist in the New York City area, and the only professional in the area performing in the Hawaiian style on this instrument.

Audiences in the 2011 season will be hearing Josh's songwriting ability on the upcoming Hawaiian Party Music Volume 1 collection, which features recordings of Kekoa's most requested tunes, including The Girl With Honolulu Eyes, Cho's first original Hapa Haole composition.

Look for Hawaiian Party Music V.1 to be available here starting July 4, 2011 and not only include ukulele and steel guitar, but expanding further into the exotic Pacific sounds with the bamboo flute and the koto!


To book either myself or a Duo, Trio, Quartet or bigger Live Polynesian music act, Contact me anytime at my Midtown NYC offices (646) 543-5828. Aloha.

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AS SEEN IN

ukulele, lap steel guitar, new york city

NEW YORK MAGAZINE WEDDINGS recently wrote: "If you’re serving Pineapple-Ring Rum Punch...Then hire: Hawaii-born singer, ukulele player, and lap-steel-guitarist Josh Kekoa Cho, whose tropicalia-conjuring tunes are perfect for luau-themed affairs." Published New York Magazine WEDDINGS Winter 2011, "Music To Drink By", October 12, 2011.

ukulele, lap steel guitar, hawaiian music

Josh Kekoa Cho
Luau Specialist
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