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Well let's see. My name is Shawn Ishimoto. Born in Honolulu and so on.... Actually, it probably isn't as drab as all that. Really, the drama started very early on... Hehehehe.. I was diagnosed with something called Bi-lateral Retna Blastoma, a cancer of the retna.. So I was given only 5 years to live, tops! And this was back in 78.. Ha ha ha! I fooled 'em again... Anyway, growing up was really great. I had a special cloesness with my immediate family and my grandparrents that I will always treasure.. We had some great times, and they all played a huge part in making me what I am.. As far as interests go, I have quite a few interests and things that I enjoy. You will read more about the musical side below, but one of the first things that is gonna be blatantly obvious, for anyone who knows me personally, is that I'm a dedicated and dilegent fan of the professional wrestling business. My love for it started as a 9-year-old, finding the WWF for the first time.
1987, a hot Saturday afternoon at my Gramma's house.. I was playing with the TV, as I often did back then. But this Saturday, I stumbled onto a very strange situation.. Now I had previously been watching boxing with my Grampa, so I was familiar with the violent sport scenario. But what I saw, well it crossed the line on a few different, very cool levels.. A much younger Vince McMahon was screaming and yelling to security to stop the brutal beating of Billy Graham, and I was like: "Wo! What's this?" Now, I'd always heard wrestling was....Well.....Planned? I refuse to use the word fake, because that's completely reserved for the lesser informed..... Anyhow, the way he was selling this beatdown was amazing! He told a story that you couldn't appreciate unless you were listening to what was going on..
From that day on, I'd been hooked.. I practiced at home with my "best buddy" and middle brother Barry, even got my youngest brother into it for a while, having matches and so forth. But I realized, I was only dreaming about really being able to become a professional wrestler... You obviously know my limitations, and luckily _I do too.. But it certainly doesn't stop me from trying to do _something in the wrestling world sooner or later.. I had become more heavily interested in wrestling's "insider" world lateron in my life, learning about a lot of the lingo, inside stuff, and also a lot of the internal workings.. And it further interested me..
But wrestling is a lot like music in a way.. And I realize that my cynicism towards music and the music industry would and should carry over into my first love.. But the difference I think really is, that I _Know what to expect as far as egos go in wrestling.. The mistake I really made when pursuing music all that time ago, I wasn't really aware of all the bad things.. All I saw was the glammer and excitement of being on stage and or in a great band... But, for wrestling, I'd already been around it for so long, that at this point in my life, all I really wanna do is just give back a little to a business that has given me so many great years of fun, entertainment, and most of all inspiration.. There's so much I'd like to do, but I think now, the best thing I can really do is just to keep being a fan. That is all, brrrrrrrother!!
Aside from that, I enjoy swimming, definitely enjoy eating, reading good murder/mystery novels, watching old shows, spending quality time with my other half, eating out, listening to good music, working on the computer, listening to old time radio shows, and enjoying time at home. Bottom line, as it is now, I enjoy life! And that is something that's been missing for me until very recently.. I'm very happy and greatful for it.
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Ok. Now for the music side..
I've been in the music profession for roughly 13 years now, learning all kinds of things about it as a career, and learning about myself.
During the course of my childhood, I took piano lessons from Julie Tiau, drum lessons from Michael Kowl, trumpet from Michael Ham and Don Tsuha, and hula from Mauliola Cook, Leo Anderson/Akana, and Vicky Holt/Takamine. So I definitely had some of a background in Hawaiian dance and chanting since I was 10. I enjoyed that a lot. The other musical stuff for me, as far as my _really learning, came later.. Really, any "signs of brilliance" for me started out at Moana Lua Intermediate school, where under the direction of Don Tsuha, I learned a lot of things about being in a band, self improvement, and many other important things that helped me out later.
During highschool, I met and started working with Henry Kapono, one half of legendary local duo C and K. During my time working with him, I picked up the guitar and tried to teach myself.. I don't feel I really started playing until much later in my life, but everybody's gotta start somewhere, right? Anyway, during my time with Henry from May of 93 to December of 96, I recorded a CD on his label, got to sit in with his band every week, and do a bit of traveling. After that, at the start of 1997, my mom and I started an independent label, Flying Solo Music, seeing three major releases between 97 and 99.. I worked in countless bands, many times against orders from my management, hoping to improve my drumming, bass, guitar, and ukulele playing, on top of doing solo work as well. I always wanted to be in a band rather than be _the band, or the guy in charge. I always wanted to just be a good musician.. I never really was interested in singing or being a front man. At one time, when I was rapping, I may have, but I was very young then. And near the end of 1998, I was starting to realize a lot of things about myself.
