Enka is a form of Japanese music that was popular in the country from 1868 to 1989. It’s still popular with the older Japanese population but young listeners prefer J-Pop.
African American singer Jero (born Jerome White Jr) may bring it back. He’s the first black Enka singer in Japanese music history. He pursued that singing style because he promised his maternal Japanese grandmother that he would sing in the genre.
Here is his video:
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24 March, 2008 at 11:59 am
Jpop
This guy is huge now here in Japan. People love him. He has really found a way into the Japanese people’s hearts by singing traditional Enka songs.
Theres a video on Youtube of a variety show here when he first debuted, you should see the reaction of the people! They are blown away.
When he first comes out they think it is a joke, but once he starts singing, you can see and hear how impressed they are.
This is the video here-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqtgJ5TJi8M
If you closed your eyes there is no way you wouldn’t think he was a Japanese enka singer.
He has made enka fashionable again haha.
It’s a great gig, I wish I had thought of it first.