Goto Tsugutoshi (後藤次利) is a composer, arranger, bassist, and former member of Sadistic Mika Band.
He is known for his innovative style of songwriting that focused around radio playback. Many of his works either started a song with a chorus immediately following the instrumental intro or within 30 seconds of the first verse. He also was a pioneer in sound design by layering many synthesizers and other instruments specifically to make songs sound better through the reduced quality of the radio. Both methods have since become commonplace in J-Pop music.
Profile[]
- Name: Goto Tsugutoshi (後藤次利)
- Birthdate: February 5, 1952 (age 73)
- Birthplace: Nishigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Zodiac:
Aquarius - Blood Type: B
History[]
Goto began listening to Western music as a young child. He became inspired to learn how to play the bass after attending a The Astronauts concert with his family in middle school. He learned how to play by ear and then joined his school's Light Music Club. After learning a more proper way to play, he enrolled in the Ebisu location of Yamaha Music School, where he made connections with many future famous classmates like Yano Akiko and Suzuki Shigeru. He then was contacted by BREAD & BUTTER to perform as a live bassist at one of their shows. The performance was well received, so he was asked to become a studio bassist. He also remained active as a live bassist for various bands, such as Sadistic Mika Band.
He began working as a song arranger in 1977, and began composing his own music in the early 1980s. In 1985 he got his big break as a composer and arranger when he was asked to collaborate with lyricist Akimoto Yasushi and two new groups he was working with, Onyanko Club and Tunnels. Goto was able to use this opportunity to explore many different genres and expand his songwriting skills. The work paid off because many of his works became number one hits throughout the mid-1980s. However, this also meant that he became extremely busy, often staying up for long hours due to the workload. He became burnt out and he terminated his professional relationship with Akimoto for a while in the late 1980s. However, the pair reconciled and began working with eachother again soon after.
He dialed back on his entertainment activities following his third marriage in 1994, but by the early 2000s he became fully active again.
Discography[]
Albums[]
- [1979.04.25] Mr. Bassman
- [1983.09.23] Breath
- [1984.06.21] INNER SUGGESTIONS
- [1985.04.04] CITY TRICKLES -Machi no Shizuku-
- [2003.09.24] do not disturb
- [2004.11.03] not too fast, not too slow
- [2013.02.28] Significant Other
Cover Albums[]
- [1978.11.25] ON Bass
Songwriting Credits[]
TBA (this is a massive list)
Notable Composition and/or Arrangement Contributions[]
- Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi
- Ushirogami Hikaretai
- Kawai Sonoko
- Watanabe Minayo
- Ikuina Akiko
- Kokusho Sayuri
- Kudo Shizuka
- Nitta Eri
- Onyanko Club
- Iwai Yukiko
- Tunnels
- Yamazaki Miki
Trivia[]
- He has been married three times.
- Singer Tamai Tae (of Simons) from 1974- 1979
- Former Singer and Idol Kinouchi Midori from 1983- 1987
- Former Singer-songwriter and Idol Kawai Sonoko from 1994- Present, with whom he shares one child
- It was also reported that he was having an affair with idol Hori Chiemi in the late 1980s, but it was never confirmed by either party.
- Because of his tendency to marry idols, he is known by the press as the "Idol Killer."
- He is currently good friends with both of the members of comedy and former J-pop duo Tunnels. He also is the composer and arranger of almost their entire discography.
- He was in charge of composition and/or arrangement for many of Onyanko Club's songs and soloist songs along with lyricist Akimoto Yasushi. They were even called the "Golden Duo of Pop" by the press in the mid-1980s. The pair originally were great friends, but around the time of Onyanko Club's breakup in 1987 they started falling out and stopped working together. However, by the early 1990s, the pair had reconciled.