Takeharu Kunimoto
Early life
At the age of 14 Kunimoto attended a Bill Monroe concert in Tokyo and shook his hand, thus inspiring Takeharu to play bluegrass.[http://www.j-popworld.com/Interviews/Takeharu_Kunimoto.php J-Pop World interview]
Musical career
In addition to performing and recording traditional music, he was also the only prominent shamisen player to perform and record bluegrass music; he spent some time in the 2000s in the bluegrass program of East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. He also performed and recorded in a rock music-influenced style.
Death
Kunimoto died at the age of 55 on December 24, 2015, following an illness.[http://bluegrasstoday.com/takeharu-kunimoto-passes/ Bluegrass Today: Takeharu Kunimoto passes]
Discography
Contributing artist
- The Rough Guide to the Music of Japan(1999, World Music Network)
- The Last Frontier: Appalachian Shamisen (2005, Now and Then Records)
References
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External links
- [http://www1.accsnet.ne.jp/~ball/kt/kunimoto.htm Takeharu Kunimoto page]
- [https://archive.today/20130130034527/http://homepage2.nifty.com/ts-sonic/bio/index.html Takeharu Kunimoto biography] from Last Frontier site
- [http://sxsw-asia.com/JapanNite2006/JN2006_kunimoto.html Takeharu Kunimoto page]
- [http://www.j-popworld.com/Interviews/Takeharu_Kunimoto.php J-Pop World interview]
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- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AIyGSjw7UQ Music video for "Tai Tai Zukushi"]
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Category:Japanese bluegrass musicians