Kei Ogura is a Japanese singer-songwriter who built a major recording and songwriting career while working as a bank clerk, writing hits for Akira Fuse, Masatoshi Nakamura and Hibari Misora.[1][2]
Career
Born Kōji Kanda in Ueno, Tokyo, on 18 January 1944, Ogura studied at the University of Tokyo and joined Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank in 1967, retiring early in 1993. He debuted in 1971 on Polydor with the album Seishun – Sabaku no Shōnen. Hōkō (1972) stayed in the top 100 for 232 consecutive weeks, and Nokosareta Shōkei (1974), produced by Masaru Hoshi, fused rock with strings and is regarded as a forerunner of new music.[1][2]
Songwriting and retirement
Ogura’s songs for others include “Shikuramen no Kahori” (Akira Fuse), “Oretachi no Tabi” (Masatoshi Nakamura), “Yume Shibai” (Tomio Umezawa) and “Ai Sansan” (Hibari Misora); by 2023 he had reportedly written for more than 300 singers, and he also wrote end themes for the anime Legend of the Galactic Heroes. After announcing his retirement in 2021, he gave his final concert at NHK Hall on 18 January 2023.[1][2]
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Seishun – Sabaku no Shōnen (Debut album) | Polydor |
| 1972 | Hōkō (232 weeks in the top 100) | — |
| 1974 | Nokosareta Shōkei (Produced by Masaru Hoshi) | — |
References
In the catalogue · 5
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