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Joe Yamanaka (Flower Travellin' Band) Dies At 64


Ady

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Another one of the greats has gone. :(

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http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/08/107570.html

Popular singer Joe Yamanaka died of lung cancer Sunday morning at a hospital in Yokosuka, Kanagawa prefecture, a music industry source close to him said. He was 64.

Known as the vocalist of the rock band Flower Travellin' Band, Yamanaka also pursued a solo career as a singer and as an actor, appearing in the 1977 movie ''Ningen no Shomei'' (Proof of the Man) and singing its theme song, which became a hit tune.

Yamanaka made public in March last year that he had been diagnosed as having lung cancer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeepRATzreU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5SG8LlIqoY

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http://exclaim.ca/News/flower_travellin_bands_joe_yamanaka_dies_at_64

Flower Travellin' Band's Joe Yamanaka Dies at 64

By Josiah Hughes

Joe Yamanaka, best known as the frontman for Japrock heroes Flower Travellin' Band, has passed away. The artist died on Sunday (August 7) following a long struggle with lung cancer. He was 64.

Born Akira Yamanaka, Joe led Flower Travellin' Band through many an epic psych odyssey, including hard-riffin' albums such as 1972's Made in Japan (which was actually recored in a studio on Vancouver Island) and 1973's Make Up. However, it's 1971's mind-expanding Satori (named the No. 1 album in Julian Cope's Top 50 list in his Japrocksampler book) that Yamanaka will be most fondly remembered for.

Along with his work in Flower Travellin' Band, he was an accomplished solo artist, releasing multiple albums between 1974 and 2009. A close friend of Bob Marley's, he also fronted the Wailers for about five years after Marley's death.

Yamanaka was also an occasional actor, appearing in 11 projects between the years of 1977 and 2004, including the 1993 film Ulterior Motives, where he played himself.

Yamanaka was diagnosed with lung cancer in March of 2010.

Strangely enough, Phoenix Records will give long-overdue vinyl reissues to Flower Travellin' Band's Made in Japan and Make Up on August 16. The label will also reissue Challenge! on vinyl by the group's pre-Flower Travellin' Band incarnation, Yuya Uchida & the Flowers.

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