Takeharu Kunimoto (国本武春, Kunimoto Takeharu, November 1, 1960 – December 24, 2015) was a prominent Japanese shamisen player and rōkyoku singer.
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.
At the age of 14 Kunimoto attended a Bill Monroe concert in Tokyo and shook his hand, thus inspiring Takeharu to play bluegrass.[1]
Kunimoto died at the age of 55 on December 24, 2015, following an illness.[2]
takeharu, kunimoto, 国本武春, kunimoto, takeharu, november, 1960, december, 2015, prominent, japanese, shamisen, player, rōkyoku, singer, addition, performing, recording, traditional, music, also, only, prominent, shamisen, player, perform, record, bluegrass, musi. Takeharu Kunimoto 国本武春 Kunimoto Takeharu November 1 1960 December 24 2015 was a prominent Japanese shamisen player and rōkyoku singer 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 At the age of 14 Kunimoto attended a Bill Monroe concert in Tokyo and shook his hand thus inspiring Takeharu to play bluegrass 1 Kunimoto died at the age of 55 on December 24 2015 following an illness 2 Contents 1 Discography 2 References 3 External links 3 1 VideoDiscography EditContributing artistThe Rough Guide to the Music of Japan 1999 World Music Network The Last Frontier Appalachian Shamisen 2005 Now and Then Records References Edit J Pop World interview Bluegrass Today Takeharu Kunimoto passesExternal links EditTakeharu Kunimoto page Takeharu Kunimoto biography from Last Frontier site Takeharu Kunimoto page J Pop World interviewVideo Edit Music video for Tai Tai Zukushi This article about a Japanese musician is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Takeharu Kunimoto amp oldid 1058646135, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
