Charlie Nagatani
Birth nameMasateru Nagatani
OriginKumamoto, Kyushu, Japan
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1961–present

Masateru Nagatani, known professionally as Charlie Nagatani, is a Japanese country music singer-songwriter. He started performing music with his band Charlie and the Cannonballs in 1961, which is one of the longest-running music groups in Japanese history.[1][2]

He opened a honky tonk in his hometown of Kumamoto called Good Time Charlie, and started the Country Gold music festival at Mount Aso in 1989. His first studio album in 1992 Charlie Nagatani Sings Country Gold featured Emmylou Harris, Bill Monroe, the Osborne Brothers, and Porter Wagoner.

Career

Nagatani heard his first country music concert by Hillbilly Jamboree in 1956.[3]

He has honorary citizenship in 33 U.S. states and he is a Kentucky Colonel.[4] He and his wife Toshiko have had dinner with the President of the United States multiple times.[5]

He was featured in the 2019 documentary Far Western.[6]

Country Gold Festival

Country music performers from around the world performed at the Country Gold Festival, which ran from 1989 to 2019. Including Brad Paisley and Rick Trevino.[7][8][9]

Discography

Charlie Nagatani Sings Country Gold

No.TitleLength
1."Wild Side of Life" (feat. Emmylou Harris) 
2."Walkin' The Floor Over You" 
3."Freulein" 
4."Crazy" 
5."Rocky Top" (feat. the Osborne Brothers) 
6."My Woman, My Woman, My Wife" 
7."My Name Is Goodtime Charlie" (Michael Woody / Charlie Nagatani) 
8."Truck Drivin' Man" (feat. Porter Wagoner) 
9."Rose of San Antone" 
10."Bouquet of Roses" 
11."Tennessee Waltz / Kentucky Waltz Medley" (feat. Bill Monroe) 

References

  1. ^ Furmanovsky, Michael (2008). "American Country Music in Japan: Lost Piece in the Popular Music History Puzzle". Popular Music and Society. Informa UK Limited. 31 (3): 357–372. doi:10.1080/03007760701682383. ISSN 0300-7766.
  2. ^ "Honky-Tonk Tokyo". AFAR Media. July 7, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  3. ^ "Japan's Good Time Charlie and Country Gold". The New York Times. October 24, 1998. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  4. ^ Nerozzi, Timothy (January 16, 2020). "Clocking up the years with Charlie Nagatani, Japan's country king". The Japan Times. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  5. ^ "Charlie Nagatani". Opry. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Kotzathanasis, Panos (July 21, 2020). "Documentary Review: Far Western (2019) by James Payne". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  7. ^ "Japan". Judy Seale International. May 25, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  8. ^ "Paisley Set for Festival in Japan - News". CMT. October 14, 2003. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  9. ^ Fredenburg, Peter (August 6, 2012). "Way West of the Golden Gate / Japan has a warm spot for American country music". SFGATE. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
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