Shoji Tabuchi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shoji Tabuchi
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Tabuchi performing
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Shoji Tabuchi |
| Born | April 16, 1944 Daishōji, Ishikawa, Japan (now Kaga, Ishikawa, Japan) |
| Died | August 11, 2023 (aged 79) |
| Genres | Country, gospel |
| Instruments | violin |
| Years active | 1967–20?? |
| Associated acts | Roy Acuff David Houston |
Shoji Tabuchi (田淵 章二, Tabuchi Shōji, April 16, 1944 – August 11, 2023) was a famous Japanese-American musician. He played the violin, often called a fiddle in country music. He was also a talented singer. Shoji performed at his own theater, the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre, in Branson, Missouri.
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Early Life and Music
Shoji Tabuchi was born in Japan on April 16, 1944. When he was seven years old, something special happened at school. A classmate played the violin using the Suzuki method. This method helps young children learn music. Shoji was so inspired that he told his mom he wanted to learn the violin too!
Starting a Music Career
In the mid-1960s, Shoji was in college. He heard that famous country singer Roy Acuff was coming to Osaka, Japan. Shoji went to the concert and even got to meet Acuff backstage. Roy Acuff's music made Shoji want to play country and bluegrass music.
While in college, Shoji started a band called The Bluegrass Ramblers. They won a national music contest in Japan. After this, Shoji decided to travel to the United States. He brought his violin and only $500 with him.
He lived in different cities like San Francisco, Kansas City, and Louisiana. Then, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee. There, he met Roy Acuff again. Acuff helped Shoji get a chance to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. This is a very famous country music show. Shoji later performed there many times.
The Shoji Tabuchi Show
Around 1980, Shoji Tabuchi moved to Branson, Missouri. He performed successfully for several years. In 1990, he built his own theater, which was very fancy. He started his own show called The Shoji Tabuchi Show.
His show included more than just country music. It also featured polka, gospel, Cajun, Hawaiian, rap, and rock music. Shoji became very popular in Branson. He had about 200 people working at his theater. The theater had 2,000 seats. He often performed two shows every day for most of the year.
In May 2017, a fire backstage caused the theater to close. But it reopened the next year, on October 22, 2018.
The Shoji Tabuchi Show also became well-known online. It was featured on a web series called Best of the Worst by RedLetterMedia. People enjoyed watching the old VHS tapes of his show. They even voted it the "Best of the Worst" because it was so entertaining.
Personal Life
In 1968, Shoji married his first wife, Mary Jo. She was a customer at a restaurant where he played music. After they married, Shoji became an American citizen. They moved to Kansas City, and Shoji performed at a club nearby. In 1974, they had a son named Shoji John Tabuchi.
After moving to Branson in 1980, Shoji met Dorothy Lingo. She became his second wife. Dorothy helped a lot with The Shoji Tabuchi Show. She helped with dancing, costumes, and even the theater's design. Shoji's stepdaughter, Christina, sometimes performed with him.
Music Albums
Here are some of the albums Shoji Tabuchi released:
- Country Music My Way (1975)
- After Dark
- Songs for Mark Koeper
- Different Moods: Collection One
- Fiddlin' Around
- Live from Branson
- Notes from Shoji
- The Shoji Tabuchi Show! Vols. 1–4
- Songs for the Lord
