Rob Kajiwara - Okinawan Hawaiian singer-songwriter, writer, actor, and human rights activist.

Available in most online music stores and streaming services. 
Upcoming Performances:

Roles: Composer - Arranger - Instrumentalist - Producer 
Genres: Pop - Rock - Soundtrack - Musical - Hawaiian - Ryukyuan - Parody
Primary Instruments: Vocal - Piano - Guitar - Ukulele - Sanshin (traditional Ryukyuan instrument)
Influences: The Beatles - Elton John - 60's Motown - Michael Jackson - John Williams - Koji Kondo - Bob Dylan - Israel Kamakawiwoʻole - Kealiʻi Reichel -  Raiatea Helm - Andrew Lloyd Webber - Alan Menken - Tim Rice - Howard Ashman - Traditional Ryukyuan - Queen - Utada Hikaru - Prince - Savage Garden
Label: Kaji Music
Producer & Manager: Nelson Del Pino
Sounds Like / Similar Artists: The Beatles, Elton John, Savage Garden

Check out Rob's Music Blog 
Singles:
Year  - Track Listing                                                    - Writer(s)               - Lyrics
2018 - Before the Night is Through                           - Rob Kajiwara        - Lyrics
2018 - Donʻt Know Where to Cross                            - Rob Kajiwara       - Lyrics
Studio Albums:

Peace for Okinawa (EP, 2019)
Description: Benefit EP with the proceeds going to help Okinawa.
           Track Listing                                    - Writer(s)
  1. Peace for Okinawa                    - Rob Kajiwara, Nelson Del Pino
  2. Take Me Home Country Road  - John Denver, Taffy Nivert, Bill Danoff
  3. Nubui Kuduchi                           - Traditional Ryukyu
  4. Give Peace a Chance                - John Lennon



More Than Just a Brick in the Wall (LP, 2019) [upcoming - in production]
Description: Features twelve original songs, plus two cover songs done in a unique style. Soundtrack for the upcoming film of the same name. 
          Track Listing                                    - Writer(s)
  1. And I Do it All For You                     - Rob Kajiwara
  2. Meant to Be                                     - Rob Kajiwara
  3. Angel Unaware                                - Rob Kajiwara
  4. Player Got Played                            - Rob Kajiwara
  5. One Thing                                         - Rob Kajiwara                     Lyrics
  6. Before the Night is Through           - Rob Kajiwara
  7. Don't Know Why                               - Rob Kajiwara
  8. On the Other Side                             - Rob Kajiwara
  9. Baby It's You                                      - Burt Bacharach, Mack David, Barney Williams
  10. Beat Me, Baby, Straight to the Bar  - Don Raye, Hughie Prince, Eleanore Sheehy
  11. Too Far                                               - Rob Kajiwara
  12. Don't Know Where to Cross             - Rob Kajiwara
  13. Break My Heart Again                      - Rob Kajiwara
  14. One Thing Reprise                            - Rob Kajiwara


Hawaiian Music:

Singles - 
Year         Track Listing                                                                    - Writer(s) 
2018        E Na Punahele                                                                - Mary Kamahele Boyd          Lyrics
2018        Take Me Home Country Road (Hawaii Version)         - Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert, John Denver,
​                                                                                                                                   Israel  Kamakawiwaʻole

​​
Ryukyu / Okinawan Music:

Singles -
Year          Track Listing                                                               - Writer(s)
2018         Aha Bushi                                                                    - Traditional
2018         Take Me Home, Country Road (Solo Version)         - Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert, John Denver,                                                                                                                                                                  Israel Kamakawiwaʻole
2018         Asadoya Yunta                                                            - Traditional
2018         Asadoya Yunta (Solo Version)                                   - Traditional

