Kiyoshiro Imawano

Kiyoshiro Imawano

Kiyoshiro Imawano (2003)
Background information
Birth name Kiyoshi Kurihara
Born April 2, 1951
Nakano, Tokyo, Japan
Died May 2, 2009 (aged 58)
Genres Rock, R&B, Folk rock
Occupation(s) Singer, musician
Instruments Vocals
Guitars
Harmonica
Years active 1968–2009
Labels Toshiba EMI, Polydor Japan, Universal Music Japan, Swim Records, avex io, Warner Music Japan
Associated acts RC Succession, Reichi Nakaido, Shigeru Izumiya, Haruomi Hosono, Fuyumi Sakamoto, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Akiko Yano, Kazutoki Umezu, Leyona, Booker T. & the M.G.'s
Website kiyoshiro.co.jp

Kiyoshiro Imawano (忌野 清志郎 Imawano Kiyoshirō), born Kiyoshi Kurihara (栗原 清志 Kurihara Kiyoshi, April 2, 1951 – May 2, 2009), was a Japanese rock musician, lyricist, composer, musical producer, and actor from Tokyo, Japan. He was dubbed "Japan's King of Rock".[1][2] He formed and led the influential rock band RC Succession. He wrote many anti-nuclear songs following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.[3] He was known for pioneering the adoption of linguistic characteristics of the Japanese language into his songs.

Biography

Kiyoshiro was born in Nakano, Tokyo, Japan in 1951. While in high school, he formed a band named the Clovers. This band changed its name to RC Succession in 1968, and debuted on the music scene in 1970.[4]

In 1982, Kiyoshiro collaborated with Ryuichi Sakamoto and released the single "Ikenai Rouge Magic" which became a top hit on the Oricon chart.[4]

After RC Succession ceased to perform and record in 1991, Kiyoshiro continued as a solo singer. He has recorded and performed under various unit names apart from his own such as Danger, Razor Sharp, HIS, 2 3's, Ruffy Tuffy, Mitsukiyo and Screaming Revue. With groups the Timers and Love Jets, Kiyoshiro remained anonymous using pseudonyms and fictitious characters.

In 1992, he released the album Memphis which was recorded in Memphis with Booker T. & the M.G.'s. At the time of the recording, he received an honorary citizenship from the Mayor of Memphis.[5] Following the release of the album, Kiyoshiro toured Japan with the M.G.'s, and the Budokan concert of that tour was released on the live album Have Mercy!.

Kiyoshiro also dubbed the voice of the Lord Royal Highness of Atlantis in the Japanese version of "SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis" on Nickelodeon Japan Channel. (However on NHK Educational TV he is voiced by voice actor Yoshito Yasuhara instead.)

On July 3, 2006, Kiyoshiro confessed on his official website that he was diagnosed with throat cancer and canceled all the concerts to focus on the treatment.[4][6] He made a comeback in January the following year announcing that he won the battle with cancer, however, it was revealed in July that it had spread to the left ilium, resulting in a cancellation of all shows again.[4]

Death

On May 2, 2009, Kiyoshiro died of cancer.[7] His funeral took place at Aoyama Sougisho on May 9, 2009. Approximately 42,000 fans visited to bid farewell, which tied the record of visits with Hibari Misora's funeral.[8] The funeral ceremony was titled The Aoyama Rock n' Roll Show and Kiyoshiro's band played in front of 1,000 people including Keisuke Kuwata, Shinobu Otake, Naoto Takenaka.[9]

Posthumous release

On June 17, 2009, the single "Oh! Radio" which is said to be Kiyoshiro's last recorded work was released.[10] This song was written by Kiyoshiro as the campaign song for the Osaka radio station FM802 and originally sung by Shikao Suga and Shigeru Kishida of Quruli under the unit name of Radio Soul 20.[11] The version sung by Kiyoshiro was recorded all by himself (playing guitar, bass, drums and harmonica) at his studio "Rock n' Roll Kenkyujo" sometime in early 2009, and was intended as a demo.[11] It was first made public at his funeral, and it was decided to be released following the overwhelming demand from the fans.[12][13]

Memorial Concert

Because Kiyoshiro was a popular performer at Japan's Fuji Rock Festival, there was a major tribute concert to his life and work held at Fuji Rock 2009, which was held two months after his death in July 2009. The Fuji Rock tribute featured many famous Japanese and international artists speaking about Imawano and singing either his songs or their own in memory of him. Some of the artists performing at the memorial included: Chara, UA, Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Leyona, Hiroto Kōmoto, Masatoshi Mashima, Tortoise Matsumoto, Hamazaki Takashi, YO-KING, Char, Reichi Nakaido, Wilko Johnson, Norman Watt-Roy, and Shigeru Izumiya.

Discography

For RC Succession discography, please see RC Succession discography

Filmography

References

  1. ↑ "Cancer claims rock pioneer Imawano". Asahi Shimbun. May 4, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  2. ↑ "Imawano fans bid farewell to 'Japan's King of Rock'". The Japan Times. May 10, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  3. ↑ Dan Grunebaum (June 30, 2011). "Japan's new wave of protest songs". New York Times.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Biography" (in Japanese). Kiyoshiro Imawano official site. Retrieved 2011-06-22. (Translation)
  5. ↑ Booklet of album Memphis by Kiyoshiro Imawano
  6. ↑ (Japanese) 忌野清志郎、オフィシャルサイトで癌を告白。今後のスケジュールはすべてキャンセルに (bounce)
  7. ↑ "ロックの神様"逝く…忌野清志郎さんが58歳で死去. Oricon (in Japanese). Oricon Style. May 3, 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
  8. ↑ 忌野清志郎さんロック葬　最後の別れにファンの列４キロ (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. May 10, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  9. ↑ 清志郎さんド派手ロック葬にファン４万人 (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun (Nikkan Sports). May 10, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  10. ↑ 遺作「Ｏｈ！ＲＡＤＩＯ」　記念盤でＣＤ化か (in Japanese). SpoNichi Annex. May 5, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "忌野清志郎の遺作「Oh! RADIO」がシングル化決定". Natasha Inc (in Japanese). Natalie. May 15, 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
  12. ↑ "忌野清志郎、最新曲"Oh! RADIO"が6月17日にシングル・リリース決定" (in Japanese). bounce.com. May 15, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  13. ↑ "忌野清志郎　最新シングル「Oh! RADIO」ファンからの問い合わせ＆CD化を望む声が殺到!!急遽リリース決定!!" (in Japanese). Universal Music. June 18, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "地味変 – RELEASE – ALBUM" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-10-09.

External links