It’s always so much fun to sing Emmylou! We did a new set of songs from our Vol. I live. Songs I used to sing when I was younger and songs we’ve never done before. Still haven’t covered half of her albums so this series hopefully continues(^_-)-☆
Received these beautiful flowers! The Christmas scent spread around the room as soon as I opened the box. Their from my favorite florist Gente! Thank you so much!
November’s been a tough month for me with my asthma and a family member being hospitalized. Oh, and the flat tire and all But hopefully, December turns out to be a better one with some Christmas Spirit
Was going through my old case and found this! SHIME gave me his pick probably in the early years of Broken Ashes ( Shime & Keiko Walker) I’ve been using it so the print is fading
I’ve been humming “Songbird” all day long today. Not the one I sing on stage but Christie’s. Another incredibly sad news popped in on Instagram when I logged in today. My favorite artist Stevie Nicks posted earlier today.
Christine McVie, a member of Fleetwood Mac passed away on November 30th at the age of seventy-nine. It’s hard to lose a band member you’ve been together with for a long, long time. Stevie and Christie’s been together in Fleetwood Mac since 1975, that means they’ve worked together for 47 years!! Earlier this year, I lost my very special friend and singing partner for almost 40 years. It still breaks my heart to try to sing the songs we used to sing together.
Christine McVie’s “Songbird” was a song SHIME, my musical partner in BROKEN ASHES loved and, he wanted me to record it in our album back in 1999. As a result, we didn’t because we were already planning to record “I Don’t Wanna Know” from the same album “Songbird” was in. The fabulous Fleetwood Mac album, “Rumours” (1977). But I remember recording a demo of the song.
I was still a kid when this album was released but even back then, I was familiar with the hits on the two albums, “Fleetwood Mac” and “Rumours”. But back in the ’80s when I started my career as a musician, I was always listening to the two albums all the time. And later in my career, I recorded “I Don’t Wanna Know” (BROKEN ASHES) with SHIME and “Rhiannon” on my “Both Sides Now” album.
Thank You!!! Received a beautiful Advent Calendar🎄 It’s from a confectionery shop “Cafe Ohzan” They’re not just delicious, they’re beautiful!! Can’t wait to start opening the tiny boxes everyday till Christmas.
Tried out the new Godiva & Georgia drink. I’m into the Coca-Cola app which gives you a free drink ticket when you get enough points. Today I got the Godiva Hot Chocolate drink. It was very good!! Actually, this tiny can costs 180yen (*_*) Luckily, I got it for free from using the Coca-Cola drink ticket!
Thanks Facebook for picking up this memory post! I remember flying to Kanazawa together and I was really panicking💦 I hate flying of course, I have claustrophobia…
I came across this old Calendar from Nashville which was an old Country Music venue in Ginza, Tokyo. I used to perform here after I started performing with my own band, Keiko Walker & The Hot Street Band.
Around 1993, Country Music was still more popular in Japan than now. We used to get a big crowd each stage, especially on Friday nights. There were still famous Country Artists from Japan performing back then. A lot of the performers that used to perform then have gone to heaven.
I scanned some photos from Nashville. I had the privilege of performing with Famous Artists like Connie Smith and The Louvin Brothers here at Nashville too.
When Nashville was still here, there were no SNS nor blogs so I never had the chance of writing about it nor leaving photos so I wanted to write about it and thank everyone who was a part of this era of Country Music in Japan.
Thank you everyone for your warm and kind words!!! Since the infusion treatment, it’s easier for me to breathe so I am feeling much better!
My longtime friend and the World’s Greatest Harmonica Player, Charlie McCoy gave me the permission to upload this beautiful Cowboy Tune we’ve been performing together over the past years when Charlie tours Japan.
I am so honored! I hope you all enjoy this.
This was filmed in Tokyo in 2007 at “Charlie McCoy Live in Tokyo”
長年の友人でもあり、Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Simon & Garfunkel や Bob Dylanなどのレコーディングや共演をしてきた世界のハーモニカプレイヤー、チャーリーマッコイより許可を頂き、Upload致しました。
This year from time to time, I have come to recollect my past. Where did Keiko Walker come from? Where, when, and how did my musical career start?
In the Spring, on his birthday, I started googling my grandfather who was an actor in Japan and found articles and photos of my uncle (my mother’s older brother) who also was an actor in Japan. He’s been in so many films. There were photos and blogs written about him which I found on Twitter and was thrilled to see photos I’ve never seen in the past. He was also a Country Music Singer before he moved to the States for good.
This was when I was about 10 years old that my uncle, James Walker was performing at Country Venues in Japan and even started a Country Music venue himself in Yokohama. This is where my mother and I would go and listen to live bands every now and then where I get to meet wonderful musicians and famous Country Artists.
After my Uncle left for the States for good, and couple of years later, along with my mother I went to hear bands playing at a venue in Motomachi (Yokohama) called Bonanza where I would meet musicians again after several years. And this is when my career as a Country Musician myself would begin. I was asked to join the band called “Texas Company”.
