Charlie Tagawa

Charlie Tagawa
Charlie Tagawa, music director of the Peninsula Banjo Band
Background information
Birth name	Zenzo Tagawa
Born	(1935-10-27) 27 October 1935 (age 81)
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Dixieland, ragtime
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Banjo
Years active	1956–present
Website	www.peninsulabanjoband.com

Charlie Tagawa (born October 27, 1935) is a Japanese-American musical entertainer, banjoist, and Japanese immigrant. His musical career has spanned seven decades and as a critically acclaimed performer he is regarded as one of the best (contemporary) banjo players and arguably one of the all-time best. He performs regularly across the U.S. and in Japan where he is known professionally as Japan's 'Harry Reser'. A 2003 inductee into the National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame, Tagawa often performs as the headline act at banjo jazz festivals and shows. He is also the international good will ambassador for the Peninsula Banjo Band.

Tagawa was once a protégé of the great tenor banjoist, Harry Reser, who advised and encouraged Tagawa in his quest for perfection in single string technique. Out of respect and admiration for Reser, Tagawa will on occasion perform one of Reser's original compositions such as "The Cat and the Dog", "Cracker Jack", or "Lolly Pops".

Born in Tokyo, Japan, a 21-year-old Tagawa was introduced to the banjo by one of Japan's top banjoists and recording artists, Takashi Tsunoda, in 1956. Although he started on guitar, he found his calling upon picking up a four-string tenor banjo. Shortly thereafter Tagawa purchased a used tenor banjo for US$20.00. After graduating from Senshu University with a degree in Economics, he became a student of Tsunoda's. Tagawa was an apt student and quickly developed a style and manner of his own. After three months of lessons and practicing Tagawa became a professional banjo player and started earning money from his performances.

Tagawa joined one of the premier country-western bands in Tokyo playing lead banjo on a two-year tour. He then joined the Dixieland Dukes as a soloist for three years. Tokyo's Gaslight Club was his next stop as a featured entertainer as his repertoire began to include favorite songs of other nations.

In 1964 the owner of the Sakura Gardens restaurant in Mountain View, California was in Tokyo for the summer Olympics and caught Tagawa's act. He was so impressed by Tagawa's extraordinary skill with a tenor banjo and versatility that he offered him a contract to play at his restaurant in the U.S. This break for Tagawa was also a great break for the jazz enthusiasts of Northern California. After reaching the United States, Zenzo Tagawa was rapidly Americanized to Charlie Tagawa and soon after he was discovered by numerous restaurant patrons as well as other banjo players in the area. Tagawa performed at Sakura Gardens, and its successor restaurant Imperial Gardens, for a total of fifteen years.