Char (musician)

Hisato Takenaka (竹中 尚人, born on June 16, 1955 in Togoshi, Shinagawa), known professionally as Char, is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is considered one of Japan's greatest guitar players.[1][2]

Char
Birth nameHisato Takenaka (竹中 尚人)
Born (1955-06-16) June 16, 1955
Togoshi, Shinagawa, Japan
GenresRock
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, bass, drums, piano
Years active1971–present
LabelsCanyon, VAP, Polydor, Edoya, Zicca
WebsiteOfficial site

In 2003, Char was ranked by HMV Japan at number 38 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts.[3] Rolling Stone Japan ranked his album Psyche number 36 on their 2007 list of the greatest Japanese rock albums of all time.[4] Char came in third in a 2011 goo poll on who the Japanese people thought was the best guitarist to represent the country.[5] Char was named the greatest Japanese guitarist in a 2017 list by Guitar Magazine, as voted on by professional musicians,[6][7] and in a 2019 public poll held by goo.[8] His song "A Fair Wind" was named the 34th best guitar instrumental by Young Guitar Magazine in 2019.[9] Char endorses Fender, with whom he has signature model guitars.[10] He also has signature models with ESP.[11]

Career

Char started learning piano in elementary school, and playing guitar at age eight.[12] Although he listened to various guitarists, it was Eric Clapton who got him hooked on the instrument.[12] Char began work as a session guitarist while still in junior high school.[12][13] At 17, Char formed the band Smoky Medicine in 1973 with Mari Kaneko.[13] Although they disbanded the following year, they garnered much attention in the industry, with Guitar Magazine later calling them possibly the "most famous amateur band" in Japan.[14]

In 1976, Char made his solo debut on Canyon Records with the single "Navy Blue" in June and the album Char in September.[13] In 1978, he teamed up with Johnny Yoshinaga and Louise Louis Kabe to form the supergroup Johnny, Louis & Char.[15] The following year they played a free concert at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall, which was recorded and released as their first album Free Spirit. After two studio albums, they changed their name to Pink Cloud in 1982 upon changing record labels.[15] In 1986, they collaborated with Kiyoshiro Imawano for the songs "S.F." and "Private" used in the Prefectural Earth Defense Force anime.[16] Originally disbanded in 1994, the members played together in various combinations several times until Yoshinaga's death in 2012.

Char's 1981 album U.S.J was co-produced by Steve Lukather and also features Jeff Porcaro and David Foster.[17]

Char co-composed and played on the 1986 song "Last Wish Onajiirono Christmas" with Katsuhiko Nakagawa.[18] He reprised his guitar part on a 2014 cover of the song by Nakagawa's daughter, Shoko.[18]

Char established his own record label Edoya (江戸屋) in 1987, and released two solo albums the following year.[3] Also in 1988, he formed the band Psychedelix with Jimmy Copley and Jaz Lochrie.[19] The following year, he teamed up with Osamu Ishida to form the acoustic duo Baho.[19]

Char spent 1999 touring Japan with Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert in a unit called CB&A, with a live album released the following year.[20]

Char collaborated with Tomoyasu Hotei for the 2006 single "Stereocaster". The following year he joined Hotei and Brian Setzer for a short joint tour.[21]

In 2009, Char established the record label Zicca Records.[12]

Char released six cover albums in 2010, each one covering songs by a different act that inspired him; Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, The Beatles, The Ventures, Jimmy Page, and Jimi Hendrix.[19]

Since 2011, Char has taken part in several covers of famous songs organized by Playing for Change.[19]

For 2015's Rock+, which celebrated his 60th birthday, Char collaborated with many different musicians, including his son Jesse, Hotei, Hama Okamoto, and Masaharu Fukuyama.[22][23] That year he also held a free concert at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall on July 15, just like he had done in 1979 as part of Johnny, Louis & Char.[24]

Char was one of many guitar guests on Kazumi Watanabe's 2016 album Guitar is Beautiful KW45, featured on two songs.[25] In 2017, Char played guitar on Exile Atsushi's cover of Joe Yamanaka's 1977 hit song "Proof of the Man".[26]

