Tomi Fujiyama once sang after Johnny Cash at the Grand Ole Opry and got the only standing ovation of the evening. Less than a year after this triumphant concert, Tomi was forced to return to her native Japan to fulfill contractual obligations with Columbia records and to care for ailing parents. She never returned to America after that.
Despite the absence, Tomi never forgot her dreams and now the 70-year-old country music singer is returning to America to perform in New York at PIANOS on September 11, in Los Vegas, and if all goes according to plan, she will once again take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry. Just goes to show you you're never too old or too foreign to love and perform country music. You can read the entire press release telling Tomi's story after the jump.
Tomi's story is currently being made into a documentary that is being narrated by Elijah Wood. Tomi's concerts will be part of that documentary. Coming to a theater or CMT in the future I'm sure.
Tomi Fujiyama to croon American Honky-Tonk on New York City, Las Vegas and Nashville stages
New York City, NY – August 28, 2008 – Tomi Fujiyama's amazing career and tale, which spans two hemispheres and half a century, is being made into a feature length documentary film, MADE IN JAPAN, with actor Elijah Wood attached to narrate. The upcoming American concerts, the seventy-year-old musician's first in over four decades, are to be captured and included in the film. In September, Tomi is confirmed to be performing shows in New York City, Las Vegas, and while nothing has been set in stone, Tomi is traveling to Nashville to fulfill her American Dream and establish a legendary 50-year career by playing one final time on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
43 years ago TOMI FUJIYAMA performed at The Grand Ole Opry's 39th Birthday Extravaganza in Nashville, Tennessee. She took the stage after Johnny Cash and got the only standing ovation of the 5-hour show. Less than a year later she would be forced to return to her native Japan to fulfill contractual obligations with Columbia records and to care for ailing parents.
1951, Ms. Fujiyama switched from performing traditional Japanese songs for small Japanese audiences to singing Country/ Western for the American soldiers. She was twelve years old and couldn't speak a word of English. In the years following, the talented musician would go on to record 21 singles and 5 albums with Columbia Records. One of the those singles, recorded in Nashville with Country legend Bill Anderson, sold more than 50,000 copies and led to much American press and to performances on the American television shows, The Les Crane Show and The Danny Thomas Show. Tomi was 21 years old when she was discovered at The Mint Hotel in Las Vegas where she had a backbreaking 4-shows-a-night, 7 days a week contract.
After returning home to Japan in 1965, Tomi continued to play the U.S.O. circuit until the 80's which included going on U.S.O tours of Vietnam and South East Asia during the Vietnam War. Still going strong in the 90's "Columbia Records" put out a "Best Of" album in 1992 and in 1996 she recorded "Lonely Together" in Nashville, her first new work in 30 years. She returned to Nashville again in 2003 to record her latest album "Gold". Today Tomi continues to perform in clubs and venues all over Japan where her passion for music and lust for life continues to move and inspire... hopefully she will make it back to the Opry again one day. That is after all her 1 goal in life!
Ms. Fujiyama's first American show in over forty years is scheduled for PIANOS(http://www.pianosnyc.com), the popular Lower East Side music venue. Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 10PM with the New York City Country and Bluegrass talents "All Night Cookin" performing an opening set and acting as her back up band. Tomi will be interviewed by Laura Cantrell on WMFU 91.1's long running Country music program, Radio Thrift Shop, on the morning of September 9th.
Fujiyama is just too cool. I hope she makes it to Nashville because I would love to go out and support her.
Posted by: Country Western Wear | September 03, 2008 at 09:48 AM