Ki-Yo

Ki-Yo（Tendo Kiyotaka）
Ki-Yo（天道清貴）
Ki-Yo（Tendo Kiyotaka） Ki-Yo（天道清貴）
Background information
Born	November 22, 1982 (age 41)
Origin	Miyagi, Japan
Genres	J-pop
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, piano
Years active	2000–present
Labels	EXPRESS, Bellwood, GENIUS
Website	www.g-glamour.com/kiyotaka/

Ki-Yo (清貴, Kiyotaka, born on November 22, 1982) is a Japanese pop singer.^[1] Since his debut, Ki-Yo has worked as a singer, composer, lyricist and ambassador of Miyagi Prefecture. He's known as one of the few openly LGBT musicians in Japan.^{[citation needed]}

History[edit]

Early life[edit]

In 1982, Ki-Yo was born in Sendai, Miyagi. He was musically influenced by Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Akiko Yano, Elton John, Billy Joel, Noriyuki Makihara, Whitney Houston.

2000–2006: debut and career in Japan[edit]

In 2000, Ki-Yo sent a demo to EMI Music Japan when he visited Tokyo to see a concert by Mariah Carey, and was signed by the label for his debut. On October 22, 2000, his first single "No No No" was released.^[2] It was a success, charting No. 45 on the Oricon single weekly chart.^[3]

On April 18, 2001, "The Only One", his most commercially successful single to date, was released as a third single. It was used in a romantic drama, "Pure Soul ~Kimi ga boku wo wasuretemo~". Eventually, this single charted on the Oricon single yearly chart at No. 82^[4] and Oricon single weekly chart at No. 12^[5] with selling over 400,000 copies. He subsequently appeared in the Japanese music TV show Music Station twice.^[6]

His debut album I'll be there was released on July 25, 2001. It charted No. 7 on the Oricon album weekly chart.^{[citation needed]}

In 2004, he sang a backing vocal part in "Shiawase ni narou"（幸せになろう）, a song by Japanese popular singer Hiromi Iwasaki. This song was included in her 25th album, "Happiness" and it peaked at No. 99 on Oricon Weekly Album Chart.^[7]

On December 8, 2004, he released an EP "Stop On By", which includes a cover of a Japanese popular children's song "Tenohira wo Taiyou ni", whose lyrics were written by Takashi Yanase, a Japanese cartoonist best known for Anpanman.

In 2006, he released "Ocean Blue" as an eighth single. It had been two years since he had released his last EP "Stop On By". The song did not enter any charts. This was the last single he released from major record companies to date.

2010–present: working in America and going back to Japan[edit]

In 2010, he moved to New York City and started working there. He participated in McDonald's Gospelfest, Gospel Night at Apollo Theater and a play called Black Nativity in Broadway.^{[citation needed]}

In 2011, he was invited to Annual Keepers of the Dream Award Ceremony as a guest choir. His musical talent was praised by Stevie Wonder.^{[citation needed]}

He was played at musical venues including the Bitter End, Canal Room and Whisky a Go Go.^{[citation needed]}

On November 19, 2014, he covered "Let It Go" in the Japanese popular music competition program "The Karaoke Battle".^[8]

In 2015, he wrote a song called "Anata ni Smile" (あなたにスマイル:)) for a Japanese top singer, Misia.^[9] This song was included in her album, "Love Bebop", which was released on January 6, 2015 and this album charted at No. 4 on Oricon Daily Album Chart.^[10] Also, this song was used in a TV commercial of a Japanese famous drink manufacturer, Kirin beverage.^[11]

On December 27, 2015, he performed on a live event, "Sing Mariah" with Japanese female singer Mao Denda. Her first album "Eternal Voice" has sold over 50,000 copies so far.^[12] In May 2016, he announced that he left his management team "Rhythmedia".

On June 30, 2016, he started crowdfunding to release his fourth studio album Anata ga Itekureta kara (あなたがいてくれたから).

