I was riding in my car the other day listening to my ipod on shuffle. Up came this tune that brought me back to the 70-80s. Great arrangements and tight playing with a nice groove! I looked on my ipod, it was Dane Matsumura’s album! Spent the rest of the day with his album on the ipod. Never understood why this never made it out of the hood. It was a big hit within the Japanese American community.
I first heard this album through a friend from LA and loved it. I had crossed paths with Dane a number of times when we would go to LA and be at jam sessions. He was the bassist for the Asian American band “Hiroshima” and played on their first two albums titled, “Hiroshima” and “Odori.” In 1981, he received a Grammy nomination for “Best R & B Instrumental Performance” as one of the co-writers of “Winds of Change” from Hiroshima’s second album. He performed and toured with Hiroshima till 1982.
In 1982, Randy Yoshimoto and Dennis Yokotake formed The Music Company. Dane Matsumura was soon asked to sit in on electric bass and for the next decade, this trio performed at nearly a thousand wedding receptions, private parties, and community functions. Long-time friends Mariko Nishizu and Howie Hiyoshida have been adding their vocal talents to the band ever since 1992.
Here is the album that was given to me, “Dane Matsumura and Friends”. Shoulda been a hit album. Put on your headphones and head back to the 70-80s in the Crenshaw, Gardena, and West LA where Most of the Japanese American community resided at the time.