Takio Ito@(Japan)
Born in Hokkaido, singer Takio Ito is generally considered the first artist to successfully blend Japanese traditional folk music and rock'n'roll. After winning a folk singing contest in Hokkaido he debuted in 1963. He performed at the most popular Japanese music TV show, the 'NHK Red and White Singing Tournament' in 1989. In 1991 he appeared at the WOMAD Festival. He has travelled extensively throughout Japan collecting folk songs rooted in everyday life. His book 'Kita no Umi no Michi' (The Northern Sea Road) is the result of his research. His goal is to revitalize traditional Japanese folk music.