Personal life[edit]

Ki-Yo is openly gay.^{[citation needed]} He came out in TOKYO RAINBOW PRIDE 2015.^{[citation needed]}

He took part in "OUT IN JAPAN", an LGBT project by Singaporean photographer Leslie Kee.^{[citation needed]}

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Sales
Title	Album details	JPN Oricon	Sales
I'll be there	Released: July 25, 2001 Label: Express Formats: CD, digital download	7	JPN: 130,000
A Piece of Love	Released: January 1, 2010 Label: Self-released Formats: CD, digital download	–
Reborn	Released: August 1, 2013 Label: Self-released Formats: CD, digital download	–
Anata ga Itekureta kara （あなたがいてくれたから）	Released: November 13, 2016 Label: Self-released Formats: CD	–

Reissue albums[edit]

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
Title	Album details	JPN Oricon
Reborn (Special Edition)	Released: September 28, 2015 Label: Self-released Formats: CD, digital download	—

Remix albums[edit]

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
Title	Album details	JPN Oricon
The Remix EP	Released: March 29, 2003 Label: Express Formats: CD, digital download	—

Compilation albums[edit]

Title	EP details	Peak chart positions
Title	EP details	JPN Oricon
KI-YO Single Collection Vol.1	Released: 2012 Label: Self-released Formats: digital download	—

Extended plays[edit]

Title	EP details	Peak chart positions
Title	EP details	JPN Oricon
Stop On By	Released: December 8, 2004 Label: Genius Formats: CD	—

Singles[edit]

As lead artist[edit]

Single	Year	Peak chart positions	Certifications	Album
Single	Year	JPN Oricon	Certifications	Album
"No No No"	2000	45		I'll be there
"Vanishing"	2001	43
"The Only One"		12	RIAJ: Gold
"Signal"		12		Non-album singles
"Shiawase no Hizashi" （シアワセの陽射し）	2002	44
"Call me"	2003	82
"Just for you..."	2003	112
"Ocean Blue"	2005	–
"#1"	2012	–		KI-YO Single Collection Vol.1 Reborn Reborn (Special Edition)
"Dear All My Loves"		–
"Spend My Life with You"		–
"Need Somebody Tonight"		–

Promotional singles[edit]

Single	Year	Peak chart positions	Certifications	Album
Single	Year	JPN Oricon	Certifications	Album
"If You Wanna Make It" (featuring Cassandra Kubinski)	2012	–		Reborn Reborn (Special Edition)
"We Are One"	2015	–		Anata ga Itekureta kara

DVDs[edit]

KIYOTAKA Tour 2010 Over The Sea (Yokohama Edition(BLUE))（2010）
KIYOTAKA Tour 2010 Over The Sea (Osaka Edition(RED))（2010）
Viaggio in Italia　2008（2011）
KIYOTAKA LIVE TOUR 2011 "OVER THE SEA"（2011）
KIYOTAKA AUTUMN TOUR 2011 "SOUL FROM NEW YORK"（2012）
Ki-Yo JAPAN TOUR 2012 "#1"（2013）
Ki-Yo LIVE at Canal Room in New York（2013）

References[edit]

^ "Biography KI-YO". g-glamour.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012.
^ "No No No".
^ "ホントのCdランキング★2001/05/14". ksk.gozaru.jp. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016.
^ "サービス終了のお知らせ".
^ http://www.cdjournal.com/main/calendar/20150418
^ "テレビ朝日｜ミュージックステーション". www.tv-asahi.co.jp. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008.
^ "Happiness | 岩崎宏美".
^ "Gooテレビ番組（関東版）". Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
^ "「あなたにスマイル：）/Misia」の歌詞って「イイネ！」".
^ http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/d/2016-01-05/ ^{[dead link]}
^ "Misia New Digitalsingle『流れ星／あなたにスマイル：）』Special Website".
^ "２１世紀アルバム総合売上げランキング９".

External links[edit]

[1] "Biography KI-YO". g-glamour.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012.

[2] "No No No".

[3] "ホントのCdランキング★2001/05/14". ksk.gozaru.jp. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016.

[4] "サービス終了のお知らせ".

[5] ttp://www.cdjournal.com/main/calendar/20150418

[6] "テレビ朝日｜ミュージックステーション". www.tv-asahi.co.jp. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008.

[7] "Happiness | 岩崎宏美".

[8] "Gooテレビ番組（関東版）". Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.

[9] "「あなたにスマイル：）/Misia」の歌詞って「イイネ！」".

[10] ttp://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/d/2016-01-05/ ^{[dead link]}

[11] "Misia New Digitalsingle『流れ星／あなたにスマイル：）』Special Website".

[12] "２１世紀アルバム総合売上げランキング９".

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