Masayoshi Takanaka

Masayoshi Takanaka (高中 正義, Takanaka Masayoshi) is a Japanese guitarist, composer, and producer. He was born in 1953 in the Shinagawa ward in Tokyo, Japan. Takanaka's music was influential in the city pop genre of the late 1970s and '80s.[3]

Masayoshi Takanaka
Takanaka performing live at his 40th anniversary concert
Born
Tanaka Masayoshi (高中 正義)

(1953-03-25) March 25, 1953[1]
Tokyo, Japan[1]
OccupationMusician
Musical career
GenresJazz, jazz fusion, pop, rock
InstrumentsElectric guitar
Years active1971–present
LabelsLagoon
Associated actsSadistic Mika Band, Flied Egg, Santana[2]
Websitetakanaka.com

Career

He began his professional career in 1971 by playing guitar and bass guitar in the prog rock band Flied Egg under Vertigo.[1][4][5] In 1972, Takanaka joined the Sadistic Mika Band.[1] The band fragmented after the divorce of two of its main members, and in 1976, Takanaka released his first solo album, Seychelles.[1] Throughout the 70's and 80's, Takanaka continued to release over twenty albums and singles under Kitty Records until 1984 and EMI from 1985 to 2000. In 2000, he formed his own record label, Lagoon Records.[6][7]

Takanaka is known for his flashy guitars, including a gold colored Fender Stratocaster. He also has a trademark "lagoon-blue" Yamaha SG guitar that he plays during live performances.[8]

His 1981 song Penguin Dancer was sampled by Grimes on her song "Butterfly" in 2015.[9] His 1979 popular song Blue Lagoon was named the 14th best guitar instrumental by Young Guitar Magazine in 2019.[10][11][12]

Discography

Studio albums
  • Seychelles (1976)
  • Takanaka (1977)
  • An Insatiable High (1977)
  • Brasilian Skies (1978)
  • On Guitar (1978)
  • Jolly Jive (1979)
  • T-Wave (1980)
  • The Rainbow Goblins (1981)
  • Alone (1981)
  • Saudade (1982)
  • Can I Sing? (1983)
  • 夏・全・開 (Open All Summer) (1984)
  • Traumatic - Far Eastern Detectives (1985)
  • Jungle Jane (1986)
  • Rendez-Vous (1987)
  • Hot Pepper (1988)
  • Gaps! (1989)
  • Nail the Pocket (1990)
  • Fade to Blue (1992)
  • Little Richard Meets Masayoshi Takanaka (1992)
  • Aquaplanet (1993)
  • The Lover (1993)
  • Wood Chopper's Ball (1994)
  • Covers (With Pauline Wilson) (1995)
  • Guitar Wonder (1996)
  • The White Goblin (1997)
  • Bahama (1998)
  • Walkin' (1999)
  • Hunpluged (2000)
  • GUITAR DREAM (2001)
  • The Moon Rose (2002)
  • Surf & Turf (2004)
  • summer road (2009)
  • Karuizawa Daydream (2010)
  • 40th Year Rainbow (2011)

Live albums
  • Super Takanaka Live! (1980)
  • Ocean Breeze (1982)
  • Rainbow Goblins Story / Live at Budokan (1986)
  • Jungle Jane Tour Live (1986)
  • One Night Gig (1991)
  • Niji Densetsu II - Live at Budokan - Time Machine to the Past (1997)
  • The Man with the Guitar (Recorded at Liveteria) (2001)
  • 30th Anniversary Power Live With Friends (2001)
  • Super Studio Live! (2014)

References
  1. "【ヒューマン】高中正義、音痴だから歌わない「佐村河内とか同じ」". Sanspo. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  2. Hasebe, Ko. "Santana And Masayoshi Takanaka Japan 1981". Getty Images. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  3. Arcand, Rob; Goldner, Sam (24 January 2019). "The Guide to Getting Into City Pop, Tokyo's Lush 80s Nightlife Soundtrack". Vice. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  4. "高中正義". tower.jp. Tower. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  5. "Flied Egg | Discography | Discogs". Discogs. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  6. "Profile TAKANAKA weblog". www.takanaka.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-12-15.
  7. "Masayoshi Takanaka". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
  8. "Guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka bids farewell to storied Shibuya venue with a tropical show | The Japan Times". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
  9. Hunt, El (4 March 2016). "THE GENIUS OF GRIMES". DIY Mag. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  10. "ヤング・ギター厳選『ギター・インストの殿堂100』名演ランキング". Young Guitar Magazine (in Japanese). 2019-06-11. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
  11. "【インタビュー】高中正義、『SUPER STUDIO LIVE!』に「誰にもできない自分の音というものを」". Barks. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  12. 小栗, 勘太郎 (22 August 2013). "【高中正義「ブルー・ラグーン」】 歌のないギターが主役の希有なヒット曲". Diamond. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
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