The Yokohama, California album was first released in March 1977 in San Jose, California. The band wrote and performed songs describing the Asian American communities in the 1970's, songs of identity and songs encouraging Asian Americans to make positive changes in our communities. The band's name comes from a book of short stories about the Japanese American communities in the 1930's in the San Francisco East Bay area that was referred to as Yokohama, California, written by Toshio Mori and published in 1949. The band included Peter Horikoshi, Rev. Keith Inouye, Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo, Michael Okagaki, and Sam Takimoto. Jose (now Ahmad) Alarcon, Sara Aurich, the late Doug "Duke" Santos, Rick Takahashi and Steve Yamaguma also performed with the band.
Over the years, people have asked if we could convert the album to CD format. While working on the re-releasing the original album, it was our desire to include additional songs that members of the group wrote and performed around the time of the album. These "bonus tracks" are presented in a concert format after the original nine songs. We felt that our songs reflected issues and events that happened in the 1970s. Unfortunately, due to recent events, songs like The Greatest Changes speak to situations that are eerily similar to the way that things were back then. There is still the need to stand up and speak out on issues that affect our communities. We encourage the songwriters of today to write with authenticity and from your hearts - create with the eyes and ears that look around and see the current things that affect our diverse peoples and communities within which we live. The retail price of the CD is $15. To purchase a CD, click on Contact or Buy CD. If purchased through this website, this price includes shipping and handling. Please contact us if you know of an Asian American community organization or local store that might wish to sell the CD. If you have comments, please contact us as well. |
Inspired by the Asian American and other movements of color in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Asian American musicians created art that directly engaged issues of identity, community, and social change. Music was seen as an integral part of the movement, providing a soundtrack for the political struggles to empower our communities.
The first Asian American musical group to travel around the country and perform in various venues in the 1970s was Joanne Nobuko Miyamoto and the late Chris Kando Iijima. Their songs and live performances were an inspiration to budding musicians. Chris raved about a third musician, Charlie Chin, who co-wrote some of the songs and who Chris said would blow us away when we were finally able to see and hear him perform. Since those early days, Charlie has written songs that he calls “Asian American in aspect, and some which are romantic in the other aspect.” His skill as a musician and singer in presenting his music takes us on a journey through Charlie’s world, and it’s fun, educational, and moving. Fast forward to 1979, when the musicians of the Japantown Arts and Media (JAM) Workshop put on a series of concerts featuring Asian American musicians to share our music. The third concert featured Charlie, who flew from New York to perform, and separately, Philip Kan Gotanda. This CD includes Charlie's storytelling that accompanied his singing and playing that night. The bonus track on this CD was recorded at KPFA public radio station in Berkeley and features, Chris, Jo and Charlie singing Sister of the Bride. The retail price of the CD is $15. To purchase a CD, click on Contact or Buy CD. If purchased through this website, this price includes shipping and handling. Please contact us if you know of an Asian American community organization or local store that might wish to sell the CD. If you have comments, please contact us as well. |
Inspired by the Asian American and other movements of color in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Asian American musicians created art that directly engaged issues of identity, community, and social change. Music was seen as an integral part of the movement, providing a soundtrack for the political struggles to empower our communities.
Philip Kan Gotanda had graduated from law school around 1978 and was struggling with the desire to fulfill his parents’ dream of him becoming a lawyer and his personal desire to express himself creatively. In addition to writing songs, he was working on his first play, The Avocado Kid, or Zen and the Art of Guacamole. Of course, Philip is now an internationally acclaimed playwright. Like Charlie, Philip’s skill in presenting his music are what makes him stand out. The arrangements are crisp, his guitar playing is precise and deliberate and highlight the messages of his songs. Fast forward to 1979, when the musicians of the Japantown Arts and Media (JAM) Workshop put on a series of concerts featuring Asian American musicians to share our music. The third concert featured Philip and separately, Charlie Chin. This CD includes Philip's performance featuring David Henry Hwang, now also an internationally acclaimed playwright, Alan Furutani, who is based in Los Angeles, and still performs with his group FuJazz. Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo, an internationally acclaimed storyteller who performs with his wife Nancy Wang as part of EthNohTec, based in San Francisco played shakuhachi on one of the songs. The first bonus track features Philip and Peter Horikoshi, the producer of the CD, playing a song for the Cal State Fresno Amerasia festival. The other bonus track was performed by Philip, David, Robert and Sam Takimoto in a group called Bamboo Brew. Robert, Sam and Peter were members of Yokohama, California in 1977, and that CD is also available through this website and select outlets. The retail price of the CD is $15. To purchase a CD, click on Contact or Buy CD. If purchased through this website, this price includes shipping and handling. Please contact us if you know of an Asian American community organization or local store that might wish to sell the CD. If you have comments, please contact us as well. |
