A true legend and pioneer of the rock 'n roll, Yazawa Eikichi has had one of the longest and brightest careers of the musical scene in Japan. With several million sales and multiple hits topping the charts, he will remain one of the best musicians in many generations. Although he hasn't produced any new material within the last couple of years, he's remained close to his many fans with sold-out tours.
Yazawa Eikichi was originally a member of the rock band Carol. Strongly influenced by Western music groups such as The Rolling Stones, Carol had some success before the band broke up in 1975. Later that year, Yazawa Eikichi released his first solo album, I Love You, OK, which was recorded in California.
He was the first to hold a concert in the Nippon Budokan with a splendid ceremony in 1977. Since then, he's always sold out his shows there and currently holds the record for the most performances held at the Budokan with the number nearing 100. Shortly after his album Gold Rush topped the charts, he held a concert at the base-ball staidum Korakuen (which has since been replaced by the Tokyo Dome), with an audience of roughly 45,000 people.
Musically, this rock 'n roll singer shows interest in creating songs towards the more jazzy side of rock. His songs are easy to connect with and one can listen to his music at any time of day or point in your life. It's little wonder that he has had such a lasting influence on the music scene in Japan.
Yazawa Eikichi does not have a classification; he does not belong to any stereotypical genre in Japan and does not seem to be restricted by any traditional barriers which might alter his music style. The combination of his music, appearance, attitude, and overall original style stifles would-be copycats of this world-renown rocker.
He has the special ability to touch the hearts of his listeners without any of the clichés set forth by previous artists. Nearing the 35th anniversary of his career, Yazawa Eikichi remains a difficult man to define and an impossible man to imitate.