Noel Okimoto

Born and raised in Honolulu, Noel has been playing professionally since the age of ten, and is now considered one of the best drummers in Hawaii.

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He got his Bachelor's Degree in Percussion at the University of Hawaii. Noel has played in Hawaii, the Mainland, and internationally with Freddie Hubbard, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Stan Getz, Bobby Hutcherson, Riche Cole, Bill Watrous, Ernie Watts, Bud Shank, Barney Kessel, Lew Tabackin, Sadao Watanabe, Wynton Marsalis, and Ronnie Cuber, among others. He was also a member of the Gabe Baltazar group for five years.

As if that weren't enough, he is also a very accomplished orchestral percussionist, vibist, composer and clinician. He has played percussion with many luminaries, including Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, Steve Allen, Natalie Cole, Bob Hope, Rosemary Clooney, Patti Page, and Dionne Warwick.