Jero facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jero
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Jero performing in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jerome Charles White Jr. |
| Born | September 4, 1981 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Enka |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, computer engineer |
| Years active | 2007–2018 |
| Labels | Victor Entertainment |
Jerome Charles White Jr. (born September 4, 1981), known as Jero (error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help)), is an American singer. He is famous for singing Enka, a traditional Japanese music style. Jero is special because he was the first black enka singer in Japanese music history. In 2018, Jero decided to take a break from music. He wanted to focus on a career in computers instead.
Contents
Jero's Early Life and Music Journey
Jero started singing Enka when he was just six years old. He loved the Japanese language and kept studying it through high school and college. He even studied in Japan for a while at Kansai Gaidai University. Jero studied information science at the University of Pittsburgh and finished in 2003. He moved to Japan that same year.
Two months after arriving in Japan, he joined the NHK Nodo Jiman singing competition. This show is broadcast on TV. Jero's dream to become an Enka artist came from his Japanese grandmother, Takiko. She introduced him to Enka music when he was a child.
His grandmother met Jero's grandfather, an African-American serviceman, during World War II. They got married and had a daughter, Harumi. The family later moved to Pittsburgh, his grandfather's hometown. Jero's parents divorced when he was young. He grew up with a strong sense of Japanese culture.
Jero did not first plan to be an Enka singer. After moving to Japan, he worked as an English teacher and a computer engineer. He began working hard to become an Enka singer because he had promised his grandmother. He told her he would one day perform at the annual Kohaku Uta Gassen song show.
He joined many singing contests while working as an engineer. He found real success quickly after moving to Japan. Sadly, his grandmother passed away in 2005. She never saw him become famous.
Jero's Rise to Fame
Jero's first song, Umiyuki (海雪, meaning Ocean Snow), came out in Japan on February 20, 2008. It quickly became popular. The song reached number 4 on the Oricon music charts. Umiyuki talks about the Sea of Japan. Jero has said the only ocean he had seen was in California.
In May 2008, Jero appeared in a Japanese TV commercial for Kirin "Fire" coffee. This was his first time in a TV ad. In October 2008, he was interviewed on CNN International's TalkAsia show.
He won the Best New Artist Award on December 30, 2008. This was at the 50th Japan Record Awards.
Jero was chosen to perform on the 59th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen show. This is a big New Year's Eve music event on NHK. He performed on December 31, 2008. By doing this, he kept the promise he made to his grandmother. Jero wore a special black and white shirt with his grandmother's picture on it. He also appeared on the show the next year.
Jero performed in the U.S. for the first time on March 28, 2009. This was at the opening of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.. His first official U.S. concert was for over 500 fans. It took place at the University of Pittsburgh, his old school, on August 27, 2008.
Jero finished his first official U.S. concert tour in March 2010. He sang to a sold-out crowd at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. He also performed at the Aratani Japan America Theatre in Los Angeles. He appeared at the 30th Anniversary Gala Celebration of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles.
Jero's Unique Appeal
African-American culture has been popular with some young Japanese people since the mid-1990s. Many hoped Jero would make Enka music popular with younger generations. He held a concert in February 2008 in Shibuya. This area is a popular place for young people to hang out.
Enka music started in the late 1940s. Some in the music industry thought it was no longer popular. But Jero brought new hope for Enka. His fans are not just older women who grew up with the music. He also has new, younger fans who might not have listened to Enka before.
Jero's love for his grandmother and his image as an educated person helped him win over older fans. Younger fans like him because he mixes Enka with a bit of hip hop. This makes the music feel fresh and new.
From the start, Jero wanted to wear his hip hop clothes. His record company was not sure about this at first. Most Enka singers wear a kimono when they perform. Jero felt a kimono was not right for him. He asked his management company to let him keep his hip hop style. This choice was very successful and helped make him popular.
