Maki Asakawa
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese jazz and blues singer, lyricist and composer.
Born in Ishikawa Prefecture
, after graduating high school she worked as a civil servant for a short time before moving to Tokyo. Particularly influenced by the styles of Mahalia Jackson
and Billie Holiday
, she began her career singing at United States Army bases and cabarets.
Asakawa made her debut recording, "Tokyo Banka/Amen Jiro" with Victor in 1967. After appearing in a series of concerts organized by underground playwright Shuji Terayama
in 1968, she signed with Toshiba, presently EMI Music Japan, and released the popular songs, "Yo ga Aketara" and "Kamome" in 1969. Her debut album, "Asakawa Maki no Sekai", was released in 1970.
In addition to writing and composing, she also released cover versions of US traditional folk and blues, translated to Japanese, such as "Asahi ni ataru Ie" ("The house of the Rising Sun").
She became popular in the 1970s and had made more than 30 releases by the end of the 1990s, after which she was mostly known for performing live.
Asakawa collaborated with musicians such as Yosuke Yamashita
and Ryuichi Sakamoto
. She continued performing live until the time of her death. Scheduled to perform in Nagoya January 15 – 17, 2010, she died before her show on the 17th, at the age of 67, of heart failure.
Born in Ishikawa Prefecture
Ishikawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is Kanazawa.- History :Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga Province and the smaller Noto Province.- Geography :Ishikawa is on the Sea of Japan coast...
, after graduating high school she worked as a civil servant for a short time before moving to Tokyo. Particularly influenced by the styles of Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel"...
and Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
, she began her career singing at United States Army bases and cabarets.
Asakawa made her debut recording, "Tokyo Banka/Amen Jiro" with Victor in 1967. After appearing in a series of concerts organized by underground playwright Shuji Terayama
Shuji Terayama
was an avant-garde Japanese poet, dramatist, writer, film director, and photographer. According to many critics and supporters, he was one of the most productive and provocative creative artists to come out of Japan. He was born December 10, 1935, the only son of Hachiro and Hatsu Terayama in...
in 1968, she signed with Toshiba, presently EMI Music Japan, and released the popular songs, "Yo ga Aketara" and "Kamome" in 1969. Her debut album, "Asakawa Maki no Sekai", was released in 1970.
In addition to writing and composing, she also released cover versions of US traditional folk and blues, translated to Japanese, such as "Asahi ni ataru Ie" ("The house of the Rising Sun").
She became popular in the 1970s and had made more than 30 releases by the end of the 1990s, after which she was mostly known for performing live.
Asakawa collaborated with musicians such as Yosuke Yamashita
Yosuke Yamashita
Yōsuke Yamashita is an acclaimed jazz pianist, composer, essayist, and writer from Tokyo, Japan.He is praised by critics for his unique piano style...
and Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto
After working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
. She continued performing live until the time of her death. Scheduled to perform in Nagoya January 15 – 17, 2010, she died before her show on the 17th, at the age of 67, of heart failure.