The Death of Hideo Shiraki

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com

Last week, I posted on Japanese drummer Hideo Shiraki, who died in 1972 at age 39. In 1962, Shiraki recorded two terrific albums, most notably Plays Horace Silver and Plays Bossa Nova. His other jazz albums are equally fabulous. Yet little is known about Shiraki in the States, since most information about him and his early death has appeared in Japan. In my post, I asked my Japanese readers for information on Shiraki. I received the following information:


Paraphrased from an email from Takafumi Hirano in Osaka..

According to an obit of Shiraki that was published in Japan in 1972 by Asahi Shimun, the cause of Shiraki's death based on his autopsy was an overdose of a tranquilizer. Which leads one to assume this was a suicide. According to the autobiography of his ex-wife, Yoshie Mizutani, a film actress still active today, Shiraki traveled to New York in 1962 where he was introduced to Art Blakey, who invited Shiarki to participate in a Gretsch Drum Night contest performance at Birdland. After the event, Blakey urged Shiraki to relocate to New York. Shiraki thought about Blakey's suggestion over the next few days but decided against the move. He said to Ms. Mizutani that there was too much to lose by leaving Japan. As the top jazz drummer there, he was considered a star, and leaving would present great risks to his career and status.  

Hiroyuki Iwaki, a famous symphonic conductor in Japan who died in 2006, noted that despite jazz's popularity in the early 1960s, its appeal began to wane. Shiraki did not enjoy playing pop and other non-jazz jobs, which he felt were beneath his abilities. In addition, during the 1960s, jazz began to shift in Japan away from hard bop, much to Shiraki's dismay. Iwaki noted that Shiarki's downfall following his performances at the 1965 Berlin Jazz Festival, when younger members of his band left for more lucrative opportunities. Soon after, trumpeter Terumasa Hino, a member of Shiraki's quintet, became one of Japan's top jazz stars. Based on the writings of Ms. Mizutani and Iwaki, Shiraki seemed to regret not taking Blakey up on his offer and relocating to the States.

Paraphrased from an email from Masayuki Hatta, assistant professor of economics and management at Surugadai University in Hanno City, Japan...

Shiraki was a great jazz musician but a troubled soul. His narcotic addiction was well known among his peers, and his working behavior became increasingly erratic as the years progressed. The pinnacle of his career was his appearance at the Berlin Jazz Festival in 1965. After that, Shiraki lost most of his brilliant sidemen, and his popularity quickly faded. The Watanabe Production talent agency released him in 1968. After the break, he left the music business and lived in relative seclusion until his death in 1972. Much of this information was reported in Asahi Shimbun's obit.

Paraphrased from an email from reader Hiroshi Itsuno of 55 Records in Tokyo...

Hideo Shiraki was addicted to sleeping pills and was found dead in his apartment, the victim of an overdose. He was considered a superstar drummer, not only in jazz but also in the TV and movie industries. He was married to Japanese actress Yosie Mizutani from 1959 to 1963 and played at the 1965 Berlin Jazz Festival with his quintet, which included trumpeter Terumasa Hino, who became a jazz star in his own right.

Throughout its history, jazz has rewarded its musicians with brief periods of spectacular stardom, blinding many artists into thinking that the music and the market would always recognize their talents. Sadly, many exceptional musicians became victims of jazz's shifting styles and never overcame the psychological shock of evaporating fame and earning power. For those committed to the music, declining opportunities and status were rationalized as personal failures rather than the natural trajectory of a movement dependent on market tastes. Shiraki was one of those unsuspecting victims. Perhaps an American, European or Japanese label will issue a complete collection of Shiraki's jazz recordings along with a robust set of liner notes in Japanese and English. He should be remembered.

JazzWax clips:
Here's drummer Hideo Shiraki on a fascinating album called Fiesta in 1961...

Here's Shiraki with his quintet playing A Night in Tunisia in 1958...

Here's Shiraki on Alone, Alone and Alone in 1965...

Used with permission by Marc Myers