Discography
Singles
- "Umiyuki" (海雪) (2008.02.20)
- "Eisa" (えいさ) (2009.01.28)
- "Yancha michi" (やんちゃ道) (2009.04.15)
- "Tsumeato" (爪跡) (2009.08.19)
- "Usonaki" (嘘泣き) (2010.06.16)
- Usonaki [嘘泣き]
- Otokonaki [男泣き]
- Shiki no uta [四季の歌]
- "Tada...Namida" (ただ...涙) (2011.06.22)
- Tada...Namida [ただ...涙]
- Kaenjyu [火焔樹]
Digital Songs
- "Mezamashi yume ondo" (めざまし夢音頭) (2008.08.13)
- "Shiren" (試練) (2008.12.03)
- "Wakeari ressha" (訳あり列車) (2011.03.30)
Albums
- Covers (カバーズ) (2008.06.25)
- Hisame [氷雨]
- Kimi koishi [君恋し]
- Yozura [夜空]
- Mizukigami [水鏡]
- Honmoku meruhen [本牧メルヘン]
- Pusanko e kaere [釜山港へ帰れ]
- Saraba koibito [さらば恋人]
- Covers (カバーズ) Special Edition (CD + DVD) (2008.06.25)
- Yakusoku (約束) (2009.02.25)
- Eisa [えいさ]
- Tokyo hyouryuu [東京漂流]
- Aruzenchin touhikou [アルゼンチン逃避行]
- Shiren [試練]
- Hare butai [晴れ舞台]
- Kyoko to takashi [キョーコとタカシ]
- Rurou no machi [流浪の街]
- Osaka jewel [大阪ジュエル]
- Nanohana hatake de tsukamae te [菜の花畑でつかまえて]
- Umiyuki [海雪]
- Covers 2 (カバーズ 2) (2009.09.23)
- Matteiru onna [待っている女]
- Shishuuki [思秋期]
- Aijin [愛人]
- Orizuru [折鶴]
- Rashoumon [羅生門]
- Tasogare [黄昏]
- Yukiguni [雪國]
- Hajimeteno machide [初めての街で]
- Covers 3 - Roots of Jero (カバーズ 3) (2010.06.16)
- Echigojishi no uta [越後獅子の唄]
- Tsugaru heiya [津軽平野]
- Amerika bashi [アメリカ橋]
- Chigiri [契り]
- Yozakura oshichi [夜桜お七]
- Tsugaru koionna [津軽恋女]
- J
- Best and Rare (ベスト＆レア) (2011.03.30)
- Umiyuki [海雪]
- Hisame [氷雨]
- Hare butai [晴れ舞台]
- Yurakuchode arimasho [有楽町で逢いましょう]
- Tsuemato [爪跡]
- Shiki no uta [四季の歌]
- Shiren [試練]
- Usonaki [嘘泣き]
- Rurou no machi [流浪の街]
- Hajimeteno machide [初めての街で]
- Eisa [えいさ]
- Mezamashi yume ondo [めざまし夢音頭]
- Yancha michi [やんちゃ道]
- Wakeari ressha [訳あり列車]
- Taitoru mitei [タイトル未定]
- Covers 4 (カバーズ 4) (2011.06.22)
- Soshite Kobe [そして神戸]
- Mado [窓]
- Tasogaremai・rabu [たそがれマイ・ラブ]
- Nora [ノラ]
- Soemoncho blues [宗右衛門町ブルース]
- Itoshiki hibi [愛しき日々]
- Katteni shiyagare [勝手にしやがれ]
- Sakurazaka [桜坂]
Movies
- Donju as Akira. (2009)
Commercial Tie-ins
- Hisame for Kirin Fire Cafe Zero (2008)
- Shiren for Fushigi no Dungeon Furai no Shiren DS2-Sabaku no Majō (2008)
- Hare Butai for Minna no Uta (2008)
- Rurō no Machi for Donju (2009)
- Yancha Michi for Crayon Shin-chan: Otakebe! Kasukabe Yasei Ōkoku (2009)
- Kyoko to Takashi for Hokkaidō Railway Company (2009)
- Shiki no uta for Toyo Suisan (2010)
