j-pop lover

PROFILE

Ken Hirai is a Japanese pop music soloists. The resulting music is now a mixture of various other kinds of music: the gospel in the 70s full of appreciation to the R & B and contemporary jazz, funk and Hip Hop.

Ken Hirai whose career continued to strengthen during the more than 10 years, will continue his efforts to make the world was impressed by the unique voice and songs full of appreciation.

BIOGRAPHY

Ken Hirai career began when he auditioned SMEJ and became the winner in 1992. he made his debut with the release a single titled Precious Junk, which is also the main song of a TV drama in 1995. Thanks to the TV drama, the song became a hit and sold relatively well.

Before vacuum for 1 year and 8 months in 1998, he issued the seventh single, titled Love Love Love. For the Ken Hirai, the release of the song when it is a moment in itself, because the priority for this is to sing what must be sung, whereas this time he sang what he wanted to sing.

In 2000, he issued LAKuEN, single-8, which is the result of his first collaboration with lyricists and composers. He managed to enter "The new millennium style of soul" with a combination of a mellow voice and melancholy tone. With this he occupies longlife single hit in the Oricon charts that suddenly made him into the limelight.

Throughout the year, Ken Hirai began his career in foreign countries, which is characterized by its appearance in various international events outside of Japan, although he has not held a solo concert. Ken Hirai also perform at the Apollo Theater, New York, USA for the event as guest of Amateur Night and was greeted warmly by the local audience. He also visited Taiwan (for the first time) and participate in the MTV Taiwan Summer Summit in front of 30,000 local spectators, where he is supported by a Taiwanese singer Wang Lee-Hom, which is also a friend.

In 2001, Ken Hirai made a trip to Hong Kong in order to campaign and then won an award from the Japanese RTHK for Best New Act (Best newcomer Japan). After so many events and other promotions, CHANGING THE SAME, his 3rd album (which was released in Japan in the previous year) has sold more than 98.000 copies all over Asia (excluding Japan). 4th album released by Ken Hirai Gaining Through Losing, has sold 1.5 million copies throughout Asia (including Japan). Soon after, he toured nationally in 20 cities with tickets sold out instantly. And at the end of that same year, Ken Hirai released remix album, Kh remixed-up 1. This album shows another side of a Ken Hirai, and for the first time to attract the interest of DJs and the club's loyal visitors.

For the Ken Hirai, 2002 was a golden year. One of his dreams have become reality when he can collaborate with the composing and producing Babyface Missin 'You ~ It will of breaks my heart. Still DII same year, Ken Hirai attend the MTV Video Music Awards Japan and won the category of Best Male Artist award (best male artist). In the end he had the opportunity to hold his first solo concert diTaiwan with a best-selling tickets.

In 2003 Ken Hirai again busy with various events abroad. He was crowned as the 1st Japanese male solo vocalist (the first Japanese male solo vocalist) for MTV Unplugged Live in New York, USA. He was also interviewed by CNN's "The Music Room", which aired in 210 countries and watched by more than 230 million people.

Not only is active in many international events, in 2003 he also released two albums, Life is ... which included several hits such as Strawberry Sex and Okina Furudokei) and Ken's Bar (a compilation album of cover songs). At the end of the year, he was invited by Stevie Wonder to attend the concert and contributed Japanese voice on the song You Are the Sunshine of My Life.

To this day, Ken Hirai has released several albums and singles, and will continue to make himself known through the music industry.