, known professionally as , is a Japanese keyboardist, composer, producer, and arranger. Yoshino is known for leading the rock band Godiego. In 2005, he won a Japan Academy Prize for his music. Yoshino's compositions were used in the film Swing Girls (Altamira Pictures). Yoshino still produces music with groups such as Godiego and EnTRANS.
Biography Early years and The Golden Cups Yoshino's musical career began when he was a junior in high school, playing in night clubs and the U.S. military base in Yokohama, Japan. In 1967, at the age of 16, he became a member of The Golden Cups, a pioneering Japanese blues band that released several popular hits.The Golden Cups Official Page After leaving the band in 1971,Before he left for the United States, he formed a band called "Sunrise" with his friends Steve Fox, Frank Simes, David Nielsen and Jeff Macmann, and released a single "Baby Hold On". he studied music at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.In "Berklee Today" on Billboard magazine (15 April 1995), Mickie wrote an article "Congratulation on Berklee's 50 Years" as the college's an alumnus of the class of 1974. While there, he studied piano with Charlie Banacos, Dean Earl, Ray Santisi, and Edward C.Bedner. He also performed arrangements with Gary Burton and Phil Wilson. Yoshino formed the group Flesh & Blood (a.k.a. "Dutch Baker") and played in the Boston rock scene at the same time as Aerosmith and Boston.Mickie Yoshino Official Website https://www.mickieyoshino.com/english"Who am I?" by Steve Fox(1995 Crest/)
Godiego After graduating from Berklee, Yoshino returned to Japan to form the group Godiego (pronounced Go-Dai-Go).
Godiego appeared frequently on the hit charts from 1978 through the mid-1980sGodiego released Japanese Top Ten hit tunes such as "Gandhara" (No. 6), "Monkey Magic" (No. 17), "Beautiful Name" (No. 19), "The Galaxy Express 999" (No. 14) and "Holy and Bright". Chart action is Japanese Annual Hit Chart, Original Confidence and is credited with influencing the Japanese pop scene.
In the United Kingdom, Godiego became known for the theme song of the BBC TV series The Water Margin. The song reached number 16 on the UK singles chart.Music Week(23/October/1977) Satril Records released the album The Water Margin in the UK and Europe.Billboard (28/February/1978)Music Week(21/January/1977) Godiego's biggest hits in Japan came from a TV series called Monkey, which also aired on the BBC. This series became a "cult Japanese TV series" with videos and DVDs sold not only in the UK but in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other countries. "Gandhara" and "Monkey Magic" were the most well-known songs from the TV series. Godiego also attracted international attention when they wrote and released "Beautiful Name", the theme song for Unicef's International Year of the Child.
Yoshino also wrote and played for soundtracks such as the film House. Francis Ford Coppola intended to select Japanese composer Isao Tomita for his movie Apocalypse Now, but this was prevented due to a label contracts issue,"Isao Tomita (2014 RBMA Tokyo Lecture)". YouTube. 13 November 2014.Coppola's interview in Liner Notes from OST "Apocalypse Now Redux" and TomitaMickie played Hammond Organ in Tomita's "Multiplex Sounds for Global Vision" which was recorded for Toshiba IHI Pavilion in Japan World Exposition, Osaka 1970. had been planning to let Godiego record the rock part of the soundtrack."Electronic Music in Japan" by Yuji Tanaka (Aspect 2001/), via Facebook.
Yoshino was also very involved with Roland Corp. in the development of synthesizers and digital stage pianos in the 1970s and 1980s."Electronic Music in Japan" by Yuji Tanaka (Aspect 2001/) via Facebook. Godiego was one of the first rock bands to use a guitar synthesizer for both recordings and live performances. Keyboards Magazine Special Issue "Magic Capsule" (Ritto Music November 1979)
In 1980, Godiego was the first rock group to perform in China.The 1st China-Japan Amity Music Concert at Tianjin 23&24/October/1980 Godiego Album "Live in China" (1980) Liner Notes"The Concert was held for the second Anniversary of Sino-Japanese Friendship Treaty" Philadelphia Daily News(25/October/1980)"Chinese Get First Sample of Western Rock and Roll" Hartford Courant (24 October 1980) They also performed for 60,000 people in Kathmandu, Nepal,Dasarath Rangasala Stadium(07/February/1980)-A part of the concert was shown in the movie "Godiego on Silk Road"(1980/Pioneer). and performed in AustraliaRoyal Melbourne Show(20-29/September/1984)-"Few Waiting For Godiego" The Age(26/September/1984) and the United States.Godiego appeared on 11 October 1980, at the third annual Los Angeles Street Scene festival Los Angeles Times 10 October 1980 Around 1985, Godiego broke up. In 1999/2000, they reunited for a 17-concert nationwide tour.
