Hello all -
I am staying busy here in the city. Wearing a bunch of hats these days (acting,writing, producing, fedora, top, beret, yarmulke, dunce). Trying to do what is in my control.As an actor, I had booked 2 commercials only to have them both fall apart today. Feeling pretty awesome right now (sound of wrist slitting. sound of antiseptic and band-aid going on cut. sound of banging head on wall) Oh well… next time… or perhaps the time after that… persistence and hard work… we’ll see where that gets us…
As a producer, I am associate Producer on a film that is currently under production… here is the press release and if you can make it to Pianos this Thursday, September 11th… please do. It should be a highly emotional night with some amazing talent performing. BYE!
Daniel Danny Dan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“JAPANESE COWGIRL” RETURNS TO THE U.S. STAGE AFTER 40 YEAR ABSENCE
Played with Johnny Cash at the Grand Ole Opry and now she is back for seconds four decades later
New York City, NY – September 9, 2008 – Tomi Fujiyama’s amazing career and tale, which spans two hemispheres and half a century, is being made into a feature length documentary film, MADE IN JAPAN, with narration by actor Elijah Wood. The seventy-year-old musician will hold her first American concert in over four decades on September 11th, 2008 at Pianos on the Lower East Side, New York City. Opening acts include the popular Bluegrass band All Night Cookin’ at 8PM and the indie/alt country rock band The Musical Outfits at 9PM. Tomi Fujiyama will take the stage at 10PM. The performance will be recorded and included in the upcoming film. Fujiyama is to perform additional dates in Las Vegas and while nothing has been set in stone, Tomi is traveling to Nashville to fulfill her American Dream and establish a legendary 50-year career by playing one final time on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
In 1951, the beginning of her long career, Fujiyama was twelve years old and couldn’t speak a word of English. At that age, she switched from performing traditional Japanese songs for small Japanese audiences to singing Country/ Western for the American. In the years following, the talented musician recorded 21 singles and 5 albums with Columbia Records. One of which, recorded in Nashville with Country legend Bill Anderson, sold more than 50,000 copies and led to much American press and to performances on the American television programs, The Les Crane Show and The Danny Thomas Show. Tomi was 21 years old when she was discovered at The Mint Hotel in Las Vegas where she had a backbreaking 4-shows-a-night, 7 days a week contract.
In 1964, Tomi Fujiyama was asked to perform at The Grand Ole Opry’s 39th Birthday Extravaganza in Nashville,Tennessee. She took the stage after Johnny Cash and received the only standing ovation of the 5-hour show. Less than one year later she was forced to return to her native Japan to fulfill contractual obligations with Columbia records and to care for ailing parents.
After returning home to Japan in 1965, Tomi continued to play the U.S.O. throughout the 1980’s. This included going on U.S.O tours of Vietnam and South East Asia during the Vietnam War. Still going strong in the 1990’s, her management company Columbia Records produced a “Best Of” album in 1992. In 1996 she recorded “Lonely Together” in Nashville, Tennessee. Fujiyama returned to Nashville in 2003 to record her first album in 30 years: “Gold”.
Today Fujiyama continues to perform in clubs and venues all over Japan where her passion for music and her lust for life continues to move and inspire. She has dreamt of returning to the Opry again one day and that day is approaching soon. That is after all her 1 goal in life!
Ms. Fujiyama’s first American show in over forty years is scheduled for PIANOS(http://www.pianosnyc.com), the popular Lower East Side music venue. Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 8PM with NYC bluegrass band All Night Cookin’, the indie/alt country rock band The Musical Outfits at 9PM and Tomi Fujiyama will take the stage at 10PM. Tomi will be interviewed by Laura Cantrell on WMFU 91.1’s long running Country music program, Radio Thrift Shop, on the morning of September 9th.
FOR PRESS PASSES AND/OR INQUIRIES ON THIS FILM AND TOUR (SPECIFY WHICH), PLEASE CONTACT:
DANIEL BERMAN
TOO MUCH HAPPINESS, LLC
T:
E: DANIEL.BERMAN(AT)YAHOO.COM
TRAILER:
http://www.youtube.com/tomifujiyama
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Daniel Berman
Daniel Berman is a cartoonist/ writer/ actor & producer living in New York City. 
