Akai Tori

Akai Tori (赤い鳥; Red Birds) was Japanese folk group from 1969 to 1974.

Members

• Goto Etsujirou (後藤悦治郎; Guitar)
• Yamamoto Junko (山本潤子; Vocals, Guitar)
• Hirayama Yasuyo (平山泰代; Vocals, Piano)
• Yamamoto Toshihiko (山本俊彦; Guitar)
• Okawa Shigeru (大川茂; Bass)
• Watanabe Toshiyuki (渡辺俊幸; Drums, Keyboard)

Former Members

• Matsuda Kouichi (松田幸一; Harmonica, Percussion)
• Omura Kenji (大村憲司; Guitar)
• Murakami "Ponta" Shuuichi (村上“ポンタ”秀一; Drums)

Information

Akai Tori formed in April 1969 and got their name from the Suzuki Miekichi fairy tale Red Birds. Before the year was up, the group won the grand prix for the 3rd Annual Yamaha Light Music Contest, beating another upcoming Japanese folk band OFF COURSE. A couple months later, the group left for London, England after their victory for a while to record their first album FLY WITH THE RED BIRDS that was released on June 1970 on the record label Toshiba Records. They also won the Rookie of the Year award before the year was up at the Nemu no Sato Popular Song Festival.

Their big hit came on Februrary 1971 with the single, Takeda no Komoriuta, selling over a million copies. A year after, they headed over to America to record new material with several musicians including the British musician Tony Macaulay.

Sadly, the group broke up on Septemeber 1974 to let each member pursue their own musical careers. Yamamoto Junko, Yamamoto Toshihiko, and Okawa Shigeru would later go on to formed the group Hi Fi Set and become very successful till they broke up in 1994. Hirayama Yasuyo and Goto Etsujirou would formed the group Kamifuusen and release two singles. They also formed the unit TSU BA SA years later as a husband and wife unit.

Discography

Albums

• [1970.06.10] FLY WITH THE RED BIRDS
• [1970.10.05] RED BIRDS
• [1971.03.05] What A Wonderful World (ホワット・ア・ビューティフル・ワールド)
• [1971.07.25] Takeda no Komoriuta (竹田の子守唄)
• [1971.12.20] Studio Live (スタジオ・ライヴ)
• [1972.07.26] Party (パーティー)
• [1973.01.06] Utsukushii Hoshi (美しい星)
• [1973.06.20] Inori (祈り)
• [1973.12.25] Millon People ~Akai Tori Concert Jikkou Rokuon Ban (ミリオン・ピープル～赤い鳥コンサート実況録音盤)
• [1974.07.05] Shokanshuu ~Last Album (書簡集～ラスト・アルバム)

Singles

• [1970.06.25] Jinsei (人生)
• [1970.09.25] Dare no Tame ni (誰のために)
• [1971.02.05] Takeda no Komoriuta (竹田の子守唄)
• [1971.03.05] Utsukushii Asa (美しい朝)
• [1971.07.25] Wasureita Asa (忘れていた朝)
• [1971.12.01] Kawa (河)
• [1972.03.05] Akai Yane no Ie (赤い屋根の家)
• [1972.07.25] Futari (二人)
• [1972.11.20] Tsubasa wo Kudasai (翼を下さい)
• [1973.02.05] Matsuri (まつり)
• [1973.04.05] Michikusa (みちくさ)
• [1973.05.20] Kamifuusen (紙風船)
• [1973.09.20] Kaze wa Tabibito (風は旅人)
• [1974.02.05] Boku no Uta (僕のうた)

External Links

• Japanese Wikipedia: 赤い鳥