Chiemi Eri

Summary

Chiemi Eri (江利 チエミ, Eri Chiemi, January 11, 1937 – February 13, 1982),[1] was a Japanese singer and actress.

Eri Chiemi
江利 チエミ
Chiemi Eri in 1952 film Mōjū tsukai no shōjo
Chiemi Eri in 1952 film Mōjū tsukai no shōjo
Background information
Birth nameKubo Chiemi
Born(1937-01-11)January 11, 1937
Taitō, Tokyo, Japan
DiedFebruary 13, 1982(1982-02-13) (aged 45)
GenresJazz, pop, kayōkyoku, enka
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1952–1982
LabelsKing Records
Japanese name
Kanji江利 チエミ
Hiraganaえり ちえみ

Eri was born as Chiemi Kubo (久保 智恵美, Kubo Chiemi) on January 11, 1937 in Tokyo, Japan. She was born to a musician father and a mother who was a singer, thus encouraging her musical career.[2] She started her singing career at the age of 14 with her version of "Tennessee Waltz." She regularly sang on American military bases as a teenager.[3] Her repertoire consisted largely of traditional Japanese songs as well as a few American songs such as "Jambalaya" and "Come on-a My House". Eri started her career as an actress similar to Hibari Misora. Eri, Misora and Izumi Yukimura formed a trio. In her concerts, she was supported by Nobuo Hara's jazz band.[4] The actress was one of Japan's best-known singers in the mid-20th century and also appeared in numerous television shows from the early 1950s until just before her death. However, she is fairly unknown in many other parts of the world since her albums were rarely distributed in other markets, in which her music can almost only be accessed via the internet.

Eri married Ken Takakura in 1959 and they divorced in 1971.[5] She released the single "Sakaba Nite" (酒場にて, lit. "At the Bar") in 1974. The song was later included in the omnibus album "Enka no Kokoro".[6]

Death edit

On the afternoon of February 13, 1982, Eri was found prone and not breathing on the bed of her Minato Ward apartment in Tokyo, by her manager. Her cause of death was listed as a stroke with asphyxiation due to vomit in the trachea. A further report indicated that while she had a cold and had already been drinking, a combination of whiskey mixed with milk, as well as cold medicine that she had heated up may have had a role in her death.

Discography edit

Eri began her career as a singer at the age of 14 and would continue to record throughout her career. Many of her albums focused on Japanese folk music though she would often blend American standards with Latin grooves[7] at the behest of Nobuo Hara, a prolific jazz musician and leader of Eri's backing band.

  • 江利チエミ - チエミの民謡集 / Eri Chiemi - Chiemi's Folk Song Collection (1958)
  • チエミスタンダードアルバム / Chiemi Sings Standards (1959)
  • Chiemi Eri & The Delta Rhythm Boys (1961)
  • チエミの民謡ハイライツ / Chiemi Sings Japanese Folk Songs Highlights (1962)
  • チエミの民謡ハイライツ 第2集 / Chiemi Sings Japanese Folk Songs Volume 2 (1965)
  • チエミの民謡デラックス / Chiemi Sings Japanese Folk Music Deluxe (1968)
  • チエミの民謡デラックス第二集 / Chiemi Sings Japanese Folk Music Deluxe Volume 2 (1969)

Filmography edit

She acted in 51 films:[8]

1950s edit

(1950s complete)

  • 猛獣使いの少女 Mōjū tsukai no shōjo (1952)
  • 母子鶴 (1952)
  • 新やじきた道中 (1952)
  • 青春ジャズ娘 Seishun Jazz musume (青春ジャズ娘) (1953)
  • 陽気な探偵 (1954)
  • ハワイ珍道中 (1954)
  • So Young, So Bright (ジャンケン娘 Janken musume) (1955)
  • ジャズ娘乾杯 (1955)
  • ジャンケン娘 (1955)
  • 裏町のお転婆娘 (1956)
  • チエミの初恋チャチャ娘 (1956)
  • チエミの婦人靴 (1956)
  • 大暴れチャチャ娘 (1956)
  • 花笠太鼓 (1956)
  • Romantic Daughters (ロマンス娘 Romansu musume) (1956)
  • サザエさん (1956)
  • 恐怖の空中殺人 (1956)
  • 歌う不夜城 (1957)
  • Jazz musume tanjō (ジャズ娘誕生 Jazu musume tanjō) (1957)
  • 続・サザエさん (1957)
  • On Wings of Love (大当り三色娘 Ōatari sanshoku musume) (1957)
  • 森繁の僕は美容師 (1957)
  • 青春航路 (1957)
  • サザエさんの青春 (1957)
  • ロマンス祭 (1958)
  • サザエさんの婚約旅行 (1958)
  • サザエさんの結婚 (1959)
  • サザエさんの新婚家庭 (1959)
  • サザエさんの脱線奥様 (1959)

1960s edit

  • Chiemi Eri continues to release music with King Records[9]

1970s -1980s edit

(1970s -1980s complete)

  • 幕末 (1970)
  • 喜劇 おめでたい奴 (1971)
  • ちゃんばらグラフィティー 斬る! (1981)
  • 巣立ちのとき 教育は死なず (1981)

Other songs edit

References edit

  1. ^ Chiemi Eri at IMDb accessed 18 August 2008
  2. ^ "Chiemi Eri, by Chiemi Eri". Akuphone. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  3. ^ "Chiemi Eri, by Chiemi Eri". Akuphone. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  4. ^ "Hara, 82, to hang up saxophone". The Japan Times. 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
  5. ^ "Asian DVD Guide". Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Nhkサービスセンターオンラインショップ Cd 演歌のこころ H23B3: Cd/カセット". Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
  7. ^ "Reasons to Love: Chiemi Eri & the Tokyo Cuban Boys | Jet Set Radio". Jsradio.wordpress.com. 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
  8. ^ "江利チエミ". Jmdb.ne.jp. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
  9. ^ "Chiemi Eri, by Chiemi Eri". Akuphone. Retrieved 2024-01-17.

External links edit