Tatsuro Yamashita facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tatsurō Yamashita
山下 達郎
Yamashita in 2005
Born	Tatsurō Yamashita (山下 達郎) February 4, 1953 (age 71) Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Occupation	Singer-songwriter, record producer
Years active	1975–present
Spouse(s)	Mariya Takeuchi ​ (m. 1982)​
Children	1
Musical career
Genres	City pop disco funk kayōkyoku R&B soft rock soul
Instruments	Vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, drums, percussion
Labels	AIR, Moon, Niagara, RCA, RVC, Warner Music Japan, EastWest Japan, MMG
Signature

Tatsurō Yamashita (山下 達郎, Yamashita Tatsurō, born February 4, 1953) is a famous Japanese singer, songwriter, and music producer. People sometimes call him Tatsu Yamashita or Tats Yamashita. He is known for helping to create a music style called city pop. This music often has a smooth, upbeat sound.

His most famous song is "Christmas Eve." It was released in the 1980s and became a huge hit in Japan. This song has been on the Japanese music charts for more than 35 years in a row!

Tatsurō Yamashita often works with his wife, Mariya Takeuchi, who is also a singer. They have made many songs together, like "Plastic Love". He also worked with American songwriter Alan O'Day on songs such as "Your Eyes" and "Magic Ways." Because of his influence, some people call him the "king" of city pop. He is considered one of the most important Japanese artists in music history.

Tatsurō Yamashita's Music Career

Tatsurō Yamashita started his music journey in the band Sugar Babe. They released their only album, Songs, in 1975. After the band broke up in 1976, Tatsurō Yamashita began his solo career. His first solo album, Circus Town, came out that same year.

In 1976, he also worked with his former band's producer, Eiichi Ohtaki, and bandmate Ginji Ito. They released Niagara Triangle Vol. 1, which was a great team effort. His 1979 album Moonglow did pretty well. But his 1980 song "Ride on Time" became a big hit, reaching number 3 on the Japanese music charts. The album with the same name then topped the charts, making him a star.

Tatsurō Yamashita's music from the early 1980s, like "Ride on Time" and "For You", is seen as music perfect for enjoying outdoors.

In 2011, his album Ray of Hope reached number one on the Oricon Albums Chart. This made him one of the few singers to have a number-one album in four different decades.

He is known as a "sound craftsman" because he puts a lot of effort into making his music. He is a very skilled musician. Sometimes, he records entire songs by himself. This includes singing backup, playing guitar, using synthesizers, and playing drums. His music often uses acoustic sounds. But he also knows a lot about both old and new recording methods, including computer programming for music.

The Hit Song "Christmas Eve"

"Christmas Eve" is one of Tatsurō Yamashita's most famous songs in Japan. It was the best-selling Japanese single of the 1980s. The song first appeared on his 1983 album Melodies. It reached number one on the charts in 1990. Since then, it has been in the top 100 on the Japanese charts every Christmas season.

The song was famously used in commercials for JR Central's "Xmas Express" trains. It has sold almost 2 million copies since it was released. It is still sold in small amounts as a special edition every Christmas. Tatsurō Yamashita also recorded an English version of the song. The lyrics for this version were written by Alan O'Day. Many other artists, like Pentatonix, have covered this song.

As a solo artist, Tatsurō Yamashita has released many albums and singles. He has released 13 original studio albums, five cover albums, and two live albums. He has also released many compilation albums and over 50 singles. He is the most successful Japanese male solo artist on the Japanese album chart. He has sold about 9 million albums in total. He has also written music for movies and TV commercials. He has worked on records for other artists too. He often worked with Alan O'Day on English lyrics for his popular songs. He also works a lot with his wife, Mariya Takeuchi. They got married in 1982 and have one daughter.

Tatsurō Yamashita's Albums

Tatsurō Yamashita has released many albums throughout his career. Here are some of his main studio albums:

Awards and Recognition

Tatsurō Yamashita has won many awards for his music.

Images for kids

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  Tatsurō Yamashita in 2005

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  Tatsurō Yamashita's autograph

See also

In Spanish: Tatsurō Yamashita para niños