Section B · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, November 29, 2000
The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts Department of Music and Dance presents
DANCE
Company
at the Lied Center with flamenco guest artist Tamara La Garbancito
December 6 & 7
8:00 p.m.
Tickets on sale at the Lied Center, Murphy Hall, and SUA box offices;
$7 public, $5 students and senior citizens. Call 864-ARTS for tickets.
Funded in part by KU Student Activity fee money.
STUDENT SENATE
Helen, Sweetheart of the Internet
Asian soul artist seeks U.S. fame
NEW YORK—Toshi Kubota was 10 and growing up in rural Japan when he first saw Stevie Wonder on television. Captivated by the music's rhythm, melodies and American flavor, Kubota decided he would grow up to become a singer of soul music. Never mind that the genre barely existed in Japan in the 1970s.
The Associated Press
These musicians seem impressed with Kubota.
Kubota, who taught himself music and English by crooning along with Marvin Gaye, went on to become a pioneer of rhythm and blues in Japan, surging to stardom with albums such as Such a Punky Thang and The Baddest. Since 1966, he's sold 11 million albums in Japan.
To boost his credibility, Kubota got several respected American soul artists to collaborate with him on the album. Hip-hop group The Roots produced two songs, and Raphael Saadiq, from groups Lucy Pearl and Tony Toni Tone, produced two others. Rapper Pras, from the Fugees, makes an appearance.
"He's authentic and talented," says ?uestlove, cofounder of The Roots. "I can't work with people who aren't authentic."
So six years ago, Kubota moved to New York, determined to break into the U.S. market. "I needed to sing in the environment that produced Stevie Wonder," he said.
Kubota wrote or co-wrote the music for all but two of the 13 tracks on his second release, Nothing But Your Love, which range from upbeat dance songs to ballads. He sings in English throughout.
but particularly in something as homegrown. Kubota's first U.S. album, Sunshine, Moonlight, released in 1995, fared decently. Columbia Records shipped 30,000 copies to stores — not bad for a debut album by a foreigner, but clearly not a rousing success.
But all along, my dream has been to make it in America — something no Japanese pop musician has achieved, although composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and saxophonist Sadao Watanabe have had some success.
Kubota has several strikes against him. He's an Asian in a genre dominated by African Americans, and for any foreigner, breaking into the U.S. music industry is tough but particularly in certain areas of he
It hasn't been easy. Although he is starting to get some attention among musicians with the summer release of his second U.S. album, Nothing But Your Love, he's still barely known in the mainstream.
Crossword
ACROSS
1 Young woman
2 College in Northampton, MA
10 Fed.
14 On a cruise
15 Active starter?
16 Singer McEntire
17 Pouchlike structures
18 Estuary
19 Sole
20 VCR button
22 Songs sung for lovers
24 Used an arrow key
26 Jokester Jay
27 "Telephone Line" grp
28 Phases
31 Attired
34 Pear choice
37 So long, to Solange
38 Lubricate
39 Essential
41 Cotton fiber
42 Absolute
43 took a look at
45 Supervisor
46 Kitchen implements
48 Reverence
50 Fit for picking
51 School term
51 One in the running
59 Hosiery shade
Jai ___
61 Friend of Pythias
63 Bring home the bacon
64 Low places
65 Slur over
65 Algonquian language
67 Bard
69 Repair a hem
79 Headwear
DOWN
1 Abrupt inhalations *
2 Asimov of sci-fi
3 Happen again and again
4 Roped
© 2000 Tribune Media Services, Inc
All rights reserved.
11/29/00
Anatomy title of
respect
6 Presbyterian
parsonage
7 Wasted time
8 Series of
rows
9 Hilton chain
10 Voiced pain
11 California cape
11 Hit
11 Against
Building addition
21 Himalayan
kingdom
2E ear part
2F farm measure
2Pekoe and oolong
3Dines
3I d'etat
32 Word on diet
products
3Take turns
3Small bills
3Pen
3Thin pancake
4First father?
4Snob
Solutions to Tuesday's crossword
45 Implore
47 Submit
49 Part of WWW
51 Big rigs
52 Wear away
53 Crown
54 Heronlike wading
bird
55 Coty and
Aubenjones
56 Capetown AI
57 Potpour
58 Valley
59 In mint condition
HOW TO SURVIVE LIFE AFTER COLLEGE.
TURN YOUR GRADUATION ROBE INTO AN ELEGANT SHOWER CURTAIN.
GET A NO-HASSLE FREE CHECKING ACCOUNT FROM COMMERCE.
17
This is real life. And we're not talking about an MTV show. So get a real checking account. Commerce will give you free checking. free checks. 24/7 account access via the internet, a pre-approved Vlsa® Check Card, and even 1/22 off your next personal loan. on campus or at any Commerce Bank location. work in college is already starting to pay off.
Visit us on campus or at any Commerce Bank location.
See? All that hard work in college is already starting to pay off.
Commerce Bank
Member FICC
www.commercebank.com
www.commercebank.com
"1/4% for a Commerce Bank checking account; 1/4% if you choose to automatically deduct your monthly payment. Free checking for personal account"
Presents a
FREE ADVANCE SCREENING Don't miss your chance to win a free DVD player!
Tuesday, December 5
8:00pm @ Woodruff Auditorium
Pick up passes at SUA Office, Kansas Union, 4th Floor. 2 passes per KU ID.Free passes will be distributed from the SUA Office the day of the event.
Passes required. Seating is limited and not guaranteed. Please arrive early.
ID required. No one under the age of 13 will be admitted without parent or legal guardian.