Double

One of the first missionaries of Western rhythm & blues in Japan, Takako Hirasawa, the sole member of Double, earned the title of "R&B Queen" in her home country. The alias, strange for a solo artist, has, in fact, a tragic explanation, as the band started off as a duo, formed by Takako together with her younger sister Sachiko Hirasawa, who died before the release of their debut album. The Hirasawa sisters grew up in Niigata and had studied classical piano as kids, but were exposed to American R&B after their older sister (there were three siblings) has spent some time in the ...