ACMJ International Blog

Noriyuki Makihara Songs From N.Y.

We have just got an album "Noriyuki Makihara Songs From L.A" on February 21, 2007, which features Westcoast/AOR singers 11 covers, originally performed by top Japanese male pop artist named Noriyuki Makihara.
Robbie Dupree, Bobby Caldwell, Tommy Funderburk (Airplay), Bobby Kimball(Toto), Joseph Williams(Toto), Jason Scheff(Chicago), Bill Champlin(Chicago) and other 4 first-class vocalists made a good job. And we should also note supporting musicians such as Tom Keane, Michael Landau. In March, another "Noriyuki Makihara covers" will be released. "Noriyuki Makihara Songs From N.Y." will follow. We will have great vocalists again for this project; Stephen Bishop, Peter Beckett (Player), Bill Cantos, Marc Jordan, Tom Keane, Alex Ligertwood (Santana), Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger). Enjoy those 2 CDs (more exactly with bonus DVDs)!

Label: Avex Rush, Japan (AVCF-26170/B)
Release Date: March 21, 2007
Tracks
01. Star Ferry / Tom Keane
02. 24hr Supermarket / Nathan East
03. Such A Lovely Place / Frankie Jordan
04. Toku Toku / Alex Ligertwood
05. Donna-Tokimo / Stephen Bishop
06. Milk / Bill Cantos
07. Stripe! / Peter Beckett
08. Penguin / Kelly Keagy
09. Happy Dance / Marc Jordan
10. Tag Team / Richard Page
11. Kotoshi-no Fuyu / Jamie Jones

John O'Banion Passed away

Sad news.... John O'Banion passed away on February 14, 2007 just before his 60th birthday. John O'Banion was born on February 16, 1947. He started his professional singer career in 1978. And it took more than 2 years before having huge success with US top 40 hit single "Love You Like I Never Loved Before" in 1981 cut from his self-title debut album. Then, John O'Banion won the grand prix at Tokyo Music Festival with his new song "I Don't Want To Lose Your Love" in the spring of 1982, which made him much popular here in Japan. WEA Japan would strongly hope that they should release his brand-new album soonest possible without waiting for the release of his 2nd album. Thus, a special album entitled "Close Up" comprising of 7 new studio recording tracks later included on his US 2nd album "Danger" plus 3 live tracks "Thru The Eyes Of Love", "Standing On The Edge" and "Caught" recorded only in Japan in April 1982. And several months later, his full studio recording album "Danger" was released internationally. In 1983, John O'Banion released another solo album "Satomi-Hakken-Den" only for Japan again, which is a kind of soundtrack conceptual album for Japanese motion picture.

He was also known as a actor in the States. In 1990, John performed the main role for the movie entitled "The Judas Project".
In 1995, John broke his long silence by releasing his brand-new solo album "Hearts". In 1999, John released 2 new songs, "When I'm Dreaming" and "Christmas Carol" for Japanese compilation album "When I'm Dreaming - after five collection". And those 2 are last official release of John O'Banion, as far as I know.

　May his soul rest in peace.