Osaka Monaurail

Formed in 1992, Osaka Monaurail was named after the 1975 funk classic, It's The JBs Monaurail by the J.B.'s. The band started out as a twenty-piece funk big-band, but eventually shaped itself up in a thirteen-piece group.

Between 1993 and 1996, Osaka Monaurail performed mainly in local bars and clubs. At that time the band had several line up issues, but eventually settled down to the current one.

In 1999, the band had its first recording session as they recorded an opening skit for the album Yameru mugen no buddha no sekai which was released in the year 2000 by Buddha Brand, at that time probably the most popular rap group in Japan.

In 2000, the group released their debut album What It Is...What It Was on Shout!, following with Rumble'n Struggle in 2001. In 2003 the band moved to Tokyo, and after a personnel reshuffle where five members left the band, they recruited in Japan’s capital four new members.

The following year, the band issued the album Thankful (For What You've Done). Their first live album EYEWITNESS TO... : LIVE IN HEAVY FUNK SYSTEM that captured the complete show in Osaka on April 28, 2005 was released the same year. It featured two MCs from Pinch, a DJ and long-time friend of the members, and Keb Darge, founder of the legendary Deep Funk movement.

In summer 2006 Osaka Monaurail and Marva Whitney, known as "the first lady of funk," held a one-and-a-half week tour together. During this tour they hit the studios to finish her first solo album in 36 years, which was released in December that year and was titled I AM WHAT I AM. In November the same year the band held its first European tour and visited six cities. In 2007, Osaka Monaurail’s fifth album Reality for the People appeared.

Osaka Monaurail has become a leading band in the funk and soul scene and have achieved as a band many things they are very proud of. Since 2006, their career has found its way overseas and the band can be seen frequently performing in other countries.

In 2012, the band launched a tour titled CONCERTS IN EUROPE 2012 "STATE OF THE WORLD" Tour to promote their new album State Of The World. During this tour that ran from March 30 to April 28, they visited eight European countries.