1980s–1990s In the late 1980s, Yoshino helped to establish the PAN School of Music in Tokyo and Yokohama. He also released his own albums American Road and Longway from Home, and worked with many musicians including Paul Jackson,They had tours to introduce jazz music for Japanese kids, named "Jazz for Kids" through the late 1980s. Their recordings were released in 2014. Paul Jackson also played in American Road and Longway From Home. Jennifer Batten,Jennifer joined Godiego at a concert at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space in 2007, which was released as a DVD (2007 Universal J/ASIN: B000V3PS58). Peter Green and Ray Parker Jr.,Parker and Yoshino played in Japan and the live recording was released as Ray Parker, Jr. with The Stage Of The Rhythm (2002 Nippon Crown/ASIN: B00006ITU8) in 2002. Kenichi Hagiwara,Mickie was a member of Hagiwara's support band named "Andre Marlrau Band" or "Braque Marlrau Band" and Shuichi Hidano.
EnTRANS and jazz/fusion activities
Yoshino has participated in diverse musical activities since the 1960s. He joined the Time is Now jazz and rock crossover concertja「時は今／ジャズとロックの旗揚げコンサート」 with the Terumasa Hino Quintet, Hiroshi Kamayatsu, and Takayuki Inoue in 1969. With Godiego, Yukihide Takekawa and he composed "Suite: Peace" inspired by the theme of Edward Elgar's Pomp & Circumstance No.1 in 1977, and "In You Kanjincho" based upon Nagauta, Japanese traditional music, and Kanjincho. Yoshino arranged a rock tune with horns and traditional Japanese musical instruments such as the shamisen, shakuhachi, biwa and tsuzumi in 1981.
He formed a crossover musical group called EnTRANS with Takayuki Inoue, Yoshihiro Naruse (Casiopea 3rd), Nobuo Yagi (blues harp) and Shuichi Hidano (Taiko drums). Inonu retired in 2009, but the band continues to perform. Since the 2000s, Yoshino has frequently played with the jazz musicians Kenji Hino and Masa Kohama.
The Golden Cups reunion
In the early 2000s, Yoshino participated in the reunion of the Golden Cups and a documentary film, The Golden Cups One More Time, which was produced by Altamira Pictures. The movie showed the band's influence on many Japanese rock players,The Chicago Shimpo(11/June/2010)http://altamiramusic.jp/news/wp-content/uploads/P7023178.jpg http://altamiramusic.jp/news/wp-content/uploads/P7023180.jpg such as Kiyoshiro Imawano, Akiko Yano, Takayuki Inoue, and Ken Yokoyama.
Go-Die-Go's Endless Journey
Yoshino reformed Godiego in 2006 with the popular members Yukihide Takekawa, Takami Asano, Steve Fox, and Tommy Snyder. They had a three-year series of concerts for Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, 2007–2009. In 2014, Yoji Yoshizawa joined the band, and they continue to tour, releasing CDs and DVDs.
Bands Sources:ja ミッキー吉野 "バンド狂時代"In 2011, Altamira Music Inc., a group company of Altamira Pictures, produced Mickie's 60 years anniversary concert "Mickie Yoshino - The Band of Wine & Roses". They distributed a booklet contains Mickie's long interview and his band history, for the concert. Saburoswith Saburo Nonaka, etc. (1965) J.Walker & Pedestrianswith Saburo Nonaka, etc. (1965) Shuson Konno & New Cameliaswith Shuson Konnno, Kawashima, Tetsuo Oda, and Toshiyuki Meike. (1966) Chosen Fewwith Mark Sonoda, John Aguinaldo, Ron Wood, and Larry Paterton. (1966) Midnight Express Blues Bandwith Shinki Chin, Lin Keibun, A. Chonchai, Ted Roper, and Eiji Takemura. (196–1967) BeBeswith Shinki Chin, Lin Keibun, A. Chonchai, Ted Roper, and Eiji Takemura. (1967) Flower Creationwith Roy Makishima, Lin Keibun, A. Chonchai, and Jimmy Takemoto. (1968) The Golden Cups (1968–1970, 2004–) Mickie Yoshino Group Mark Iwith Shigeru Naruo, Masaoki Terakawa, Sadakazu Tabata, and Dave Hirao. (1970) Sunrisewith Steve Fox, Frank Simes, David Nielsen and Jeff Macmann. (1970–1971) Funky Tongue (1971) Rapscallionwith Steve Fox, Pat Dipietro, and Joe Laquidara. (1972) Flesh & Bloodwith Steve Fox, Pat Dipietro, Wayne Chapin, John Moore, and John Griffin. (1972–1973) Dutch Baker Bandwith Steve Fox, Pat Dipietro, and Wayne Chapin.