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Akira Tana was born on March 14, 1952 in San Jose, California. A self-taught drummer, he played semi-professionally while still at college. He attended Harvard University where he gained a degree in East Asian Studies/Sociology. He then went on to study at the New England Conservatory of Music and took private lessons from percussionists with the Boston Symphony, the Boston Pops Orchestras and from jazz drummer Alan Dawson.

During his studies he had the opportunity of working with Helen Humes, Milt Jackson, Sonny Rollins, George Russell, Sonny Stitt and other leading jazz musicians. He also played with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and several of the classical music ensembles at the New England Conservatory.

In the early 80s he continued to accompany major artists such as Al Cohn, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Jim Hall, Jimmy Rowles, Zoot Sims and Cedar Walton. He also performed with artists outside the jazz world, including Charles Aznavour and Lena Horne. Akira recorded extensively during these years and in addition to albums with some of the foregoing but also with Ran Blake, Chris Connor, Carl Fontana, Jimmy Heath, Tete Montoliu, Spike Robinson, Warne Marsh and many others.

By early 1990 Tana worked with James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Wess, Ray Bryant and J.J. Johnson. With Rufus Reid he formed the band TanaReid and with Reid and pianist Kei Akagi, they made up the Asian American Jazz Trio. A technically accomplished drummer, he is comfortable accompanying singers and instrumental ballads, and is equally in his element playing hard bop. In addition to playing, the drummer is also a producer and regularly conducts workshops and clinics at colleges and universities, including Berklee College Of Music, and is an adjunct professor at two colleges.

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