Recently, Seiji Katayama, Country singer and the owner of Stagecoach in Chigasaki gave me this poster he found of My Uncle and his Live Venue “GRASSHOPPER”. He found it at the older Stagecoach when they were moving. His father was in my uncle’s band as a Bass Player back then. How interesting where we all connect from generation to generation.
I have been uploading old videos on my YouTube Channel since last year and this has also made me realize how so many wonderful people, I have connected over the last 39 years of my musical career, and I have learned to appreciate my exciting past as a country artist. I have also realized how short life could be for some of us and that we have to appreciate every moment.
My dream right now is to plan a concert with my Uncle Jimmy for we’ve never been on stage together.
The Poster of my uncle’s venue in Yokohama back in the 70’s Seiji gave me in July this year! 片山誠史くんがくれた伯父の経営していたライヴハウスの大きなポスター。 昨日写真をBlogにUploadしたばかりですが、ジミーさんの名前が! ジミー時田&ジェームズ・ウォーカーショーというのがありますね❣ 観たいな~~~!
Some photos of my uncle, James Walker from Movies he appeared in which I found on Twitter! Twitterで伯父を検索して出てきた映画時代の写真たちです。 1枚目は映画「少年ジェット」に出演した時の物だそうです! 2枚目は以前もBlogで書きましたが五月みとりさんとの映画だそうです。 載せてくださっている方々、ありがとうございます❤
This is a photo of my Grandfather, Hugh James Walker from his collection of Artist photos when he was in the movies. They do look alike (^_-)-☆ こちらは以前もBlogに載せていますが、祖父、ヒュー・ウォーカーの映画時代のブロマイドです! こうして並べて見るとおじいちゃまと伯父、やっぱり似ていますね(^^♪
Going down Memory Lane I guess my future career as a Country Music Singer started when I was 10. Fond memories of my still most favorite Singer Jimmie Tokita. And my beautiful Mama
New YouTube upload❣ 来週11月12日、石田新太郎 & The Citylitesのライブにゲスト出演させて頂くのですが、その前に少しCitylitesと私の接点などをお話したいなと思い、美也ちゃんにコラボ動画撮らない?とお誘いして、前半、後半にわけて配信しました! 場所は茅ヶ崎Stage Coachをお借りしました。 片山誠史くんも一瞬登場するよ😉
October 31st、 Halloween🎃でもありますが、40年の仲間、西海孝の還暦ライブでした❢
還暦ね〜✨
びっくりするよね。 周りがどんどん還暦になっていくのにいちいち驚いているこの頃です😂
①西海家の長男、モモがこんなに大人になっているんだもんね… ②こんな頃もあったね!Keiko Walker & The Hot Street Bandの頃。 ③どんどん40年前、出会った頃のSHIMEにそっくりになってくるRay! ④出演者で集合写真!こちらの写真はBack In Townのをお借りしました。
男闘呼組1988 @ Tokyo Garden Theater! ストレートなROCKがめちゃめちゃ心地良かった長年知っている和也くんと耕陽くんなのに男闘呼組は初体験でした!撮った当時ブログに載せさせてもらった2人との写真と一緒に今日会場に飾ってあっためちゃめちゃカッコいいPosterの写真です!! 昔からカッコ良いけど今も超カッコ良いいって凄い!!
会場は超満員。それを2日で4公演!もの凄いね〜!
ステージの4人のPowerとEnergyが凄かった!そして素晴らしい人柄が伝わって来ました
今年は3月に逝ってしまったBROKEN ASHESの私の相方SHIMEの為に行った”ROCK AID FOR SHIME”に和也くんと耕陽くんに参加してもらって、耕陽くんは仕事の都合でビデオメッセージを頂いたんだけど、ライブの準備の途中でSHIMEが逝ってしまったから何度か耕陽くんとは電話で話した。和也くんとはライブを数本、そして和也くんの写真集にも参加させてもらったり今年は沢山ご一緒させてもらった。本当にありがとう
Watched The Queen’s Funeral on BBC. Since she was The Queen for 70 years, She was “The Queen ” all my life and I can’t believe her reign has ended.
イギリスの血を引く私としてはQueen Elizabeth IIはとても特別な存在でした。
7時からずっとQueen Elizabeth IIのFuneralを観ています。BBCで観れたのでテロップも無く、同時通訳も無く、正にServiceに参加したかの様でした。”Our Father”も一緒にお祈りできましたCoffinの上のお花はRoyal Residenceのお庭からMyrtleやRosemaryなどもKing Charles IIIが選んだそうです。とても素敵
今日の私のティーは昔から特別な時にしか使わないWedgwoodの”Floral Gold”を。茶葉は”Prince of Wales” 。今までは現在のKing Charles IIIの顔がいつも浮かびましたが、現在はPrince WilliamがPrince of Walesなのでまだ不思議な感覚です。
Your Majesty, you will always live in our hearts.