(1973–1974) Mickie Yoshino Group Mark IIwith Edward Lee, Shinichi Fujii, and Ai Takano. (1974) Mickie Yoshino Group Mark IIIwith Steve Fox, and Yasushi Ichihara. (1974) Mickie Yoshino Group Mark IVwith Edward Lee, Steve Fox, and Eugen Harada. (1975) Mickie Yoshino Group Mark Vwith Takami Asano, Steve Fox, and Eugen Harada. (1975) Godiego (1976–1985, 1999–2001, 2006–) Mickie Yoshino Group Mark VIwith Takami Asano, Steve Fox, and Ryoji Asano. (1976) Mickie Yoshino Group Mark VIIwith Takami Asano, Steve Fox, and Tommy Snyder. (1977–1978) Kaleidoscope Session Band Rock Sessionwith Char, etc. (1977) Kaleidoscope Session Band Jazz Sessionwith Kazumi Watanabe, etc. (1977) PANwith Yoji Yoshizawa, Tsuneo Matsumoto, Hiroshi Kishimoto, and Tommy Snyder. (1983–1986) Debut!with Yoji Yoshizawa, George Mastich, Tsuneo Matsumoto, and Tommy Snyder. (1983–1986) Andre Marlrau Bandwith Ken-ichi Hagiwara, Takayuki Inoue, Seiji Hayami, Ken Watanabe, Masayuki Higuchi, Yuki Sugawara, Akio Suzuki. (1985–1990) Black, Yellow & Whitewith Paul Jackson and Tommy Snyder. (1986) P.S.M. All Starswith Jun Saito, Yoji Yoshizawa, Hiroshi Kishimoto, etc. (1987–1988) Paul Jackson Bandwith Char, Paul Jackson, and Mike Clark. (1987–1988) Mickie Yoshino Special Bandwith Tsuneo Matsumoto, Fuyuhiko Uto, Masayuki Higuchi, Hirokazu Matsubara, and Eri Ohno. (1987–1988) Mickie Yoshino & SLYMEwith Tsuneo Matsumoto, Fuyuhiko Uto, Masayuki Higuchi, Hirokazu Matsubara, and Paul Jackson. (1987–1988) Mickie Yoshino Bandwith Tsuneo Matsumoto, Fuyuhiko Uto, Masayuki Higuchi, and Shin Kozuka. (1992) Earthmaticswith Takami Asano, Fuyuhiko Uto, Masayuki Higuchi, Shin Kozuka, and Steve Fox. (1994) Valcowith Fuyuhiko Uto, Masayuki Higuchi, and Shin Kozuka. (1995) Joe Yamanaka Band (2000–2006) EnTRANSwith Shuichi Hidano, Nobuo Yagi, Yoshihiro Naruse, and Takayuki Inoue. (2001–) Silver Cups (a.k.a., Yokohama Super Session Band)with Eddie Ban, Masayoshi Kabe, and Johnny Yoshinaga (2010–) Natsuno-Gumiwith Kazuyuki Takekoshi. (2010–) Mickie Yoshino New Groupwith Kenji Hino, Toshi Hiketa, and Tetsuya Hoshi. (2010–2011)
Discography The Golden Cups Studio albums The Golden Cups Album Vol. 2 (1968) Blues Message The Golden Cups Album Vol. 3 (1969) The Fifth Generation (1971)
Live albums Super Live Session (1969) The Golden Cups Recital (1969) One More Time (2014)
Singles "My Love Only For You" (愛する君に; 1968)Japanese weekly single chart (Original Confidence) No. 13(07/October/1968) "Good Bye My Love" (過ぎ去りし恋; 1968)Japanese weekly single chart (Original Confidence) No. 89 "Honmoku Blues" (本牧ブルース; 1969)Japanese weekly single chart (Original Confidence) No. 49 "Lucille" (ルシール; 1969) "Butterfly Won't Fly" (蝶は飛ばない; 1969)Japanese weekly single chart (Original Confidence) No. 82 "Bitter Tears" (にがい涙; 1970)
Compilations The Best of The Golden Cups (ザ・ゴールデン・カップスのすべて; 1969) Girl With Long Hair - The Best of The Golden Cups (長い髪の少女 ザ・ゴールデン・カップスのすべて; 1969) Rock 'n Roll Jam '70 (1970) Blues of Life (2004)
Godiego See Godiego Discography
Tigers Memorial Club Band Studio albums