Personal life

Char is married to former fashion model Kanna S. McFaddin, who has written the lyrics to several of his songs. They have one American son; Jesse McFaddin (born 1980), guitarist and vocalist of the Japanese rock band Rize.[27][28] Jesse's two bandmates, brothers Nobuaki Kaneko and KenKen, are the sons of Char's former bandmates Mari Kaneko and Johnny Yoshinaga.[15]

Discography
Studio albums
  • Char (1976)
  • Char II Have a Wine (1977)
  • Thrill (1978)
  • U.S.J (1981)
  • Moon Child (1982)
  • Psyche (1988)
  • Psyche II (1988)
  • I'm Gonna Take This Chance (1999)
  • Bamboo Joints (2001)
  • Sacred Hills (Sacred Hills 〜聖なる丘〜, 2002)
  • Mr. 70's You Set Me Free (2003)
  • Amano-Jack (天邪鬼 Amano-Jack, 2005) Oricon Albums Chart peak: 28[29]
  • Rock+ (2015) 14[29]
  • Staying Zicca (2020)
  • Fret to Fret (2021) 94[29]
  • Soliloquy (2023)
Mini-albums
  • When I Wake Up in the Morning (1989)
  • Black Shoes (1989)
  • Mustang (1994)
Singles
  • "Navy Blue" (1976)
  • "Kizetsu Suruhodo Nayamashii" (気絶するほど悩ましい, 1977)
  • "Gyakukōsen" (逆光線, 1977)
  • "Tōgyū-shi" (闘牛士, 1978)
  • "Girl" (1978)
  • "Blue Christmas" (1978)
  • "Today" (1998)
  • "Let It Blow" (1998)
  • "Touch My Love Again" (1999)
  • "Share the Wonder" (2000)
  • "R-1 (Route One)" (2000)
  • "Long Distance Call" (2001)
  • "A Fair Wind" (2002)
  • "45 Over Drive" (2004)
  • "Piano" (2005) Oricon Singles Chart peak: 36[30]
  • "Osampo" (2006) 69[30]
  • "Stereocaster" (2006, Hotei vs Char) 17[31]
Live albums
  • Char Electric Guitar Concert (1997)
  • Char Psyche 1988 (2000)
  • Char Played With and Without (2000)
  • Tradrock Char by Char (2011)
  • Zig Zag Zone (2012) 207[29]
  • Tradrock Acoustic by Char (2012) 208[29]
  • 414 -Live at Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall- (2013)
  • Rock+ Eve -Live at Nippon Budokan (2015)
  • Char Live 1976 (2022)
Cover albums
  • Eric by Char (2010)
  • Jeff by Char (2010)
  • The B by Char (2010)
  • The V by Char (2010)
  • Jimmy by Char (2010)
  • Jimi by Char (2010)
Compilation albums
  • The Best of Char (1982)
  • Playback Series Char (プレイバック・シリーズ Char, 1987)
  • Flashback Memories (1991)
  • Days Went By 1988~1993 (1993)
  • Character (1996)
  • Char Edoya Collection 1988–1997
  • All Around Me ~Char Plays Ballad~ (1999)
  • Singles 1976–2005 (2006) 58[29]
  • Flying Toy's (2007) 67[29]
  • Golden☆Best Char (ゴールデン☆ベスト Char, 2011)
  • The Premium Best Char (ザ・プレミアムベスト Char, 2013)
  • Light Mellow Char (2014)
Videos
  • 20th Anniversary ~Electric Guitar Concert~ (1999)
  • The Clips (2000)
  • Live in Nippon Budokan 2001 ~Bamboo Joints~ (2002)
  • No Generation Gap (2004)
  • Psyche (彩気 Psyche, 2005)
  • Amano-Jack Movin' The Documentary on Studio Work & Live Tour of Char (2006) Oricon chart peak: 76[32]
  • 414 -Live at Hibiya Open Air ConcertHall 2013- (2013) 247 (DVD),[32] 102 (Blu-ray)[33]
  • Rock+ Eve Live at Nippon Budokan (2015) 61 (DVD),[32] 60 (Blu-ray)[33]
  • Rock Free Concert (2015)
  • Tradrock Blu-ray and Archive Box (2015) 185[33]
  • Old News (2019) 228 (Blu-ray)[33]
  • Char 2013 Live at EX-Theater Roppongi "Tomorrow is Coming for Me" (2020) 118 (Blu-ray)[33]
  • Char in Concert 2020 "First and Last" (2021) 72 (Blu-ray)[33]
  • Shinin' You Shinin' Day (2021) 230 (Blu-ray)[33]
  • Char 45th Anniversary Concert Special at Nippon Budokan (2022) 63 (DVD),[32] 37 (Blu-ray)[33]
  • Char Live 1976 (2022)

