Interview with the Ozaki Brothers, June 26, 2004

Interview Summary

This interview with Yasushi Ozaki, Tatsuo Arita and Husashi Ozaki begins with a discussion of when and where they were born, as well as a description of what attracted each of them to play country music, which was atypical in Japan. They talk about their musical influences, as well as making homemade instruments on which to play country music. Next, the Ozaki brothers and Arita talk about their band, the East Mountain Boys. They talk about performing, their wages, trips to the U.S. to promote their music, and eventually dissolving the East Mountain Boys to focus on their business careers and marriages. The Ozaki Brothers and Arita discuss retiring from their business careers and taking up professional music once again. Finally, the trio give their thoughts about how Bluegrass music has affected their lives.

Interview Keyword

Music--History and criticism. Bluegrass music. Bluegrass music--History and criticism. Bluegrass musicians Bluegrass music--1951-1960. Ozaki Brothers, the (Artist) East Mountain Boys (Artist) Japan Yasushi Ozaki (Artist) Husashi Ozaki (Artist) Tatsuo Arita (Artist) Buster Pack (Artist) Dan Sano (Artist)

Interview LC Subject

Music--History and criticism. Bluegrass musicians Japan Bluegrass music--1951-1960 Bluegrass music--History and criticism Bluegrass music

Interview Rights

The Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History has been licensed by the International Bluegrass Music Museum as the exclusive archival repository for this collection. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, belong to the International Bluegrass Music Museum.?Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky.