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Mickie Yoshino

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Mickie Yoshino
Mickie Yoshino Live on Sep.2018
Born
Mitsuyoshi Yoshino

(1951-12-13)13 December 1951
NationalityJapanese
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, producer
Years active1968–present
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Keyboards, vocal
LabelsToshiba EMI,[1] Nippon Columbia,[2] Satril Records,[3] BBC Records,[4] Universal Music Japan[5] G-matics[6][7] Bandai Music Entertainment,[8] Omagatoki,[9][10] A.La.Mode Co.,Ltd.,[11][12] Pioneer,[13] Pony Canyon[14]
Websitewww.mickieyoshino.com/english

Mickie Yoshino[15] (born 13 December 1951) is a Japanese keyboard player, composer, producer and arranger. Mickie is known as the leader of the rock band Godiego, one of the most popular group in '70s Japanese music scene. Mickie has remained in demand as a writer and arranger, and in 2005 he won a Japan Academy Prize for his music in the film "Swing Girls"[16] (Altamira Pictures). He is still continuing his music activities with Godiego, EnTRANS, etc.

Biography

Early years and The Golden Cups

Mickie's musical career began as a junior high school student, playing in night clubs as well as on the U.S. military base in Yokohama. At the age of 16, he became a member of The Golden Cups, a group known as the pioneer of the Japanese blues scene in 1967 and the band went on to release several smash hits.[17] When he left the band in 1971,[18] he went to study music at Berklee College of Music in Boston.[19] At Berklee, he studied piano with Charlie Banacos,Dean Earl, Ray Santisi, Edward C.Bedner and arranging with Gary Burton, Phil Wilson. He formed a group while there called "Flesh & Blood" (a.k.a. "Dutch Baker") and played in the Boston rock scene, at the same time as the up-and-coming groups such as Aerosmith and Boston.[20][21]

Godiego

After graduating Berklee, Mickie returned to Japan to form the group "Godiego"(pronounced Go-die-Go).

Godiego dominated the hit charts from 1978 through the mid-80s,[22] and is credited with changing and influencing the Japanese "pop" music scene.

In the UK, Godiego became known for doing the theme song for a series aired on the BBC, called "The Water Margin." The song got up to number 16 in the UK singles chart.[23] Satril Records released the album "The Water Margin" in the UK & Europe.[24][25] But Godiego's biggest hits in Japan came from a TV series called "Monkey", and this too was aired by the BBC. This series went on to become and remains a "cult Japanese TV series" with Videos and DVDs sold not only in the UK, but in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other countries. "Gandhara" and "Monkey Magic" were the most well known songs from the TV series. Godiego also attracted international attention when they wrote and released "Beautiful Name." the theme song for Unicef's International Year Of the Child. He wrote and played for soundtracks such as the film House.[26] It is known that Francis Ford Coppola intended to appoint a Japanese composer Isao Tomita to his movie "Apocalypse Now", which was prevented due to label contracts issue.[27][28] and Tomita[29] was planning to let Godiego play the rock part of the soundtracks[30]

Mickie was also very involved with Roland Corp. in the development of synthesizers and digital stage pianos in the '70s and '80s[31] Godiego was one of the first rock bands to use the first guitar synthesizer for both recordings and live performances[32]

In 1980, Godiego was the first rock group to perform in China, a history making event[33][34][35] They also performed for 60,000 people in Katmandu, Nepal[36] and also played in Australia[37] and the US.[38] Around 1985, Godiego broke up, until they reunited in 1999/2000 for a 17 concert nation-wide tour.

1980s–1990s career

In the late of '80s, Mickie joined to establish the PAN School of Music in Tokyo and Yokohama. He has also released his own albums such as "American Road", "Longway from Home", and worked with many musicians including Paul Jackson (ex. Herbie Hancock),[39] Jennifer Batten (Jeff Beck, Michael Jackson),[40] Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac) and Ray Parker, Jr.,[41] Kenichi Hagiwara[42] Char and Shuichi Hidano.

EnTRANS and jazz/fusion activities

EnTRANS at Kamome, Yokohama 2012

Mickie has a wide range of relationship in his musical activities. He formed a crossover musical group called "EnTRANS" with Takayuki Inoue (g), Yoshihiro Naruse (b)(Casiopea 3rd), Nobuo Yagi (blues harp)(ex.Curtis Creek Band) and Shuichi Hidano (Taiko drums). Inoue retired in 2009 but the band continues working.

Mickie plays with Jazz players Kenji Hino (b) and Masa Kohama (g).

The Golden Cups Reunion

In the early 2000s, Mickie participated in the reunion of the Golden Cups and a documentary film, "The Golden Cups One More Time"[43] which was produced by Altamira Pictures.

The Golden Cups at Honmoku Golden Cup 2013.

The movie showed the band's influence on so many Japanese rock players,[44][45] such as Kiyoshiro Imawano (ex.RC Succession), Akiko Yano, Takayuki Inoue (Ex.Spiders), Ken Yokoyama (Crazy Ken Band).

Go-Die-Go 's Endless Journey

Mickie reformed Godiego in 2006 with the most popular members Yukihide Takekawa (vo), Takami Asano (g), Steve Fox (b) and Tommy Snyder (d). Godiego had big projects as a 3-year series of concerts for Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, 2007-2009. In 2014, Yoji Yoshizawa (g&b) joined the band and they continue to tour, releasing CDs & DVDs.

Godiego at Billboard Live Osaka in 2015.

Discography

The Golden Cups

Studio albums

  • The Golden Cups Album Vo.2 (1968)
  • Blues Message The Golden Cups Album Vo.3 (1969)
  • The Fifth Generation (1971)

Live albums

  • Super Live Session (1969)
  • The Golden Cups Recital (1969)
  • One More Time (2014)

Singles

  • My Love Only For You ja:愛する君に (1968)[46]
  • Good Bye My Love ja:過ぎ去りし恋 (1968)[47]
  • Honmoku Blues ja:本牧ブルース (1969)[48]
  • Lucille ja:ルシール (1969)
  • Butterfly Won't Fly ja:蝶は飛ばない (1969)[49]
  • Bitter Tears ja:にがい涙 (1970)

Compilations

  • The Best of The Golden Cups ja:ザ・ゴールデン・カップスのすべて (1969)
  • Girl With Long Hair -The Best of The Golden Cups ja:長い髪の少女 ザ・ゴールデン・カップスのすべて (1969)
  • Rock'n Roll Jam '70 (1970)
  • Blues of Life (2004)

The Godiego

Tigers Memorial Club Band

Studio albums

  • Tigers Memorial Club Band ja:タイガース・メモリアル・クラブバンド (1988)
  • Tigers Memorial Club Band II -Me and Our Summer- ja:タイガース・メモリアル・クラブバンド 僕と僕らの夏 (1994)

Singles

  • Natsukashiki Love Song ja:懐かしきラブソング (1988)
  • Kimiyo Megami no Mamade ja:君よ女神のままで (1990)

EnTRANS

Studio albums

  • Be Our Guest!!!! (2016)

Live albums

  • We, Us (2009)

Solo, Session & Small Unit

Studio albums

  • Zan-Sonezakishinju ja:残・曾根崎心中 (1975) as Mickie Yoshino Group with Hanayagi Genshu
  • Kaleidoscope (1978) with Kazumi Watanabe
  • American Road (1986)
  • P.S.M All Stars Vol.1 (1987) as P.S.M.All Stars
  • Longway From Home (1988)
  • BOUE (1991)
  • Come Back My Bay Blues (1993) as Valco
  • In The Book of Heaven (1994) as The Spirit of Godiego
  • Earthmatics (Godiego-Ki) ja:ゴダイゴ記 (1996)
  • Pop Art Music (1998)
  • ART,ART,ART, FOR THE EARTH FROM MY HEART (original tracks "R"・"B"・"G") (1998)
  • ME & 70's (2008)
  • Jazz for Kids (2014) with Paul Jackson
  • Tung Fat Heavens and Sweets (2016) as Tung Fat Heavens and Sweets
  • 1970 (2017)

Live Album

  • 1974 One Step Festival (2019) as Mickie Yoshino Group

Singles

  • Baby Hold On (1971) as Sunrise
  • Return to China (1994)
  • Aisuru Kanatahe (Longway from home) ja:愛する彼方へ (1995)
  • Yes, I Will (1995) as Natsuno-Gumi(ja:なつの組)
  • Otokotachi no Tabiji ja:男たちの旅路 (2017) as Mickie Yoshino Group

Soundtrack Album

  • Iroha No I ja:いろはの"い" (1976) as Godiego
  • House ja:HOUSE ハウス (1977) as Godiego with Asei Kobayashi
  • Little Superman Ganbaron ja:ちいさなスーパーマン ガンバロン (1977)
  • The Glacier Fox (Documentary) ja:キタキツネ物語 (1977) as Godiego with Masaru Sato
  • Kamisama Naze Ainimo Kokkyo Ga Aruno ja:神様なぜ愛にも国境があるの (1979)
  • Otokotachi no Tabiji ja:男たちの旅路 (1979) as Mickie Yoshino Group
  • Haruka Naru Souro ja:遥かなる走路 (1980) as Godiego
  • Urusei Yatsura3 Remember My Love ja:うる星やつら 3 リメンバー・マイ・ラブ] (1985)
  • Kids ja:キッズ (1985)
  • Spirit Warrior ja:孔雀王 (1988)
  • Dragon Quest ja:ドラゴンクエスト (1989)
  • Swing Girls ja:スウィングガールズ (2004)
  • Happy Flight ja:ハッピー・フライト (2008)
  • The Youth Killer ja:青春の殺人者 (2010)
  • Robo-G ja:ロボジー (2012)
  • Hitoha Sorewo Scandal Toyu ja:人はそれをスキャンダルと言う (2014)
  • Happy Wedding ja:ハッピー・ウェディング] (2015)
  • The seal of the sun ja:太陽の蓋 (2016)

Video, LD & DVD

  • Above Los Angeles (1988)
  • Bali (1990)
  • Sound Journey Mickie Yoshino Palau~Cruising of rock island~ (2002)
  • Sound Journey Mickie Yoshino Alaska~Glacier and Forest~ (2002)
  • Sound Journey Mickie Yoshino present Genta Ueki Gold Coast~the Earth~ (2002)

SoundTracks

References

  1. ^ The Golden Cups works
  2. ^ Godiego & solo works
  3. ^ Godiego works in UK
  4. ^ Godiego works for BBC,
  5. ^ Godiego works (2006-)
  6. ^ Independent label by Japanese Record Shop Group "Disk Union",
  7. ^ Solo works
  8. ^ Solo work ("BOUE")
  9. ^ Independent Label by Japanese Record Shop Group "Shinseido"
  10. ^ Solo work("Pop Art Music")
  11. ^ Independent Label held by Mickie Yoshino
  12. ^ Solo works as "Earthmatics"
  13. ^ Laserdisc("Godiego on Silk Road")
  14. ^ Image DVD works
  15. ^ ja:ミッキー吉野
  16. ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28th_Japan_Academy_Prize
  17. ^ The Golden Cups Official Page
  18. ^ Before he left for the United States, he formed a band named "Sunrise" with his friends Steve Fox, Frank Simes, David Nielsen and Jeff Macmann, and released a single "Baby Hold On".
  19. ^ In "Berklee Today" on Billboard magazine (April 15, 1995), Mickie wrote an article "Congratulation on Berklee's 50 Years" as the college's an alumni of the class of 1974.
  20. ^ Mickie Yoshino Official Website https://www.mickieyoshino.com/english
  21. ^ "Who am I?" by Steve Fox(Crest/1995)
  22. ^ Godiego released Japanese Top Ten hit tunes such as "Gandhara" (No. 6), "Monkey Magic" (No. 17), "Beautiful Name" (No. 19), "The Galaxy Express 999" (No. 14) and "Holy and Bright". Chart action is Japanese Annual Hit Chart, Original Confidence
  23. ^ Music Week(23/October/1977)
  24. ^ Billboard (28/February/1978)
  25. ^ Music Week(21/January/1977)
  26. ^ House Trivia, IMDb
  27. ^ "Isao Tomita (2014 RBMA Tokyo Lecture)". YouTube. November 13, 2014.
  28. ^ Coppola's interview in Liner Notes from OST "Apocalypse Now Redux"
  29. ^ Mickie played Hammond Organ in Tomita's "Multiplex Sounds for "Global Vision" which was recorded for Toshiba IHI Pavilion in Japan World Exposition,Osaka 1970.
  30. ^ "Electronic Music in Japan" by Yuji Tanaka (Aspect 2001), via Facebook.
  31. ^ "Electronic Music in Japan" by Yuji Tanaka (Aspect 2001 via Facebook.
  32. ^ Keyboards Magazine Special Issue "Magic Capsule" (Ritto Music November 1979)
  33. ^ The 1st China-Japan Amity Music Concert at Tianjin 23&24/October/1980 Godiego Album "Live in China" (1980) Liner Notes
  34. ^ "The Concert was held for The second Anniversary of Sino-Japanese Friendship Treaty" Philadelphia Daily News(25/October/1980)
  35. ^ "Chinese Get First Sample of Western Rock and Roll" Hartford Courant (24 October 1980)
  36. ^ Dasarath Rangasala Stadium(07/February/1980)-A part of the concert was shown in the movie "Godiego on Silk Road"(1980/Pioneer).
  37. ^ Royal Melbourne Show(20-29/September/1984)-"Few Waiting For Godiego" The Age(26/September/1984)
  38. ^ Godiego appeared on October 11, 1980, at the third annual Los Angeles Street Scene festival Los Angeles Times 10 October 1980
  39. ^ They had tours to introduce jazz music for Japanese kids, named "Jazz for Kids" through the late of '80s.Their recordings were released in 2014. Paul Jackson also played in "American Road" and "Longway From Home".
  40. ^ Jennifer joined Godiego Concert for Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space in 2007, which released as DVD.
  41. ^ Ray and Mickie played in japan and the Live was released as "Ray Parker, Jr. with The Stage Of The Rhythm"(Nippon Crown) in 2002.
  42. ^ Mickie was primal member of Hagiwara's support band named "Andre Marlrau Band" or "Braque Marlrau Band"
  43. ^ http://altamira.jp/goldencups/conts/pop/dvd_news.html
  44. ^ The Chicago Shimpo(11/June/2010)http://altamiramusic.jp/news/wp-content/uploads/P7023178.jpg http://altamiramusic.jp/news/wp-content/uploads/P7023180.jpg
  45. ^ IMDb:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2085948/?ref_=lgn_nv_sr_1%3Fref_%3Dnv_sr_1
  46. ^ Japanese weekly single chart (Original Confidence) No.13(07/October/1968)
  47. ^ Japanese weekly single chart (Original Confidence) No.89
  48. ^ Japanese weekly single chart (Original Confidence) No.49
  49. ^ Japanese weekly single chart (Original Confidence) No.82