Yoko La Japonesa Salsera profile picture

Yoko La Japonesa Salsera

About Me

Yoko's Mini Documentary on USN Report
Chino Nunez @ Lincoln Cener with Ray Sepulveda
Japanese Salsera: Born to sing salsa!
Hailing from Osaka, Japan, Yoko was born to sing salsa.
Yoko’s singing career began at the age of fifteen when she fronted a local rock band in Osaka. While attending the Kyoto University of Foreign Language, Yoko majored in Spanish language studies, which provided her with an excellent foundation in Spanish. Around the same time, Yoko discovered the music of salsa and she was immediately hooked. She wanted to learn more about the musical genre of salsa, but she was unsure if it even existed in Japan.
As a part-time job, Yoko started singing at local jazz clubs, and it didn't take long before her great talent was discovered In 1996 she was asked to join the salsa band ‘Conjunto Mamborama’ as a vocalist. They performed regularly at a salsa club in Osaka called Pata Pata De La Salsa. With her big voice and powerful lungs, singing in a large club like Pata Pata was a great opportunity for Yoko. At that point she completely abandoned her career as a jazz singer. Word of her talent got out among musicians in Japan, and she was invited to sing as the main vocalist for ‘Las Estrellas’, a salsa band formed by the former members of the famous Japanese salsa band "Orquesta De la Luz".
In 1997, she moved to the United States and started performing with local band and her own group. In 2004 she was invited to perform in Japan with Herman Olivera, a prestigious figure within the New York salsa scene who is currently the lead singer of the Eddie Palmieri Orchestra.
In 2006, Yoko found a great production team, who believe strongly in her talent and potential. Mr. Willie Ruiz, Yoko’s musical director, comments that, “if you don’t see her in person, you’d never know if it was a Japanese or an Hispanic woman singing."
After her debut with Chino Nunez and Friends at the New York Salsa Congress in 2006, she became a lead singer of the band and sang a duet with international salsa star Ray Sepulveda “Hoy les cantamos” on Chino’s 2nd album “Dr. Salsa”. This became an international hit topping the chart in Pamana. The song was also featured on XM Caliente in April 2008. In January 2008 she made a trip to Greece in 2008 with Chino. This Japanese salsera is ready to sing out her fantastic music for all the world to hear!
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¡Yoko es de Osaka, Japón y nació para cantar salsa!
Inició su carrera artística s los quince años como vocalista en una banda de Rock en Osaka. Años más tarde se especializó en el estudio del idioma español en Kyoto University of Foreign Languages y durante esa época descubrió la salsa. Al principio cantaba en clubes de jazz en Osaka y fue en uno de estos, en 1996, donde se descubrió su talento, cuando la orquesta salsera “ Orquesta Mamborama” la invitó a formar parte como vocalista principal. Mamborama se presentaba con frecuencia en el famoso club Pata Pata de la Salsa, en Osaka; sin embargo, en aquel entonces la salsa aún no era muy popular en Japón.
En el ambiente musical de Japón se escuchaban rumores sobre esta nueva y energética voz salsera y no pasó mucho tiempo antes de que “La estrellas”, una orquesta salsera integrada por antiguos miembros de la famosa orquesta japonesa “Orquesta de la Luz”, invitaran a Yoko a formar parte de ellos como vocalista principal.
En 1997, Yoko se trasladó a Nueva York donde continuó cantando en varios clubes. En 2004 la invitaron a presentarse en Japón con Herman Olivera, una gran figura del ambiente salsero de Nueva York y actual vocalista principal de la orquesta de Eddie Palmieri.
Su gran debut tuvo lugar en el Congreso de la Salsa de Nueva York, en 2006, donde se presentó con la orquesta Chino Nuñez and Friends. Más tarde se convirtió en la vocalista principal y participó en la grabación del segundo álbum de Chino Nuñez, “Dr. Salsa”; en el cual canta a dúo con Ray Sepulveda “Hoy les cantamos”; aclamado tema internacional que se convirtió en el No.1 en Panamá y se escuchó en XM Caliente en abril de 2008.
En la Gran Manzana, donde tantos artistas y músicos talentosos compiten por el éxito, el camino ha sido arduo, pero Yoko ha logrado mantenerse a la cabeza de la competencia.
Como todo srtista, su sueño ha sido grabar su propio álbum, para así llevar su voz y su ritmo a todos los rincones del mundo. Esa oportunidad por fín se presentó en 2007 cuando Yoko encontró un excelente equipo de producción y puso en marcha la grabación de su primer disco como solista. El Sr. Willie Ruiz, su director musical, comenta que “si no la ves en persona nunca sabrías que es una japonesa y no una hispana quien canta”.
¡Yoko es de Osaka, Japón y nació para cantar salsa!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 14/10/2006
Band Website: http://www.yokosalsa.com
Band Members: Buy YOKO's Debut Album now!!
Thank You Very Much for Coming!

