Takashi Hirayasu

The music of Okinawa, the largest island in the Ryuku Island chain south of mainland Japan, has been driven by the innovative playing of multi-instrumentalist Takashi Hirayasu. A founding member of Shokichi Kina and Champloose, Hirayasu helped to bring Western rock and electric instruments to Okinawa's traditional music, min'yo. His tight, rhythmic playing was an important in the success of the band's 1977 hit single, "Haisai Oji-San" (Hello Uncle) and Bloodline, the album that Shokichi Kina and Champloose recorded with American guitarist Ry Cooder. A dedication to world music...