June Yamagishi

June Yamagishi (山岸 潤史, born Junshi Yamagishi, June 6, 1953)[1][2] is a Japanese guitarist based in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the guitarist for bands Papa Grows Funk and the Wild Magnolias.

June Yamagishi
June Yamagishi at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, 2004
Background information
Birth nameJunshi Yamagishi
Born (1953-06-06) June 6, 1953
OriginIse City, Mie Prefecture, Japan
GenresR&B, blues, jazz
Occupation(s)musician
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1970-present
Associated actsThe West Road Blues Band
So Bad Revue
Chickenshack
Band of Pleasure
The Wild Magnolias
Papa Grows Funk
Johnny Vidacovich Trio

History

Yamagishi was born in Ise City, Mie Prefecture, Japan. He has been active in the Japanese blues and jazz scene since the early 1970s. In 1972, he formed the West Road Blues Band in Kyoto along with vocalist Takashi "Hotoke" Nagai, guitarist Shinji Shiotsugu, bassist Tadashi Kobori, and drummer Teruo Matsumoto. The band soon became one of the main acts in then thriving blues scene in the Kansai region.

In 1975, Yamagishi went on to join a soul band named So Bad Revue, and in 1979, he released the first album under his name titled Really?!.[1]

During the 1980s, he played with bands Myx and Chickenshack (a Japanese band different from the British Chicken Shack) and in the 1990s, he formed the Band of Pleasure with guitarist David T. Walker and drummer James Gadson and released three albums before they disbanded.

In 1995, Yamagishi left his well-established career behind in Japan to live in New Orleans where he still lives today. Since he found his home in the Crescent City, he has played with musicians including Earl King, Henry Butler, Davell Crawford, Marva Wright, George Porter, Jr. among many others aside from the two groups he has been a member of.

In 2007, he reunited with West Road Blues Band guitarist Shinji Shiotsugu to record Together Again - Blues in New Orleans. It was an all blues album recorded in New Orleans, with support from the local musicians including John Gros and Marva Wright.

Yamagishi appeared as himself in two episodes of the HBO series Treme.[3] In the episode titled "Santa Claus, Do You Ever Get The Blues" (season 2, episode 4, 2011) he auditioned for the band The Soul Apostles, and after playing the songs "Fire on The Bayou" and "Love and Happiness" he was successfully employed. He also appeared in the episode titled "Tipitina" (season 3, episode 10, 2012).

On June 7, 2012, he played the Melting Point in Athens, Georgia, along with Martha Reeves, Randall Bramblett, and a host of other musicians celebrating the 60th birthday of Ike Stubblefield.

Discography

Solo
  • 1979: Really?! (Flying Dog)
  • 1981: All the Same (Invitation)
  • 1988: Give This Love (Try M)
  • 1993: Jack of the Blues (BMG Victor)
  • 1994: Smokin' Hole (BMG Victor)
  • 2007: Together Again - Blues in New Orleans (Victor Entertainment), with Shinji Shiotsugu

West Road Blues Band
  • 1973: Live In Magazine No.1/2 (Chu Chu Record)
  • 1975: Blues Power (Bourbon)
  • 1975: Live in Kyoto (Bourbon)
  • 1984: Junction (Invitation)
  • 1995: Live in New York (Zain)[4]

Chickenshack
  • 1986: Chickenshack I (Meldac)
  • 1986: Chickenshack II (Meldac)
  • 1986: Urban Square (original soundtrack) (Meldac)
  • 1987: Loving Power (Meldac)
  • 1987: Chickenshack III (Meldac)
  • 1988: Chickenshack IV (Meldac)
  • 1989: Chickenshack V (Meldac)
  • 1990: Loving Power II (Meldac)
  • 1990: Chickenshack VI (Meldac)[5]

Band of Pleasure
  • 1992: Live at Kirin Plaza
  • 1994: Band of Pleasure
  • 1995: A Tiny Step[6]

The Wild Magnolias
  • 1996: 1313 Hoodoo Street (AIM)
  • 1999: Life Is a Carnival (Metro Blue)
  • 2002: 30 Years & Still Wild (AIM)[7]

Papa Grows Funk
  • 2001: Doin It'
  • 2003: Shakin'
  • 2006: Live at the Leaf
  • 2007: Mr. Patterson's Hat
  • 2012: Needle in the Groove[8]

References
  1. "山岸潤史". CDJournal. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  2. "生年月日（誕生日）データベース/6月6日に生まれた人々". D4.dion.ne.jp. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  3. "June Yamagishi". www.imdb.com. 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  4. "永井"ホトケ"隆 OFFICIAL SITE". Hotoke-blues.com. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  5. "yŠò‰pŽj Discogrfophy". Cd-v.net. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  6. "Mr David T. -Band of Pleasure". Homepage2.nifty.com. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  7. "The Wild Magnolias | Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  8. Archived January 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
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