Masao Koga

Japanese: 古賀政男 - こがまさお

Born: November 18, 1904 in Okawa, Fukuoka
[Died] July 25, 1978. Tokyo Composer. Enrolled at Meiji University in 1926 and joined the Mandolin Club. Popular singer Chiyako Sato, who made a special appearance at the club's concert in 1928, sang his debut work "Kage wo Mogite" (Longing for the Shadows), which was recorded by Sato after Koga graduated the following year. In 1930, he joined Nippon Columbia Records as an exclusive composer. After that, he produced hits such as "Sake wa Namida ka Tameiki ka" (Sake is Tears or Sighs) and "Oka wo Koete" (Over the Hills). His style, which inherited the yonabuki style of Shinpei Nakayama but added a touch of melancholy, became known as "Koga Melodies". Other representative works include "Yunomachi Elegy" and "Kanashii Sake" (Sad Sake). He also contributed to the Japanese pop music world by founding the Japan Composer's Association and serving as its first president, establishing the Japan Record Awards, and serving as president of the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers. After his death, he was awarded the People's Honor Award and an honorary doctorate from Meiji University.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

[生]1904.11.18. 福岡，大川
[没]1978.7.25. 東京
作曲家。 1926年明治大学入学，マンドリン倶楽部に入る。 28年同倶楽部の演奏会に特別出演した流行歌手の佐藤千夜子が，処女作『影を慕いて』をうたい，翌 29年古賀の卒業後に佐藤によって録音された。 30年日本コロムビア・レコードの専属作曲家として入社。以後『酒は涙か溜息か』『丘を越えて』などのヒット曲を生み出し，中山晋平のヨナ抜き節を受継ぎながら哀愁を加味した作風は「古賀メロディー」として親しまれた。代表作はほかに『湯の町エレジー』『悲しい酒』など。また日本作曲家協会を設立して初代会長をつとめ，日本レコード大賞を創設，日本音楽著作権協会会長もつとめるなど，日本歌謡界に貢献。没後，国民栄誉賞，および明治大学より名誉博士号が贈られた。

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