Rinken Band (りんけんバンド) is an Okinawan band that formed in 1977[1] and helped popularize their homeland's musical forms and traditional Okinawan music starting in 1985, when their first hit, "Arigatou", was released.
Rinken Band was founded by Rinken Teruya , the son of well-known Okinawan folk music artist Rinsuke Teruya . The band fuses Okinawan folk music, pop, and celebratory eisā traditions to make ballads and dance tunes.
Rinken Band's most recent appearance in the United States was a concert in Oahu, Hawaii.[2][when?] They were featured at the annual Okinawan Festival of 2007.
Members
[edit]Rinken Band members | |||
---|---|---|---|
Teruya Rinken | 照屋林賢 | sanshin | band leader |
Tomoko Uehara | 上原知子 | vocals, drums, sanba, sanshin | joined in 1988 |
Katsunori Inafuku | 稲福克典 | vocals, drums | joined in 1993 |
Naoki Enobi | 栄野比尚樹 | vocals, drums | joined in 2002 |
Kaoru Yonamine | 與那嶺薫 | vocals, drums | joined in 2006 |
Akira Uehara | 上原顕 | bass guitar | joined in 1993 |
Kiyohito Yamakawa | 山川清仁 | keyboards | joined in 1993 |
Former members | |||
Hayato Fujiki | 藤木勇人 | vocals | |
Yoshimitsu Gakiya | 我喜屋良光 | vocals, finger whistle (指笛, yubi-bue) | |
Yoshimi Kuwae | 桑江良美 | vocals, drums | |
Toyoharu Ookawa | vocals, drums | ||
Mitsuru Tamaki | 玉城満 | vocals | |
Kazunari Uechi | 上地一成 | drums, percussion, vocals | |
Masaaki Uechi | 上地正昭 | bass guitar, vocals | |
Tsugumi Yonemori | 米盛つぐみ | keyboards, vocals |
Discography
[edit]Audio CD
[edit]Year | Title | (Okinawan) Japanese | Label | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Arigatou | ありがとう | Sony Records | |
1990 | Nankuru | なんくる | Wave | |
1991 | Rikka | リッカ | Sony Records | mini album (4 songs) |
Karahāi | カラハーイ | Sony Records | ||
1992 | Ajimaa | アジマァ | Sony Records | |
1993 | Rinken Band | りんけんバンド | Sony Records | best selection |
Banji | バンジ | Sony Records | ||
1994 | gon gon | ゴンゴン | Sony Records | |
1995 | Cheren | チェレン | Sony Records | |
1996 | A Star (Hitotsu bushi) | 一つ星 | Indies Maker | |
1997 | Nachi nu fa | 夏ぬ子 | Sony Records / Indies Maker | |
1998 | Mantin nu yorokobi | 満天ぬ喜び | Indies Maker | |
Party (Pārī) | パーリー | Sony Records / Tristar | ||
1999 | Nifee (Nifē) | 謝 | Indies Maker | |
2000 | Qing-dahmi | Qing-dahmi (チンダミ) | Indies Maker / The Orchard | Rinken Band Best |
2001 | Orinasu hibi | 織りなす日々 | Indies Maker | |
2002 | Shima-jū shichi-gwachi | 島中七月 | Indies Maker | Rinken Band Eisā Special |
2003 | Eisā | EISA (エイサー) | Rent Rack Japan | |
Ajimaa no uta | あじまぁのウタ | Rent Rack Japan | ||
Urizun – Rinken Band New Best | URIZUN~りんけんバンドニューベスト | Sony Records / Gt Music | best selection | |
2008 | Golden Best – Rinken Band | GOLDEN☆BESTりんけんバンド | Sony Records / Phantom Sound & Vision | best selection |
2012 | Kugani michibushi | 黄金三星 | Rinken Records |
Video / DVD
[edit]Year | Title | (Okinawan) Japanese | Label | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | Njifa | ンジファ | Video Maker | 2006 release in DVD format |
1995 | Tink Tink Tink ... Primal Pulse | ティンクティンク | TC Entertainment | 2003 release in DVD format |
2004 | Pineapple Tours | パイナップルツアーズ | PDD (ピーディディ) | music for the film |
Ajimaa no uta, Tomoko Uehara, Tenshi no koe | あじまぁのウタ 上原知子 天使の声 | Rent Rack Japan | ||
2008 | Rinken Band Karahāi Live 2007 Kanzen-ban | りんけんバンド カラハーイライブ2007完全版 | Video Maker | live concert footage from 2007 |
Sources
[edit]- ^ "りんけんバンド: RINKEN BAND Official Website". ajima inc. (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-26.
- ^ Rinken Band in Hawaii - YouTube (01/28/2020)
External links
[edit]- Rinken Band website (in Japanese)
- YouTube: Rinken Band "Arigatou"