The only Asian artist to ever get a number 1 hit in America seems to be very forgotten nowadays.

I don't ever hear this song on oldies channels or on those old solid gold oldies type box sets... and apaperently 4 A.M did a cover of the song as well? i never heard there's till recently.

Also A Taste Of Honey and even The Eagles did a cover of the song which are both very good

[Edited 8/31/13 21:40pm]

Liked the original. Telling he's the only Asian artist to top the U.S. pop chart.

Too sad how he died though.

Timmy84 said:

Liked the original. Telling he's the only Asian artist to top the U.S. pop chart.

Too sad how he died though.

Well i guess that is not somewhat true as Far East Movement had a number 1 so i forgot about that! but it was 47 years since then that any asian artist had a nunber 1... or even a top 40 in America.

Sttrangely enough i think this guy could have had a lot more hits in America! his songs i have heard feature a mix of soul, doo-wop, Japanese strings and instrumentals etc.

His songs could have brought in a slur of other Asian artists while still fitting somewhat into American music... not to mention he even had a look that fit in right with early 60s culture.

Great info. I always thought it's a shame that artistS like these never get the true recognition.

JoeBala said:

Great info. I always thought it's a shame that artistS like these never get the true recognition.

I know! it is supringly actually how many 60s arists were long forgotten after a few hits!

Even Elvis who had some of his best songs in the early 60s IMO some are just forgotten in favor of his 50s era which i hear the most on radio usually.

Gunsnhalen said:

Timmy84 said:

Liked the original. Telling he's the only Asian artist to top the U.S. pop chart.

Too sad how he died though.

Well i guess that is not somewhat true as Far East Movement had a number 1 so i forgot about that! but it was 47 years since then that any asian artist had a nunber 1... or even a top 40 in America.

True.

He's a cutie!

lazycrockett said:

He's a cutie!

I KNOW

[Edited 9/1/13 17:06pm]

That being said, never heard of him or this song till now. Its a good song.

Very interesting read.

http://www.npr.org/2013/0...ts-in-1963

Not shabby competition in june of 63 either.

http://www.billboard.com/...15/hot-100

The American version still makes it onto my quiet storm mixes! Have always loved this song and had no idea of the history behind it. I know that I've heard a Japanese version before but it was a female singer if I remember correctly. Going to look at his history later, so thank you for posting and bringing a classic to mind. I can't believe that he was the one and only Asian to have a number one! And guess what? I just got Orders that I'm moving to Tokyo in Feb 2014. I am so jazzed to get out of Vegas for a few years and then retire from the Air Force after 24 years, in Tokyo.

Damn, after reading the true backstory it's even more painful. Love when an artist writes a song that isn't about what it appears...Love applies to so many different things...Damn, painful song.

[Edited 9/1/13 11:40am]

Gunsnhalen said:

but it was 47 years since then that any asian artist had a nunber 1... or even a top 40 in America.

Does Don Ho count? I don't think they had any pop hits, but the jazz group Hiroshima had some albums on the jazz chart and I think the R&B chart.

[Edited 9/1/13 13:37pm]

lazycrockett said:

That being said, never heard of him or this song till now. Its a good song.

It is interesting how america is pretty blind to the asian artists unless its novelty or even a joke sad to say, but america artists really go there and have careers when the USA gives up on them, interesting. Air Supply can go to Japan and its like James Brown in the Apollo, here no one remembers them. Also QUEEN one of the biggest selling bands ever, broke out of JAPAN ironically, to start that was there biggest fan base.

Yep. Sukiyaki was the jam, both times it came out.

Gunsnhalen said:

aardvark15 said:

Gunsnhalen said:

or even a top 40 in America.

Psy?

I forgot about that heap of shit

aardvark15 said:

I hate the original.

Gunsnhalen said:

Gunsnhalen said:

aardvark15 said:

Gunsnhalen said:

I forgot about that heap of shit

Walking On Thin Ice also hit the top 30 I believe when the Pet Shop Boys remixed it [Edited 9/3/13 12:15pm]

In the UK it did but not in America sadly.

Gunsnhalen said:

lastdecember said:

It is interesting how america is pretty blind to the asian artists

I used to see Don Ho a lot on TV shows and he seemed to be kinda popular, but I guess he was more of a Vegas/variety show style singer. He had a few radio hits though. But overall, Hollywood (and the general public) was racist. Bruce Lee came up with the idea for the Kung Fu TV show, but the studios said the public wouldn't accept an Chinese man as a hero, so got David Carradine.

Isnt Don Ho considered Hawaiian?

lazycrockett said:

aardvark15 said:

lazycrockett said:

Isnt Don Ho considered Hawaiian?

Yeah he was 50% Hawaiian and 25% Chinese

The final 25% were tiny bubbles.

AlexdeParis said:

aardvark15 said:

lazycrockett said: Yeah he was 50% Hawaiian and 25% Chinese

The final 25% were tiny bubbles.