Third from left, Taku Hirano provides musical accompaniment as Lainey Wilson performs during the Quincy Jones Tribute at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Photo Courtesy of CBS via The Recording Academy/Grammys.
As one of the industry’s most in-demand percussionists, Taku Hirano is no stranger to sharing the big stage with musical greats like Stevie Wonder, Fleetwood Mac, and Whitney Houston. Most recently, the Newcomb Department of Music Professor of Practice in Music Industry Studies was invited to join the 2025 Grammy award show as part of a star-studded tribute to industry legend Quincy Jones, backing Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Cynthia Erivo, Lainey Wilson, Jacob Collier, and Janelle Monaé. The invitation for this prestigious honor was extended to him by Greg Phillinganes — former session keyboardist for many of Quincy Jones’ seminal recordings and musical director for Michael Jackson’s world tours.
Hirano met Phillinganes while touring the world for two years on Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour — a joint production by Cirque du Soleil and the Michael Jackson Estate — and has also worked with the musician and director on previous Grammy Awards telecasts, including a tribute to Motown Records founder Berry Gordy in 2023 (where they performed behind Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and Chris Stapleton), a musical tribute to Lionel Richie in 2016 (where they performed with John Legend, Demi Lovato, Meghan Trainor, Luke Bryan, Tyrese, and Lionel Richie), as well as the All-Star Grammy Salute to Stevie Wonder special on CBS (backing Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, John Legend, Janelle Monaé, Gary Clark, Jr., Pharrell, Ne-Yo, Annie Lennox, Babyface, and Andrea Bocelli). At Tulane, Hirano applies his invaluable professional knowledge to teaching courses in Music Industry Studies within the Newcomb Department of Music and the Strategy, Leadership, Analytics Minor (SLAM), working with students to shape their own musical careers — and the future of the industry.
He shares his thoughts around the Grammy experience, technology and music, and how he incorporates performances like these into his teaching.
What was your favorite part of the experience?
My favorite part of this latest Grammy Awards performance was reuniting and catching up with longtime and fellow musician-friends. Within the Quincy Jones tribute band, there were friends I hadn’t seen since the Grammys two years ago.
It has always been a dream of mine to be able to take my musical training and apply it to thrilling experiences, backing artists on the largest of stages and on tours around the world. For this year’s Grammys, being in the room and part of the creative process, working out arrangements alongside Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Cynthia Erivo, Jacob Collier, and Lainey Wilson in rehearsals was a fun, unique experience — and I don’t take it for granted. It is a thrill that few get to experience.
What did you bring back to the classroom from this experience?
Upon returning to class, I was able to share with my Intro to Music Business (MUSC2800) and Intro to Creative Industries (SLAM2600) classes photos and videos from behind-the-scenes and explain the logistics that went into rehearsals, camera-blocking, dress rehearsals, and the live performance that was seen by 15.4 million people. Also, it came to my attention that I had some students hold a viewing party! It warmed my heart to hear that my students and colleagues were thrilled for me and tuned in.
Which musicians inspired your career?
There are a myriad of musicians who have inspired me. One of my mentors was legendary session drummer Ndugu Chancler, who coincidentally worked a lot with Quincy Jones. Ndugu was one of the drummers on Michael Jackson’s Thriller album, playing drums on the hit song “Billie Jean.” He also worked with Quincy Jones on the film The Color Purple and even appeared in the movie. Ndugu played an instrumental part in both my education as well as introducing me to the music scene once I arrived in Los Angeles upon finishing my undergraduate studies.
Who's playing on your Spotify?
I currently have been listening to New Orleans legends The Meters. Not only are they one of my favorite groups, but they were also founded by my late father-in-law, Art Neville — who also went on to lead the Grammy-winning group, The Neville Brothers.
What are you most excited about for the future of music?
I am interested in seeing the integration of technology and AI with music, and its implications on copyright, rights management, and intellectual property issues. As a graduate student, my main area of focus was copyright, licensing, and metadata as it relates to music, as well as music supervision (the synchronization licensing of music for use in other forms of media such as film, TV, gaming, and advertising). We are in the middle of a very consequential period of how technology is intersecting with the music industry, and I have been keeping a close eye on it.
More about Taku Hirano:
Other notable performances Hirano has performed under the direction of Phillinganes include Women of Soul: In Performance at the White House for the Obama Administration (backing Patti LaBelle, Melissa Etheridge, Ariana Grande, Jill Scott, and Janelle Monaé); Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert at Madison Square Garden (backing Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Steven Tyler, Sheryl Crow, Peter Frampton, John Fogerty, Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Aloe Blacc, and Tom Morello); and Oprah’s Farewell Spectacular (backing Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Usher, Jamie Foxx, Josh Groban, and Kristin Chenoweth).
Hirano first performed at the Grammy Awards with the Backstreet Boys back in 2000, and has also performed on the American Music Awards with Lil Wayne and Fleetwood Mac; the Soul Train Awards with Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan; the BET Honors with Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Jennifer Hudson, and Janelle Monaé; and the Grio Awards with Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adams, and Queen Latifah.