Charlie Chin in Concert
CD Cover
24 page booklet
Thoughts by Charlie Chin:
The concert you're talking about was in 1979. That's 40 years ago. In 1979 we were coming out of the sixties and early seventies. Most of the far left radicals had calmed down once they began to realize that the "revolution" was not going to happen anytime soon. The eternal question of "What is Asian America? What is Asian American art, literature, music, etc, was then, and even now, a matter that was never settled to everybody's satisfaction.
The term Asian American was used once to bridge the gap between Japanese and Chinese Americans in a post-World War II United States. It was barely elastic enough to work then, and with the post-79 wave of Asians and South Asians, there's no question it is found wanting now. The songs and spoken pieces of the concert are just a snapshot of what was already passing.
Introduction by Peter Y. Horikoshi, Producer, April 2019
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 musical group to travel around the country and perform in various Asian American venues was Joanne Nobuko Miyamoto and the late Chris Kando Iijima. Their songs and live performances were an inspiration to us budding musicians. I remember Chris raving 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. I finally met Charlie when he, Chris and Joanne were interviewed by Asian Media at KPFA, a public radio station in Berkeley, California in 1972. I was part of the Asian Media collective at that time and was indeed blown away hearing the three of them not only sing together but to reflect on the meaning behind their songs. 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 me on a journey through Charlie’s world, and it’s fun, educational, and moving.
Fast forward to 1979, when I was part of the Japantown Arts and Media (JAM) Workshop in San Francisco’s Japantown. The musicians at JAM put on a series of concerts featuring Asian American musicians to share our music. The third concert featured Philip Kan Gotanda who was living in San Francisco and Charlie Chin who flew from New York to perform. Philip invited David Henry Hwang, Alan Furutani and Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo to play with him. Yes, the same David Henry Hwang who is also an internationally acclaimed playwright! Alan, who is based in Los Angeles, still performs with his group FuJazz. Robert is an internationally acclaimed storyteller and performs with his wife Nancy Wang as part of EthNohTec, based in San Francisco. The other bonus track on the CD was performed by Philip, David, Robert and Sam Takimoto in a group called Bamboo Brew. Robert, Sam and I were members of Yokohama, California in 1977.
I wanted to release these CDs of Philip’s and Charlie’s concerts so that we can recognize them for their creative musical works and their engaging performances. There aren’t many recordings of the groups from that era. We are fortunate that these cassette (!) recordings from almost 40 years ago are in such good condition. I am hoping that you “old folks” who are presumably the ones buying this will share it with your children and grandchildren to show them that we had some fantastic songwriters and singers who sang songs about us and our communities.
I also figured that, even though CDs are a dying form of media, it’s the booklet with the lyrics and introductions that will make this purchase worthwhile. Philip’s and Charlie’s personalities certainly come out in the insightful comments they make between songs.
Finally, JAM was started by artists and musicians who were truly talented. The silk-screened poster for the concert, as well as the artwork for the CD, were designed by Zand Gee. I still have the poster, which is in the center of this booklet, among my collection of cherished items from back in the day.
While preparing these CDs, I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing these songs again and again. I glean something new with each listening. I hope that you enjoy the music as well and share it with your friends and family.
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. The CD is also available at many of the locations listed in the page entitled ALSO AVAILABLE AT. 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. Thanks!
The songs on the CD are:
** By Chris Kand Iijima and Joanne Nobuko Miyamoto
*** Japanese Minyo shakuhachi song
**** Performed for KPFA Public Radio Asian Media by Charlie, Chris Kando Iijima and Joanne Nobuko Miyamoto
- Dig for the Gold
- I've Been Working on the Railroad*
- The Foolish Old Man Who Removed the Mountains**
- Grandfather (spoken)
- Farewell to Whiskey
- Manuel (He's Coming Home)
- The Magic
- My Babe
- Koroda Bushi***
- I Was Made for You, You Were Made for Me
- Mott Street on Sunday
- I'm an ABC from NYC (spoken)
- Only Chinaman in Great Falls, Montana Blues
- Down on the Street
- A Beautiful Day
- Sister of the Bride****
** By Chris Kand Iijima and Joanne Nobuko Miyamoto
*** Japanese Minyo shakuhachi song
**** Performed for KPFA Public Radio Asian Media by Charlie, Chris Kando Iijima and Joanne Nobuko Miyamoto