References
  1. "Japanese star guitarist Char playing Beach Fest". The Guam Daily Post. August 26, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  2. "いつかみんなの前でギターを弾いてみ たかったあの曲". OKMusic (in Japanese). December 18, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  3. "Top 100 Japanese pops Artists - No.38". HMV Japan (in Japanese). November 27, 2003. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  4. "Finally! "The 100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time" Listed". Exclaim!. November 14, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  5. "Which guitarist do you think can be a representative for Japan?". tokyohive.com. December 4, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  6. "中学生でプロに、16歳でクレジット入り…。偉大なギタリスト・Charの軌跡". TV Asahi (in Japanese). September 1, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  7. "＜Fender presents "Meet the Legend"＞開催決定 CHAIとポルカドットスティングレイに加えCharも参戦". Barks (in Japanese). August 8, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  8. "本当にかっこいい！日本のすご腕ギタリストランキング". goo (in Japanese). July 10, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  9. "ヤング・ギター厳選『ギター・インストの殿堂100』名演ランキング". Young Guitar Magazine (in Japanese). June 11, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  10. "Char Signature Stratocaster Charizma". Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Archived from the original on January 4, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  11. "ESP Artist Series Char". ESP Guitars. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  12. "アーティストの音楽履歴書 第7回 ［バックナンバー］Charのルーツをたどる 兄の影響で触れた洋楽ロック". Natalie (in Japanese). September 13, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  13. "Charの原点！世代問わずギターキッズ必聴の1stアルバム『Char』". OKMusic (in Japanese). May 7, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  14. "ライブレポート／ROCK LEGENDS(スモーキー・メディスン)". Guitar Magazine (in Japanese). May 10, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  15. "CHAR、ルイズルイス加部、ジョニー吉長のクールで粋なセンスに脱帽！ PINK CLOUDの『KUTKLOUD』はスリーピ ースバンドの域を超える名盤だ。". OKMusic (in Japanese). June 24, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  16. "Char". Sync Music Japan. January 1, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  17. "伝説のライヴ『ベイクド・ポテト・スーパー・ライヴ』が紙ジャケ、ニュー・リマスタリング、高音質CD(Blu-Spec)で復活". Tower Records (in Japanese). October 30, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  18. "中川翔子、亡き父の楽曲初カバーでCharと共演「たぶん最初で最後」". Oricon (in Japanese). March 28, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  19. "Char- Playing for Change". Playing for Change. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  20. "Tim Bogert Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  21. "[布袋寅泰] 日米トリオセッションがTVオンエア". Natalie (in Japanese). March 30, 2007. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  22. "Char還暦アルバムに泉谷、ユーミン、民生、福山、JESSEら". Natalie (in Japanese). March 23, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  23. "ROCK+／Char アルバム・レビュー". Young Guitar Magazine (in Japanese). June 17, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  24. "Char、7/19日比谷野音でフリーコンサート「ROCK FREE」開催". Rockin'On (in Japanese). July 17, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  25. "渡辺香津美の新作にChar、SUGIZO、押尾、生形ら豪華ギタリスト参加". Natalie (in Japanese). February 24, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  26. "EXILE ATSUSHI ドラマ『人間の証明』主題歌でジョー山中をカバー。原曲演奏のCharも". Rockin'On (in Japanese). February 25, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  27. "Japan rock group Dragon Ash member nabbed for marijuana possession". Kyodo News. July 20, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  28. "Char、息子JESSEと親子セッション披露". Oricon (in Japanese). June 18, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  29. "Charのアルバム売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  30. "Charのシングル売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  31. "Hotei vs Charのシングル売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  32. "CharのDVD売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  33. "CharのBlu-ray売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved November 21, 2019.
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