Imua Garza’s interest in music began at the young age of eight when he started playing the piano and taking music lessons. Soon, he was playing several instruments including the ukulele, guitar, violin, and the electric bass. Early in his career, he placed second on the local music competition Keiki Stars and was voted one of seven acts considered “Producers Best”. Imua first appeared on a professionally released compact disc at the age of 11 when his version of “On Fire” was included on the Hidden Treasures - Ukulele Stylings 2 CD released in 1996 featuring Hawaii’s most promising ukulele players . About this time Imua started playing in his first music group, Opihi Pickers, with his brother and his cousin. The Opihi Pickers’ first CD, Fresh Off the Rocks, was released in 1998. From these recordings and early live performances his reputation as a ukulele virtuoso soon grew around the islands. Since that time Imua has become an accomplished producer, recording studio engineer and musical arranger and has appeared on over a dozen CDs including four from the Opihi Pickers, several various artists projects and a solo instrumental project featuring the ukulele called Dreamspeaking which was released in 2003. He has also done work on a movie soundtrack for an upcoming independent film from New Zealand and on commercials for radio and television. Imua has traveled throughout the islands and to Japan where he has played before appreciative and enthusiastic audiences. |
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