Eiichi Ohtaki
Eiichi Ohtaki 大瀧 詠一 | |
---|---|
Eiichi Ohtaki in 1981 promoting A Long Vacation. | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Eiichi Ohtaki (大瀧 榮一)[1] |
Also known as | Eiichi Ohtaki (大滝 詠一) |
Born |
Esashi District, Japan | July 28, 1948
Died |
December 30, 2013 65) Tokyo, Japan | (aged
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | |
Instruments | |
Years active | 1969–2013 |
Labels | |
Associated acts | Happy End |
Website | http://www.fussa45.net |
Eiichi Ohtaki (Japanese: 大瀧 詠一[nb 1] Hepburn: Ōtaki Eiichi, July 28, 1948 – December 30, 2013) was a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He first became known as a member of the rock band Happy End, but was better known for his solo work. In 2003, Ohtaki was ranked by HMV Japan at number 9 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts.[3]
Biography
Ohtaki was born in Esashi District, in what is now part of Ōshū. Before joining Happy End, Ohtaki was guitarist in a group called Taboo with future Blues Creation singer Fumio Nunoya.[4]
Ohtaki produced the rock band Sugar Babe and its members Taeko Onuki and Tatsuro Yamashita after the group's break up.[5] Ohtaki, Yamashita and brief Sugar Babe member Ginji Ito released an album titled Niagara Triangle Vol. 1 in 1976. The collaboration was cited by MTV as one of the six Japanese supergroups that changed the history of Japanese music.[6] Six years later Ohtaki released Niagara Triangle Vol. 2, this time collaborating with Motoharu Sano and Masamichi Sugi.
His 1981 solo album A Long Vacation is particularly well-known and highly acclaimed. It was one of the first albums to be issued on CD,[7] was named "Best Album" at the 23rd Japan Record Awards,[8] certified double platinum by the RIAJ and has been re-released in 20th anniversary and 30th anniversary editions. In 2007, it was named the 7th greatest Japanese rock album of all time by Rolling Stone Japan; the list was topped by Happy End's Kazemachi Roman.[9] In March 2016, a new album of previously unreleased songs, titled Debut Again, was released posthumously.
Death
After choking on an apple and collapsing in his Tokyo home at 5 p.m. on December 30, 2013, Ohtaki was rushed to hospital but died shortly afterwards.[10][11] His official cause of death was a dissecting aneurysm.[12] Ohtaki was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 56th Japan Record Awards in 2014.[13]
Discography
- Studio albums
- Eiichi Ohtaki (大瀧詠一, 1972)
- Niagara Moon (1975)
- Go! Go! Niagara (1976)
- Niagara Calendar (1977)
- Let's Ondo Again (1978) credited to "Niagara Fallin' Stars"
- A Long Vacation (1981)
- Each Time (1984)
- Debut Again (2016)
- Niagara Triangle albums
- Niagara Triangle Vol. 1 (1976) with Tatsuro Yamashita and Ginji Ito
- Niagara Triangle Vol. 2 (1982) with Motoharu Sano and Masamichi Sugi
Notes
- ↑ Born as "大瀧 榮一", Ohtaki predominately used the characters "大瀧 詠一" to spell his name, and occasionally "大滝 詠一".
References
- ↑ "大滝さん 提供楽曲は軒並みヒット「風立ちぬ」「冬のリヴィエラ」「熱き心に」". Sponichi (in Japanese). 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
- ↑ "City pop revival is literally a trend in name only". The Japan Times. 2015-07-05. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
- ↑ "Top 100 Japanese pops Artists - No.9". HMV Japan (in Japanese). 2003-11-22. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
- ↑ "Blues Creation". Japrocksampler. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
- ↑ "Happy End's Eiichi Ohtaki Dies at 65". Exclaim!. 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
- ↑ "6 Japanese Super Groups That are Changing J-music History". MTV81. 2016-03-16. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
- ↑ "大瀧詠一さん、CDアルバム16年ぶりチャートイン". Sponichi (in Japanese). 2014-01-15. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
- ↑ "第23回 日本レコード大賞". Japan Record Awards (in Japanese). Retrieved 2016-01-06.
- ↑ "Finally! "The 100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time" Listed". Exclaim!. 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
- ↑ "大滝詠一さん急死 リンゴのどに詰まらせ(tr: Otaki Eiichi's Sudden Death, Chokes on Apple)". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2013-12-31.
- ↑ "ミュージシャンの大滝詠一さんが死去 (tr: Otaki Eiichi's musicians death)". NHK (in Japanese). 2013-12-31.
- ↑ "Singer-songwriter Eiichi Ohtaki dies after collapsing at home". Japan Today. 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
- ↑ "大滝詠一、貴重なナイアガラ音源満載の12枚組BOX全楽曲を発表". Natalie (in Japanese). 2014-12-12. Retrieved 2016-01-06.