Shoko Amano started her vocal career in Japan as a teen-ager. While still teen-ager she traveled to Tai Pei and Hong Kong to entertain audience.
Returning to Japan, Shoko and her band "Beat Shop" appeared as the opening act for international super stars "Freda Payne" and "The Three Degrees" at Nichigeki" and Hibiya Theaters in the famous Ginza section of Tokyo, Japan.
In 1974, Shoko eventually moved to the USA to further her musical career. She studied voice with Godaine Eagle and Carl Jones/Delta Rhythm Boys. Soon she was a featured vocalist at the Playboy and Jazz Pot Club in Los Angels. The musicians associated with her in LA.. influenced her dedication to Jazz.
This vibrant, sultry voiced song stress moved on to Chicago in1983 where she dazzled Jazz audiences at the Bulls and Moose Head Clubs. In Chi-town she also worked with the Judy Roberts Band.
In 1984 Shoko moved on to New York City where NORMAN SIMMONS applied his coaching and arranging experience to her talents.
Her recording debut SHOKO CELEBRATES IN NEW YORK CITY and 500 MILES HIGH is the results of this ten years association.
In New York City, Shoko has made special appearances at the Blue Note, Eddie Condon's Jazz Clubs, The Woldorf Astoria Hotel, Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center with Frank Wess Orchestra. She travels from New York City to Los Angels, Chicago, Japan, Jamaica and Brazil to fill ever increasing demands for her vocal talent.
Albums:
・Shoko Celebrates in New York City / Milljac Publishing Co. on October, 1988
・500 Miles High / BRC International on January, 1992
・Intimately Yours / BRC International on August, 2001
・Fly Me To The Moon / HPNY on November、2003
Performed At:
Jazz Clubs: Blue Note /NYC, Body & Soul /Japan, Eddie Condon's /NYC,
Bulls /Chicago, Moose Head /Chicago, Playboy Club /L.A., and more Concert Hall: Lincoln Center Summer Jazz /NYC, Carnegie Hall /NYC,
Swing Hall /Japan, and more Show Case: Woldorf Astoria Hotel /NYC, Caesar Park Hotel /Brazil, and more Festivals: Miyajima 1400th year Celebration /Japan, Ocho Rios Jazz Festival /Jamaica, Japanese immigrant 80th anniversary in 1988 /Brazil, Nebuta Matsuri (Japanese traditional festival) in 1995/Japan, and more
Performed With: Norman Simmons /piano, Frank Wess /sax & flute, Grady Tate /drums,
Paul West /bass, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto /piano, Chin Suzuki /bass,
Toru Yamashita /keyboards, Louis Nash /drums, Jaco Pastorius /bass,
Rufus Reid /bass, Curtis Boyd /drums, Al Harewood /drums, Libby Richman /sax,
Jay Leonhart /bass, Haruko Nara /piano, Liew Matthews /piano, and more