Okinawan - Hawaiian Blend (LP, 2018) [upcoming - in production]
Description: A blend of Ryukyuan, Hawaiian, and English-language cover songs done in a unique Okinawan style.
          Track Listing                                                               - Writer(s)
  1. Take Me Home, Country Road (Okinawa version)   - Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert, John Denver,
                                                                                                  Israel Kamakawiwaʻole
    2. Kawaipunahele (Okinawa version)                            - Kealiʻi Reichel
    3. Nubui Kuduchi                                                             - Traditional Ryukyuan 
    4. Itʻs Only Love                                                                - John Lennon, Paul McCartney
    5. Henehene Kou Aka (Okinawa version)                      - Traditional Hawaiian 
    6. Asadoya Yunta (Yaeyama version)                            - Traditional Ryukyuan 
    7. Ka Huila Wai (Okinawa version)                                 - Alfred Alohikea
    8. Ka Pilina                                                                        - Frank K. Hewitt
    9. Kanpo Nu Kwee Nu Kusa                                            - Koubin Higa
   10. E Hihiwai (Okinawa version)                                     - Dennis Kamakahi
   11. Nada Sou Sou (Uchinaaguchi version)                    - Begin, Ryoko Moriyama     
   12. Somewhere Over the Rainbow                                  - Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg 
   13. Hounen Deebiru                                                          - Traditional Ryukyuan 
   14. Uchinaa ʻ18                                                                  - Mickey Ioane, Abe Keala, Cleyton Kua, Kawika Crowley 
Public Performances
  • (upcoming) Tomari Community Center, Nakagusuku Village, Okinawa - November, 2018.
  • Nakagusuku Village Yoshinoura Hall, Okinawa - 24 November, 2017.
  • Tomari Community Center, Nakagusuku Village, Okinawa - 5 November, 2017.
Rob Kajiwara with his Producer-Manager, Nelson Del Pino, in Tacoma, Washington
Rob Kajiwara (right) with his producer-manager, Nelson Del Pino, in Tacoma, Washington
Musical Bio:

Rob claims to have been a Beatles fan since age 6, when he found a cassette tape of Rubber Soul in his dad's car. He quickly memorized the Beatles' entire discography, and would attempt to write his own songs. At age 11 he began playing the violin. At age 17 he began playing piano and guitar, along with songwriting, and studied and analyzed the entire Beatles canon, along with Elton John songs. 

At age 21 he met maestro Nelson Del Pino, who began tutoring him. Rob credits Del Pino as having taught him "almost everything I know about music...If I had to put a number on it, I'd say Nelson has taught me 90% of what I know about music. The other 10% can only be learned through experience." Rob goes on to state that when he "first started seriously pursuing music around the age of 18, I didn't know a thing about it. I had the creativity and a vision in me, but musically I was very unrefined. I couldn't sing at all, and I wasn't great at piano or guitar either. Whereas most people start singing or playing as kids or teenagers, I didn't start until after I finished high school, so I was very behind, and my family was not supportive. I struggled at first. But something inside of me knew what I could become, so I began to self study and even tried doing lessons under other music teachers, but they were only used to teaching little kids. They weren't used to teaching young adults, and they had no idea what to do with me. They were pretty discouraging, and one teacher even told me that I would never become like an Elton John. And then I met Nelson, and we seemed to have a level of immediate understanding of each other. He immediately understood my vision of what I was trying to achieve musically and in film, and how my film (More Than Just a Brick in the Wall) is connected with my music. He was very encouraging and we had a good rapport right away. 

"It took some time, but with Nelson's guidance, I learned to sing and play. Later he taught me how to arrange and produce music. So although he taught me how to self-produce, I insist he continues to co-produce my music with me. He has been a very good teacher, mentor, producer, manager, and friend." 

Rob cites the Beatles as being by far his largest musical influence. He says, "When I sing, I try to sound like John Lennon. I love the vocal sound of the Beatles, particularly the early Beatles."

Like the Beatles, Rob prefers to write his own music, though he also enjoys performing unique cover versions of other peoples work. 

​Rob is also proficient at the traditional Ryukyuan instrument, the Sanshin. He has studied traditional Ryukyu music under Tokusho Arakachi of Nakagusuku, Okinawa. 

Unless otherwise noted, Rob writes, arranges, and performs all instruments on his own recordings.

During live performances, Rob refuses to use any pre-recorded tracks, preferring that everything be played live. "That's why people pay to see live shows," he states.  
Click here for Robʻs Electronic Press Kit
For bookings and business inquiries, please contact Rob's manager, Nelson Del Pino, at nelson@vocalmaestro.com, or through Facebook.
© 2008, 2018, Rob Kajiwara. All rights reserved.