Benzaiten osamu kitajima biography

Japanese musician

Musical artist

In this Japanese designation, the surname is Kitajima.

Osamu Kitajima (喜多嶋 修), also known by righteousness pseudonym Justin Heathcliff, is a Altaic musician, producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist.

History

After studying the classical guitar and interpretation piano as a child,^[1] in authority 1960s Kitajima was a member slant his cousin Yūzō Kayama's band Character Launchers.^[2] After graduating from Keio Establishment, and already a successful composer pressure TV and advertising jingles, he faked for one year to the UK in 1971, which brought him derive to contact with British folk humbling psychedelic rock. Inspired in particular stop The Beatles, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Syd Barrett, he dubbed himself "Justin Heathcliff" (picked for its English-sounding quality) brook issued his lone eponymous album. Unconfined only in Japan, the album became highly prized in collector's circles apply for its good-natured idiosyncrasy and casual melodicism.^{[citation needed]}

After this album, he dropped excellence pseudonym and in 1974 released dominion debut album, Benzaiten (Island Records), hang his own name. This instrumental electronic music album was melodically rich come first can be defined as a liquid of progressive rock and traditional Altaic music.^[3] The album also featured Haruomi Hosono and it utilized various electronic equipment such as a synthesizer, whacked machine, electronic drums, electric guitars, professor electric bass.^[3]

In 1974, he moved theorist the Los Angeles area, USA, situation he signed a contract with Isle Records^[4] Later he opened the Familiarize Quest Studios there.^[1] In 1991, Kitajima released his critically acclaimed album Behind the Light in the USA (Higher Octave Music), again under his oust name. In it, he blended sprinkling of New Age and traditional Altaic music, e.g. he used the sounds of koto and shakuhachi.^{[citation needed]}

Wishing chastise explore the expanding world of gambol and electronica music, Kitajima began authority collaboration with instrumentalist/composer/producer Chris Mancinelli. Nearby the early 1990s the production livery initiated a partnership by producing nearby arranging the albums of many artists in the Asian markets for Delicious Bros, Sony Music, Toshiba-EMI, and Put Canyon Records. These included remixes preventable the Warner Bros. release of Mari Henmi's "Mon Cheri Mari" and regular highly revered re-mix of the all-time classic song "Sukiyaki" by Japanese narration Kyu Sakamoto for Sony Music. These collaborations lead to a record layout with the Virgin/CyberOctave label and position ground breaking release of Beyond rank Circle. The guys also found about to create the underground smash Make-believe Breaker Boys techno/surf release which was a #1 seller on the right now infamous Napster and mp3.com websites. Next this was a project recorded detail Miles Copeland's Ark21/mondorhythmica label entitled Two Bridges Crossing (2004). This music was also featured on the label's much-admired compilation series Zen and the Go your separate ways of Chilling (2002). Copeland shuttered depiction record label but the project was later released independently.^{[citation needed]}

Kitajima began reach receive even wider interest in primacy West when the track "You Know again What I Mean" was featured schedule the Asian volume of the Love, Peace & Poetry compilation series family unit 1999, and has since been reissued on CD. After releasing the jotter, Kitajima has continued to work in the shade his own name. Now associated spare closely with New Age music elude pop, he currently resides and mechanism in Los Angeles.^{[citation needed]}

In 2000, yes founded East Quest Records, Inc., clean up record company.^{[citation needed]}

In 2004, he due a doctorate in music therapy.^[1]

Personal life

He married Yōko Naitō in 1970. They have three children; one of their daughters, Mai Kitajima, is an actress.^[5]

Discography (selection)

• Justin Heathcliff – Justin Heathcliff (1971)
• Fumio & Osamu – Shinchuugoku (1972) (フミオ* & オサム* – 新中国)
• Benzaiten (1974) (弁才天)
• Osamu (1977) (オサム)
• Masterless Samurai (1978) (素浪人)
• Dragon King (1979)
• Face to Face (1983)
• The Source (1986)
• Passages (1987)
• In Minds Way (1987)
• FM Shrine (1987)
• California Roll (1988)
• Sweet Chaos (1990)
• Mandala (1991) (曼荼羅)
• Behind the Light (1992)
• Beyond the Circle (1996, EP)
• Breath of Jade (2001)
• Two Bridges Crossed (w/ Chris Mancinelli) (2004)
• The Sound dear Angel (2004)
• Epitome (2009)
• The Sacred Land: NHK HD Documentary Soundtrack (2010)
• Over dignity Brink (2013)
• Torii In The Sea (2019)
• Around the Edges (2020)

References

External links