Kitarō location of formation Japan
Kitarō (喜多郎), born Masanori Takahashi (高橋 正則) (February 4, 1953), is a Japanese recording artist, composer, record producer, and arranger noted for his electronic-instrumental music, and is often associated with and regarded as one of the most prominent musical acts of new-age music. He won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for Thinking of You (1999), with a record 16 nominations in the same category. He received a Golden Globe Award for the original score to Heaven & Earth (1993).Early life: 1954–76
Masanori Takahashi was born in Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan, and is a graduate of Sahid University.  Kitarō, which is his boyhood name meaning "man of love and joy", a practicing Buddhist himself, was born in a family of Shinto-Buddhist farmers.  After graduating his parents were first opposed to the idea of their son having a musical career.  In an effort to maneuver him towards their vision, they made arrangements for him to take a job at a local company.  In return, he did not show for the job without telling them, and managed to convince them to work on something he loved.In high school Kitarō played electric guitar in a band that played American rhythm and blues of Otis Redding and covers by The Beatles. After graduating, and learning to play drums and bass, Kitaro moved to Tokyo to experience and become a part of the music scene, and it was there that he discovered the synthesizer.  His first synthesizer was analog, and he recalls having "just loved the analog sound that it made compared to today's digital sound".
In the early 1970s he changed completely to keyboard and joined the Japanese progressive rock band Far East Family Band and recorded four albums with them.  While in Japan and Europe in 1975, he met the German electronica and former Tangerine Dream member Klaus Schulze.  Schulze produced two albums for the band and gave Kitaro some tips for controlling synthesizers. In 1976, Kitaro left Far East Family Band and travelled through Asia (China, Laos, Thailand, India).Solo career: 1977–present
Back in Japan, Kitaro started his solo career in 1977.  The first two albums Ten Kai and Daichi were released in 1978 and 1979.  He performed his first symphonic concert at the "Small Hall" of the Kosei Nenkin Kaikan in Shinjuku, Tokyo.Silk Road
The Silk Road: The Rise And Fall Of Civilizations is an NHK Tokushu documentary series that first aired on 7 April 1980, with sequels being broadcast over a 10-year period.  It took a total of 17 years from conception to complete what many consider a landmark in Japan's broadcasting television history.  The intention of the program was to reveal how ancient Japan was influenced by the Silk Road trade route.  The documentary was narrated by Ishizaka Koji with music composed by Kitaro, who insisted that the show be broadcast in stereo.  The music was composed mainly using a Minimoog, Minikorg 700, and Maxikorg DV800.  The score received a Galaxy Award, and the series of soundtracks sold millions of copies.  The success created from the program brought Kitaro international attention.Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai series
Kitaro’s music has long been recognized for its messages of peace and spirituality. In the wake of 9/11, during which time the conceptual endeavor, which he envisioned as an artistic means to help unify people globally, the artist began recording Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai (2003), a series of peace-themed albums inspired by the Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage, the travel of Kūkai more than 1100 years ago. The four volumes in the album series were released in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2011, respectively. Every track on the 4 volumes of Sacred Journey Of Ku-Kai contains samples from ancient Japanese temple bells (Peace Bells) from 88 sacred temples on the island of Shikoku, Japan.
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