Kubota Toshinobu

Kubota Toshinobu (2009)

Kubota Toshinobu (久保田利伸) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and music producer.

Profile

• Nicknames: Funky Kubota (ファンキー久保田), Kubojaa (クボジャー), King Of J-Soul (キング･オブ・Jソウル)
• Birthdate: July 24, 1962
• Birthplace: Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka Prefecture
• Blood Type: O
• Height: 160 cm

Information

Kubota got his start in 1981 when he met Haneda Ichiro at Komazawa University where they started the band HOTTENTOTS. Then a year later, he entered the contest EASTWEST'82 and won the Best Vocalist award. By winning the contest, Kubota would earned a record deal for his band to release their own music. He also started to appear as a guest vocalist for various albums for artists like Matsuoka Naoya.

By the mid-80s, Kubota began to compose for various artists like Iwasaki Hiromi, Koizumi Kyoko, and Tahara Toshihiko. Then in 1986, he finally debuted as a singer with the single Shitsui no Downtown. But, Kubota didn't his break until his fourth single Cry On Your Smile, which cracked the top ten on the Oricon charts. Before the decade was over, he would release his first best album, entitled the BADDEST, which sold over a million copies.

In 1993, Kubota went to New York to work on his music. Two years later, he debuted in America under the name Toshi Kubota. That same year, he released the single LA・LA・LA LOVE SONG, a duet with model Naomi Campbell, which became his best selling single as it sold over a million copies.

Kubota would later appear as on the American television show Soul Train in 2004, becoming on of the few Japanese to appear on the show.

Discography

Kubota Toshinobu (1980s)

Original Japanese Albums

• [1986.09.10] SHAKE IT PARADISE
• [1987.04.22] GROOVIN'
• [1988.09.30] Such A Funky Thang!
• [1990.07.15] BONGA WANGA
• [1991.09.21] PARALLEL WORLD I "KUBOJAH"
• [1992.07.01] Neptune
• [1995.01.28] BUMPIN' VOYAGE
• [1996.12.02] LA・LA・LA LOVE THANG
• [2000.09.27] As One
• [2002.04.10] United Flow
• [2006.03.01] FOR REAL?
• [2010.02.24] Timeless Fly

Original American Albums

• [1995.09.10] SUNSHINE, MOONLIGHT
• [2000.06.28] Nothing But Your Love
• [2004.09.21] TIME TO SHARE

Mini-Albums

• [1988.11.26] Dance If You Want It
• [1989.01.21] Indigo Waltz
• [1989.03.21] High Roller
• [1995.10.21] Funk It Up / Nice & EZ

Best Albums

• [1989.10.08] the BADDEST
• [1993.09.22] the BADDEST II
• [2002.12.04] the BADDEST III
• [2002.07.24] the BADDEST ～Only for lovers in the mood?

Collaboration Album

• [1990.12.01] ~KISS MY THING~ Toshinobu Kubotazu Selection (～KISS MY THANG～トシノブ・クボタズ・セレクション)

