Playing it Forward
Music and mentorship play in perfect harmony for Tariqh Akoni, a celebrated artist who brings his talent to The Granada Theatre’s Board of Directors. The Central Coast artist has worked as a musician, educator, and musical director for over three decades. While still performing, Akoni is now focused on propelling local musicians to the top, and helping guide The Granada into its next hundred years as the premiere performance house in the region.
“I’m honored to be a part of The Granada Board,” said Akoni. “They wanted someone in the music industry to give them an ear-to-ground perspective.”
A Storied Career
Photo Credit: Baron Spafford
Making it in music isn’t easy, but Santa Barbara native Akoni is still thriving after 30 years in the business. Growing up in a home filled with music, it’s no surprise that Akoni followed his passion to the University of California San Diego and the renowned Berklee School of Music. But it was playing in the jazz clubs of Boston where he found his style, consisting of a unique blend of rock, jazz, classical, and flamenco performed on guitar and other string instruments.
The impressive list of performers Akoni has worked with through the years reads like a who’s who of the musical world: Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and Aretha Franklin, to name a few. Since 2007, he has served as Josh Groban’s musical director.
Gracing stages across the country and around the globe for years, Akoni is set to dazzle the crowd at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony playing guitar as part of the house band.
“I met the Oscar’s musical director when I was working with J Lo and he reached out to me to perform,” said Akoni. “It’s something I love doing.”
Local talent at The Granada
Photo Credit: Baron Spafford
With all his success in the industry, Akoni is passionate about paying it forward by mentoring new talent, especially in the Santa Barbara area.
“Working with The Granada allows me to mentor local musicians to get them ready to play on the big stage,” he said. “It’s rewarding to help talented musicians figure out how to make a living doing what they love and then grow their career.”
During last year’s Centennial programming at The Granada Theatre, Akoni was instrumental in developing the Centennial All-Star Band that performed in October as part of the Centennial On Stage series.
Akoni brought together vocalists Morganfield Burnette, Miriam Dance, Jackson Gillies, Hunter Hawkins, Lois Mahalia, Tina Schliesk, Leigh Vance, and Angela Michael. The singers were backed up by Akoni on guitar, Randy Tico on bass, jazz saxophonist Tom Buckner, guitarist David Delhomme, George Friedenthal on keyboard, multi-percussionist Miguelito Leon, drummer Herman Matthews, and trumpeter Jim Mooy.
The band was such a success that a repeat performance at The Granada is on the table for the near future.
“I’m passionate about shining a spotlight on Santa Barbara talent,” said Akoni. “I’d love to have this as a perennial event. It’s a great opportunity to bring the community together with amazing artists at a premiere venue.”
Akoni is also dedicated to finding more ways for the Santa Barbara Symphony to partner with local musicians, much in the way it did playing with the Granada’s Executive Chair, Palmer Jackson Jr.’s band, The Doublewide Kings.
“Pairing the orchestra with other types of artists brings new audiences to The Granada,” he said. “It exposes more people to the theater and helps build a love of the arts.”
Looking Back and Moving Forward: The Centennial Yearbook
As we look back on this remarkable Centennial year, we invite you to explore The Granada Theatre’s special digital archive, the Centennial Yearbook. This keepsake captures the magic of our year-long celebration, highlighting the theater’s rich history, vibrant programming, and the deep bond it continues to share with its community. From the Granada Centennial Documentary to intimate “Centennial On Stage” performances and the Santa Barbara Home Movies series, the Centennial Yearbook commemorates unforgettable moments and memories shared by all.
As we continue to move forward, The Granada remains a place where the arts thrive and our community comes together. The Centennial Yearbook will soon be available on our website, so stay tuned for more details on its release!
A Place for Community and the Future: Akoni’s Reflections
Photo Credit: Baron Spafford
As part of The Granada Theatre’s Memory Day activation last year, the community and anyone who has ever visited the theater were invited to participate in Granada Memory Day. This special event allowed theatergoers to share some of their favorite memories from The Granada, creating a beautiful video collection of interview-style personal reflections.
Akoni was part of the experience, and he shared a special memory of his connection to the theater. He reflected on his experiences as a performer at The Granada, particularly during the Centennial Year, and the opportunity it provided for the theater to connect and celebrate with the community. He also emphasized how his return to Santa Barbara aligned perfectly with his desire to be a part of The Granada’s evolution.
To hear and watch more of Akoni’s connection to the theater, be sure to watch his Granada Memory Day video HERE. It’s a heartfelt tribute to the space that has meant so much to so many over the last century and a moment that will live on in the Centennial Yearbook.