Kuwata Keisuke

Kuwata Keisuke is one of the most famous singers in Japan. He entered Aoyama Gakuin University where he was active in a folksong club because he was keen on The Beatles.

He formed the "Southern All Stars" in 1975. After three years, they made their debut with the song "Nagisa-no-Shindobatto." He took charge of vocal, and wrote both the words and the music for their songs. Their songs made them become popular suddenly because of "his surplus words(words didn't harmonize with melodies)."

And, their famous single records are "Itoshi-no-Elly" in 1979, "Bye Bye my Love" in 1985, "Minna-no-uta" in 1987, "Sayonara Baby" in 1990, "Erotica Seven" in 1993, "Mampy-no-G-spot" in 1995. He got married to Hara Yuko who is a member of his group eleven years after it was formed.

In 1985, their album "Kamakura" was a million seller, and he had the highest income at all Japanese singers. Then, they kept making a lot of albums one after another, "Kirei" in 1987, "Southern All Stars" in 1990, "Inamura Jane" in 1991, "Yo-ni-manyoh-no-hana-ga-sakunari" in 1992. He continued to write both the words and the music on most of songs in their albums.

He is also famous as a director. In 1991, he made a film"Inamura Jane." It was a wonderful film, so many people went to see it.

Many his songs remind us of our summer memories. Not only is he lead vocalist but he also makes songs for himself as a solo singer. He is by nature a genius. He is making a new album now.

In 1998 Southern All Stars had their 20th anniversary. And in this year they had a lot of events ,for exsample, they made best album, held many concerts, and so on.

References: Gendai Nihonjinmeiroku, 1994

Reported by: Kenji Tsuchimoto
Data verified by: Motonari Izawa
Date of Report: November 1995
Updated by: Yasunobu Kusunoki, May 1998

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