Saiichi Sugiyama (musician)
Encyclopedia
Saiichi Sugiyama is a British-based guitarist
, singer and composer, best known for his writing and performing collaborations with Pete Brown
, the lyricist for Cream
since 2002 to date. His previous bands in 1990s featured Mike Casswell and Phil Williams of Walk on Fire
, Andy Smith of Hot Chocolate, Zoot Money
, Boz Burrell
of Bad Company
, John Cook of Rory Gallagher
band as well as the guitarist, Paul Wassif
.
Sugiyama was the lead guitarist in the band of Shana Morrison
, the daughter of Van Morrison
in her UK tour of 2006 and on her return to the UK in 2010. Sugiyama's studio albums in 2000s featured Clem Clempson
of Colosseum
, Pete Brown
(who co-wrote and co-produced the albums), Zoot Money
and Ben Matthews
of Thunder
. His British blues-based lead guitar style as well as his association with 1999 and 2004 Crossroads Centre
guitar auctions at Christie's
(as a guitar consultant) resulted in Sugiyama being labelled as a "Japanese Clapton" in the London blues clubs despite his remonstrations. Sugiyama plays a Gibson
Les Paul
guitar and Marshall
amplifiers. His fluid and conversational guitar style does have a resmblance to Eric Clapton
, Peter Green
and has a vibrato technique similar that of Paul Kossoff
whereas his singing style is of his own.
Sugiyama collaborates with Mark Horiuchi, the former lead singer of the Japanese rock band Garo (Japanese rock group)
who had a number of chart hits in the Japanese chart in the early 1970s and the duo recorded several tracks which were included in the album "So Am I" released in Japan in 2004 Sugiyama moved from Tokyo to England in 1980 and has lived in Surrey and London since then. He also runs his legal practice for the Japanese community in London and has one son with his English wife.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, singer and composer, best known for his writing and performing collaborations with Pete Brown
Pete Brown
Peter Ronald Brown is an English performance poet and lyricist.Best known for his collaborations with Jack Bruce, Brown also worked with The Battered Ornaments, formed his own group Pete Brown & Piblokto!, and worked with Graham Bond and Phil Ryan. Brown also writes film scores and formed a film...
, the lyricist for Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
since 2002 to date. His previous bands in 1990s featured Mike Casswell and Phil Williams of Walk on Fire
Walk on Fire
Walk on Fire was a British melodic rock band whose album Blind Faith yielded two minor hit singles: "Blind Faith" and "Wastelands"....
, Andy Smith of Hot Chocolate, Zoot Money
Zoot Money
George Bruno Money, known as Zoot Money is a British vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader best known for his playing of the Hammond organ and association with his Big Roll Band...
, Boz Burrell
Boz Burrell
Raymond "Boz" Burrell was an English musician. Originally a vocalist, Burrell is best known for his bass playing and work with the rock bands King Crimson and Bad Company.-Career:...
of Bad Company
Bad Company
Bad Company were an English rock supergroup founded in 1973, consisting of two former Free band members — singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke — as well as Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell. Peter Grant, who, in years prior, was a key component of...
, John Cook of Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
band as well as the guitarist, Paul Wassif
Paul Wassif
- Career : Paul Wassif’s early career included a brief spell Punk/Rock band The London Cowboys. This was followed by various stints in New York bands including the The Ugly Americans with ex New York Dolls members, Jerry Nolan and Sylvain Sylvain...
.
Sugiyama was the lead guitarist in the band of Shana Morrison
Shana Morrison
Shana Morrison, born Shana Caledonia Morrison, on April 7, 1970, in Kingston, New York, is an American singer-songwriter and the daughter of Northern Irish singer-songwriter, Van Morrison, and his ex-wife, Janet Rigsbee Minto.-Early life:...
, the daughter of Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
in her UK tour of 2006 and on her return to the UK in 2010. Sugiyama's studio albums in 2000s featured Clem Clempson
Clem Clempson
Clem Clempson is an English rock guitarist who has played in a number of bands including Colosseum and Humble Pie.-Career:...
of Colosseum
Colosseum
The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre , is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire...
, Pete Brown
Pete Brown
Peter Ronald Brown is an English performance poet and lyricist.Best known for his collaborations with Jack Bruce, Brown also worked with The Battered Ornaments, formed his own group Pete Brown & Piblokto!, and worked with Graham Bond and Phil Ryan. Brown also writes film scores and formed a film...
(who co-wrote and co-produced the albums), Zoot Money
Zoot Money
George Bruno Money, known as Zoot Money is a British vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader best known for his playing of the Hammond organ and association with his Big Roll Band...
and Ben Matthews
Ben Matthews
Ben Matthews was the guitarist and keyboard player with the hard rock band Thunder. He is also an experienced studio engineer and mixer; he worked with progressive rock act Mostly Autumn as studio engineer on their 2005 album Storms Over Still Water. He also guested on their 2006 live album...
of Thunder
Thunder
Thunder is the sound made by lightning. Depending on the nature of the lightning and distance of the listener, thunder can range from a sharp, loud crack to a long, low rumble . The sudden increase in pressure and temperature from lightning produces rapid expansion of the air surrounding and within...
. His British blues-based lead guitar style as well as his association with 1999 and 2004 Crossroads Centre
Crossroads Centre
The Crossroads Centre is a drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitation centre located on the Caribbean island of Antigua. The centre was founded by guitarist Eric Clapton & Richard Conte, CEO of The Priory Hospitals Group and Transitional Hospitals Corporation . All development of the facility was...
guitar auctions at Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
(as a guitar consultant) resulted in Sugiyama being labelled as a "Japanese Clapton" in the London blues clubs despite his remonstrations. Sugiyama plays a Gibson
Gibson
Gibson may refer to:* Gibson Amphitheatre* Gibson Appliance* Gibson Girl* Gibson Guitar Corporation* Gibson * Gibson Generating Station-Places:In the United States:* Gibson, Arkansas* Gibson, Georgia* Gibson, Iowa* Gibson, Louisiana...
Les Paul
Les Paul
Lester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...
guitar and Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
amplifiers. His fluid and conversational guitar style does have a resmblance to Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, Peter Green
Peter Green (musician)
Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
and has a vibrato technique similar that of Paul Kossoff
Paul Kossoff
Paul Francis Kossoff was an English rock guitarist best known as a member of the band Free.Kossoff was ranked 51st in Rolling Stone magazine list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" -Early days:...
whereas his singing style is of his own.
Sugiyama collaborates with Mark Horiuchi, the former lead singer of the Japanese rock band Garo (Japanese rock group)
Garo (Japanese rock group)
GARO, was a '70s threepiece acoustic Japanese Rock group. The band was composed of Mark Horiuchi , Tommy Hidaka and Masumi "Vocal" Ohno . They recorded with Columbia and had a few chart hits, including no. 1 "Gakuseigai-no-Kissaten" in 1973...
who had a number of chart hits in the Japanese chart in the early 1970s and the duo recorded several tracks which were included in the album "So Am I" released in Japan in 2004 Sugiyama moved from Tokyo to England in 1980 and has lived in Surrey and London since then. He also runs his legal practice for the Japanese community in London and has one son with his English wife.
Discography
- Saiichi Sugiyama (November 1994)
- So Am I (July 2004)
- SAIICHI (May 2005)
Trivia
- Clodagh RodgersClodagh RodgersClodagh Rodgers is a singer and actress from Northern Ireland, best known for her hit single, "Jack in the Box".-Career:...
sang a duet with Sugiyama in the session for his 1994 album, but the track was never released.