After having several very eye-opening experiences (if you'll pardon the pun), I have finally come to a point in my life where I actually enjoy my job, since during the latter part of my career, things were pretty disappointing, when finding out about all the politics and backstabbing that goes on in the mainstream music industry here. But I've made it through all that now, and this site will be the culmination of all those years of work, learning, heart-ache, and good times, all finishing up right here. This is going to be my place for reflecting, and talking about the good stuff to come. I'm happy with where I am now in terms of what I do for a living, I love my homelife, and I'm really happy for the first time in a very long while. Finally, here is a pretty comprehensive list of musicians/groups I have played with, short and longterm, folks I've shared the stage with, and or contributed to their recording projects...
Hapa, Kanile'a Colection, Dennis Ahyek, Martin Pahinui, Shaun Na'auao, Jimmy Borges, Dennis Kamakahi, Robie Kahakalau, Ka'au Crater Boys, Dave Choi, Saki Bulicoco, The Opihi Pickers, Abe Weinstein, Amy Gilliom, Pacific Blue, Ho'onu'a, Sam Doval, Ilona Irvine, Kanalo, Naleo Pili Mehana, Miles Jackson, Troy Malard, Richard "Pi`ilani" Miguel, Ku`uipo Kumukahi, Bobby Ingano, Ho'omalie, Betty Lue Taylor, Steve Lukous, Typical Hawaiians, Marryanne Mayfield, Harold Kama Junior, Jerome Grey, Fawwaz Jubran, The Escargo Band, Reign, Maro Tea, Vaihi, Ledward Ka'apana, The Geezers, John Pritchet, Tamala`i, Kawehi Lindsey, Nohelani Supriano, Ikaika Rawlins, Albert Holt, Kapalaiula De Silva, Rolando Sanchezz and Salsa Hawaii, Ron Tish,Ben Vegas, Raya Fox, Cory Oliveros, Kale Imua, Brickwood Galutaria, Ricardo Cobo, Buzz Evans, Aaran Aranita, Daryl Labrato, Greg and Junko Macdonald, Nani Naope, Native Revolution, John Norris, Chant, Ne`emua, Baily Matsuda, Leila Markhum and the Paradise Trio, Vernon Sakata, Kapena, Peter Apo, Out Of The Blue, 96744, Wayne Takamine, Na 'Oiwi, Bryan Kessler, Paul Kim, Jerry Santos, Brother Noland, John Cruz, Imua, James Ingrum, Hula Joe And The Hut Jumpers, Trenchmouth And The Plastic Unicycle, Guy Cruz, Mililani, Cyril Pahinui, Infinity's Limmit, Nedward Ka'apana, Mike Kaawa, Ryan Tang, Bla Pahinui, Steve Jones, Brown Squad, Kevin Hobkins, Genoa Keawe, Sturling Kalua, Mike Grande, Noel Okimoto, Lance Kalahiki, Palolo, Pipeline Band, George Mitsushita, Jack Ofoia, Kuhio Yim, Rory Florezz, John Pizzano, Amanda Linn And The Contrabanned Country Band, Streight Flushed, Robert Shinoda, Mistura, Rob Prestor, Tim Garron, Al "Pops" Makahinu, Frank Solivan, Tim Tsukiyama, Lyle Ritz, Ray Sowders, Johnny Valentine, Gabe Balthazar, Marvic Esquibil, Wai'ahole Ditch Band, Absolute Truth, Alan Akaka, Jonny Kamae, Michael Ruff, Byron Yasui, Sefa Tuai, Joe Kingston, Richard Nato, Pu`uhonua, Haumea Warington, Mackey Feary, Fiji, Pauleen Willson, Henry Kapono, The Honolulu Symphony, Roland Cazimero, Willy K, Jes Gopen, Dennis McClees, Richard Wells, Second Hand Smoke, Blue Makaha, Na Palapalai, Alika Souza, Daryl Aquino, Don Ho.
My apologies to whoever I might've forgotten.
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