Imua Garza

{{Short description|American musician}}

Imua Garza is a Grammy Award nominated producer,{{Cite web|url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/11/20/features/hanaialii-garza-miner-are-grammy-finalists/|title=Amy Hanaiali'i, Imua Garza, Kimie Miner receive Grammy nominations|last=Berger|first=John|date=2019-11-20|website=Honolulu Star-Advertiser|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-28}} vocalist, musician, recording engineer and composer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2020-grammy-awards-complete-nominees-list|title=2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List|date=2019-11-18|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/2020-grammys-nominations-list-1203410085/|title=Grammy Awards Nominations: The Complete List|date=2019-11-20|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-11-28}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8544267/2020-grammy-nominations-complete-list|title=2020 Grammy Nominees: The Complete List|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2019-11-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/11/20/781115326/lizzo-billie-eilish-lead-2020-grammy-nominations|title=Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X Lead 2020 Grammy Nominations|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=2019-11-28}} His first official professional music release was around the age of 11. He then went on to record and perform with the ukulele group Opihi Pickers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Calendar/index.php/name/Imua-Garza-at-Blue-Note-Hawaii/event/8201/|title=Imua Garza at Blue Note Hawaiʻi|website=www.honolulumagazine.com|access-date=2019-11-28}}

Imua Garza's interest in music began at the young age of nine when he began playing the piano and taking music lessons. Soon he was playing several instruments including the [http://liveukulele.com 'ukulele], guitar, violin, and the electric bass. Early in his career, he placed second in 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 eleven 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Treasures-Ukulele-Stylings-No/dp/B000008RD4|title=Hidden Treasures: 'Ukulele Stylings, No. 2|website=Amazon |accessdate=April 23, 2013}}

At about this time Imua began playing in his first music group, Opihi Pickers, with his brother and 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 then, Imua has become an accomplished producer, recording studio engineer and musical arranger appearing on over a dozen CD's including four from the Opihi Pickers, several various artist projects and a solo instrumental project featuring the ukulele called Dreamspeaking, released in 2003. Touring throughout Hawai`i and Japan, he has also done work on a movie soundtrack and for commercials for radio and television.

In 2019 Garza was nominated for his first Grammy Award for a record titled "Hawaiian Lullaby" released by Haku Records in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/music/grammys-2020-bay-area-singer-h-e-r-picks-up-5-nominations|title=Grammys 2020: Bay Area singer H.E.R. picks up 5 nominations|date=20 November 2019|first=Aidin|last= Vaziri|website=Datebook {{!}} San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.popsugar.com/node/46915421|title=Hold On to Your Headphones: Here Are the 2020 Grammy Nominees|last=Keaney|first=Quinn|date=2019-11-23|website=POPSUGAR Entertainment|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://mauinow.com/2019/05/03/hawaiian-lullaby-features-top-local-artists/|title=Maui Now: "Hawaiian Lullaby" Features Top Local Artists|website=Maui Now {{!}} "Hawaiian Lullaby" Features Top Local Artists|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-28}} Garza has worked with many musical artists including Grammy winner Kalani Pe'a, Jack Johnson (musician), Jake Shimabukuro, Katchafire, Kimie and many others.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mauinews.com/life/maui-beat/2018/08/kalani-pea-living-life-to-the-fullest/|title=Kalani Pe'a: Living life to the fullest {{!}} News, Sports, Jobs - Maui News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-28}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Calendar/index.php/name/Imua-Garza-at-Blue-Note-Hawaii/event/8201/|title=Imua Garza at Blue Note Hawaiʻi|website=www.honolulumagazine.com|access-date=2019-11-28}}