Tribute Album

• [2008.08.06] The World Sings KUBOTA

Japanese Singles

• [1986.06.21] Shitsui no Downtown (失意のダウンタウン)
• [1986.12.21] TIME Shower ni Utarete (TIMEシャワーに射たれて)
• [1987.02.26] GODDESS -Atrashii Megami- (GODDESS-新しい女神-)
• [1987.10.21] Cry On Your Smile
• [1988.02.26] You Were Mine
• [1990.06.21] GIVE YOU MY LOVE
• [1990.10.01] Be wanabee
• [1991.03.21] FOREVER YOURS (with Alyson Williams)
• [1991.09.01] Honey B / Keep On JAMMIN'
• [1991.11.01] Amaoto (雨音)
• [1993.05.14] Yume with You (夢 with You)
• [1993.05.14] Futari no Oruke Star (ふたりのオルケスタ)
• [1994.11.02] Yoru ni Dakarete ~A Night in Afro Blue~ (夜に抱かれて 〜A Night in Afro Blue〜)
• [1994.12.01] ZA-KU-ZA-KU Digame / SUNshine, MOONlight
• [1995.07.07] Niji no Grand Slam (虹のグランドスラム)
• [1996.05.13] LA・LA・LA LOVE SONG (as Kubota Toshinobu with Naomi Campbell)
• [1996.09.21] Just The Two Of Us -Butcher Bros. LP Remix-
• [1996.10.10] BODY-CATION
• [1997.02.02] Cymbals
• [1998.09.18] AHHHHH!
• [1999.07.28] SOUL BANGIN'
• [1999.07.28] the Sound of Carnival
• [1999.09.08] Messengers' Rhyme ~Rakushow, it's your Show!~
• [2000.08.30] Poly Rhythm (ポリ リズム)
• [2000.11.01] Always Remain
• [2001.11.14] Candy Rain
• [2002.02.20] Respect (this & that)
• [2003.12.10] Our Christmas / La vie son Musique / FUNKY DOGS
• [2005.04.27] a Love Story
• [2005.08.24] Club Happiness
• [2005.11.02] Kimi no Soba ni (君のそばに)
• [2007.08.08] M☆A☆G☆I☆C (as Kubota Toshinobu with KREVA)
• [2008.03.26] Flying Easy Loving Crazy (as Kubota Toshinobu with MISIA)
• [2010.01.27] Tomorrow Waltz
• [2010.06.16] LOVE RAIN ~Koi no Ame~ (LOVE RAIN ~恋の雨~)

American Singles

• [1995.08.29] FUNK IT UP
• [1996.06.25] Just the two of us (with Caron Wheeler)
• [1999.07.15] SOUL BANGIN' REMIX 1
• [1999.07.15] SOUL BANGIN' REMIX 2
• [2000.06.21] Nothing But Your Love
• [2000.xx.xx] masquerade
• [2004.xx.xx] Living for Today
• [2004.xx.xx] Breaking Through
• [2006.07.05] Keep Holding U

VHS / DVD

• [1988.05.21] SUPER DUPER VOL.1
• [1988.07.02] Keep On Dancing
• [1990.12.01] SUPER DUPER VOL.2
• [1991.07.01] Nihonichi no BONGA WANGA OtokoS TOUR '91 (日本一のBONGA WANGA 男S TOUR '91)
• [1992.03.01] SUPER DUPER VOL.3
• [1995.01.28] SUPER DUPER VOL.4
• [1996.12.02] SUPER DUPER VOL.5 from New York
• [1997.03.01] TOSHINOBU KUBOTA CONCERT TOUR '96 "Oyeees!"
• [2000.10.18] SUPER DUPER VOL.6
• [2003.05.08] SUPER DUPER VOL.7 THE BADDEST Ⅲ on FILMS
• [2007.08.08] LIVE 2006 "WE FOR REAL"

Credits

aira

• Zutto Wasurenai {music)

Hirai Ken

• fiesta fiesta
• HEAT UP 、unifit love

Iwasaki Hiromi

• Gekkou {music)

Koizumi Kyoko

• NUDIST {music)

Matsuda Akiko

• Tatoeba, Zutto... {music)

Matsumoto Noriko

• Nijiiro Scandal {music)

Moritaka Chisato

• Umi Made Gofun {music)

Nakamori Akina'

• Amish {music)

Nakayama Emiri

• private eyes {music)

Nakayama Miho

• CHEERS FOR YOU {music)

Oginome Yoko

• Bishoujo to Yajuu {music)
• LAZY DANCE {music)

Sai Etsuko

• Eien no Morning Moon {music)

SMAP

• Sotto Kitto {music)
• Style {music)

Tahara Toshihito

• It's BAD {music)
• Karei Naru Kake {music)

Takahashi Mariko

• Omoide wa Hikari no Naka {music)

TOKIO

• Arigatou...Yuuki {music)

Yoshmoto Miyoko

• Vanity Night {music)

Yoshino Sayaka

• Konna Kimochi ~Hari Hari Heri Heri~

External Links

• Official Site
• Japanese Wikipedia:久保田利伸
• English Wikipedia:Toshi Kubota