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I create music that inspires me, and I hope it inspires you too.
Music is powerful; it can uplift, comfort, connect with the heart, and even heal. That’s why I keep creating.

Music knows no boundaries, and I love exploring all style.
The next song I write could be flamenco, pop, or even rock—whatever it turns out to be, I’ll pour heart into it.

I hope my music resonates with you.

Sincerely,
Jose Tanaka

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Biography

José Tanaka is a guitarist and composer born in Kyoto, Japan, into a family deeply rooted in the flamenco arts. Raised among flamenco artists and grew up in his father’s music store, where surrounded by diverse musical influences in his father’s music store, he developed a distinctive voice grounded in tradition and shaped by a wide musical world. His parents gave him the Spanish name José.

José began his musical studies with classical guitar before turning to flamenco guitar. At the age of thirteen, he began playing electric guitar, expanding his musical world beyond tradition. By the age of sixteen, he was already composing and regularly performing his original music. His early influences range from Paco de Lucía to Simon and Garfunkel, Earl Klugh, Jeff Beck, Stevie Wonder, Deep Purple, Led Zepplin, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, B.B. King, Van Halen, and Yngwie Malmsteen, among others..

After graduating from high school, Tanaka moved to the United States to pursue his musical vision, refining his skills and expanding his musical knowledge at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. He first learned about the Musicians Institute through a Van Halen interview, which inspired him to take this step.

At 23, Tanaka was sponsored by a small music school, Music Lab, where he received his green card and began teaching as a guitar instructor. Tanaka rediscovered his passion for flamenco after attending a concert by Paco de Lucía, which inspired him to continue his studies in Seville and Madrid, Spain.

José Tanaka has toured extensively across the United States, Europe, and Japan, performing at renowned venues such as the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Olympia in Paris, the Acropolis in Athens. He was invited as a soloist on the 2001–2002 Passion Latina Tour, performing in France, Monte Carlo, Spain, and Greece alongside world-famous opera singer Julia Migenes (who starred as Carmen in Bizet’s Carmen), and collaborated with Scotty Morris, lead singer and songwriter of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Other noteworthy performances include collaborations with David Williams (guitarist for Madonna and Michael Jackson), Jonathan Moffett (drummer for Madonna and Michael Jackson), Joey Heredia, Eddie Miller (keyboardist for Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown), Rex Salas (producer for Janet Jackson, TLC, and Boyz II Men), Charlie Peterson and Duane Benjamin (Earth, Wind and Fire), Antonio Vargas (ballroom dancer featured in Mission: Impossible 2), Antonio Cortés “Chiquetete,” Domingo Ortega, Víctor Villena (Gotan Project), Joaquin Grilo, Belen Maya, Maria Juncal, Cocha Jareño, Carmen Ledesma, Manuela Rios, Ivan Vargas, Juan Triviño, world-renowned wind instrumentalist Pedro Eustache (Yanni, Shakira, Alex Acuña Band), top session guitarist Ramón Stagnaro, world-class drummer Efraín Toro, and a wide range of renowned artists.

José Tanaka released his debut album, Gypsy’s Dream, in 1999, featuring top session musicians including percussionist Alex Acuña, renowned wind player Pedro Eustache, Peewee Hill. In 2004, he released his second flamenco album, Lluvia, distributed by Universal Music Japan. The recording features Domingo Ortega, Manuel de la Malena, and Vicente Griego.