Rest In Peace
Queen Elizabeth II のFuneralの後はCommittal Serviceも中継されていてLiveでみることができました。 この様ないつも教会でミサの時に頂くブックレットも事前に印刷出来、その場で本当に参加出来る感覚です。
Wild Horses (The Rolling Stones) Midnight Rider (The Allman Brothers Band) Have You Ever Seen the Rain (Creedence Clearwater Revival) I want You to Want Me (Cheap Trick) Up on Cripple Creek (The Band) Mystery Train (Elvis Presley) Hotel California (Eagles) Are You Sure Hank Done It That Way (Waylon Jennings) These Boots Are Made for Walking (Nancy Sinatra) Move It On Over (Hank Williams) Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd) Brown Sugar (The Rolling Stones) The Weight (The Band)
4月に私が企画したイベント、Rock Aid for SHIMEのT-Shirt着てきて下さった方もいて嬉しい^ ^暑さが苦手な私…今日は特に湿気が多くて暑かったから、来てくれたみんなが心配してくれたり(笑)大好きな栗のお菓子頂いたり!みんな、みんなありがとう❤️喧太くん、純ちゃん、オガンチャン、英二、Yukito、Johnnyみんな最高なPerformance^ ^お疲れ様でした!そして、last but not least、横浜Thumbs Upのみんないつもありがとう🙏🏻💕 またこの企画やりましょ〜!!!
横浜県民ホールが出来たばかりの頃、1976年に立て続けにCarpentersとOlivia Newton Johnのコンサートにママが連れて行ってくれた。Let Me Be Thereが大好きな小学生で、前から3列目くらいに座って歌っていたらOliviaがにっこり笑って手を振ってくれた
何せ来日前にレコードをずっと聴いていた。小学生だったので、LPは買えないからお小遣いを貯めて伊勢崎町にあった大きなレコードショップで初めて買ったレコード(EP盤)がLet Me Be Thereでした。大ヒットでしたからね〜^ ^この時、彼女はGrammy Awards では”Best Country Female”で賞をもらっている。
その2年後GREASEが上映され、小学生の頃の親友と2回くらい映画館に観に行きました。Look At Me I’m Sandra Dee、学校から帰ってレコードと歌っていました。
16歳の時、初めてステージで歌ったのもLinda RonstadtのIt’s So EasyとOliviaのLet Me Thereだったなぁ^ ^
何十年も歌っていないけれど今度セットリストに入れよう
Been listening to Olivia Newton John’s records today. The 2nd or the 3rd concert I’ve ever been to back in my grade school days was Olivia’s concert. She was a beauty! The very first single record I bought was her “Let Me Be There” with my allowance. my favorite
And even my very first song I sang on stage was Let me be There and It’s so Easy. And of course I wanted to dress up like Sandy Ollson but it was a little too difficult for a grade school kid I’m definitely going to watch GREASE again tonight!
私が4月に主催したイベント、Rock Aid for SHIMEにも出演して頂きましたメンバーも多く、私自身今日初めましてのミュージシャンの方も多くいらして^ ^みんなRock Aid for SHIMEのTshirtを着てくださいましたみなさんご購入くださいました。本当に、本当にありかうございます本当に気持ちの暖かい素敵なライブでした!
④Ippeiちゃんが歌ってくれたTop of the Mountain Barでうるうると涙が…そして会場のGrapefruit Moonは私もソロライブしていますが、やはりSHIMEとの数々の思いでばかりパーティーのライブだったりシメ子の部屋だったりそして1階にあったDoverで一緒に飲んだりね^ ^
今日はKeiko Walker & The Hot Street Bandの頃のドラマー、亡くなってしまった畠山英貴のバースデーだということでハタケのWifeのTomoと会いました。ハタケの思い出話しして。元々私の友人で私のライブや家に遊びに来ていてハタケと出会い結婚したTomo、話しが尽きないねお互いワンちゃん命なところもあるしねAnnabelleにお土産ありがとう
場所が変わり再度オープンしたEggs and Thingsへ
ウルトラマンがいたから一応写真撮りました
畠山英貴が叩いててる動画はこちらです^ ^
Keiko Walker & The Hot Street Band / Across the Borderline 1994
2008年の映像から「Heartaches by the Number」1993年にツアーご一緒させて頂いたCountry MusicのSuperstar、Ray Priceの大ヒット曲。
このライヴは2012年にReleaseした私のFull Country アルバム、「These Boots Are Made For Walking」のレコーディング中のライヴ。今までツアーをご一緒させて頂いたCountry Superstar達、Skeeter Davis、Ray Price、James Burton、Connie Smithにトリビュートしたアルバムです。このアルバムでは長年の友人でもあるHarmonica PlayerのCharlie McCoyも参加してくれいます。そしてSHIMEもSweetest Giftを歌ってくれています。