Chino Nuñez Lehman College 6-16-07
Johnny Pacheco @ Westgate Lounge 12/13/08 Johnny Rivera @ Copacabana 5/8/2007
Chino Nuñez and Friends at LQ 1/24/07
Influences: I love Sonora Poncena, Bobby Valentin and Willie Rosario. My idols are Cheo Feliciano, Nestor Sanchez, Tito Allen, Adalberto Santiago, Celia Cruz, Yolanda Rivera, Jimmy Sabater, Ray Viera, Jerry Rivas,,,,,, toooo many to name all.....!!!
Sounds Like:
Record Label: El Chance Music
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

New Puerto Rican Restaurant "Sazon" in TriBeca

http://pecopecony.com/tokushu/index.htmlPlease see above link to see the picture. I did a navigator for the Japanese food web magazine. Everybody knows "Sofrito" on 57th street between 1 Ave and Sutto...
Posted by on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:27:00 GMT

I am No.1 on Salsa Picante Radio Chart! Yay!

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Posted by on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 05:37:00 GMT

I'm No.2 on Salsa Picante Radio

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Posted by on Tue, 12 May 2009 21:21:00 GMT

Yoko will be in Westchester tomorrow!

To The CRYSTAL BALLROOM @ The Royal Regency Hotel 165 Tuckahoe Road, Yonkers, NY The Main Dance FloorAdditional 2nd Dance FloorTHIS Friday May 8th YOKO "LA JAPONESA SALSERA" YOKO "La Japones...
Posted by on Thu, 07 May 2009 13:05:00 GMT

Thank you very much!

I would like to thank everyone who came to support my music last night at LQs New York. I had a great time and I am proud of my band!Hope to see you soon.Yoko
Posted by on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:49:00 GMT

YOKO will be on the radio show WHCR 90.3FM El Rincon Caliente"

YOKO will be on the radio show WHCR 90.3FM El Rincon Caliente"Live Radio Show!March 26thRadio show is from 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm and YOKO will be on around 4:00pm!http://www.whcr.org/SHOW_PROFILE/el_rinc...
Posted by on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:34:00 GMT

Yoko will be on radio in Hudson Valley area this Thursday!!

YOKO will appear on"El Tumbao por la Noche".It airs Thurs from 10p-12m on 91.3FM WVKR.The station services the Hudson Valley area (upstate NY). You can stream the station at www.wvkr.org.
Posted by on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:49:00 GMT

Los Hombres son is a hit in Cali Colombia~

Now I am a blogger!I just got a news from my producer Willie Ruiz and the tune from my albumLos Hombres Son originally recorded by Ismael Miranda and Larry Harlow has been played on the radio a lot in...
Posted by on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:42:00 GMT

Yoko CD Signing on 2/7/09 Sat.

Come and meet Yoko La Japonesa Salsera on Saturday February 7th at 2pm at Casa Latina & 4pm at Rincon Musical Grand Concourse store for the Yoko La Japonesa Salsera CD signing.Casa Latina Music Shop f...
Posted by on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:00:00 GMT

My Debut Album Chosen as Salsa Picante Radio Best of 2008!

Thank you Salsa Picante Radio !!
Posted by on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:56:00 GMT