Takao Kisugi

Takao Kisugi (来生たかお, Kisugi Takao), born November 16, 1950, in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese singer and songwriter. In 1974, he debuted as a songwriter and in 1976 made his solo debut as a singer. He often collaborates on songs with his sister, Etsuko Kisugi, who is a lyricist. In 1982, on the third Japan Composition Award, he received the "Best Composer" music award for the song Second Love. In his career, spanning over 45 years, he composed over 400 songs.

Career

Kisugi started work with Yosui Inoue's band in 1972. He debuted as a singer-songwriter with the single Asai Yume, released in 1976. His popularity and fame increased in 1979 after the release of a domestic hit, My Luxury Night, performed by Hatsumi Shibata. In the 1980s, he produced many hits of the kayōkyoku genre, including "Second Love", "Silhouette Romance", and "Goodbye Day". His best known song as a performer, Yume no Tochu (夢の途中), was covered by teen-age idol Hiroko Yakushimaru as Sailor Fuku to Kikanju (セーラー服と機関銃) for the movie of the same name, and became a huge success. He recorded the first ending song of Maison Ikkoku, "Ashita Hareru ka". In 1991, he wrote and recorded the song "What a Way (To Show I Love You)" with Gilbert O'Sullivan. Another song on which they collaborated, "Can't Think Straight", was featured on the Japanese edition of O'Sullivan's studio album Sound of the Loop.

Musical style

Influences

He said that his own songwriting had been deeply influenced by The Beatles and Gilbert O'Sullivan from western music and by Hiroshi Inoue from eastern music. Other influences include Francis Ray, Henry Mancini, and Burt Bacharach.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Self-cover albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

Box sets

Singles

Collaboration single

Other appearances

Notes: "Can't Think Straight" was featured only on the Japanese edition of the album. For the worldwide issue, its guest vocal was replaced by Peggy Lee.