She was a big star for a while in the 70's nashville and all a big record and she's gone she dont google or anything. I saw her at the Horseshoe
So Tony Vice had the house band at the old Horseshoe in the country days. They were backing up Tokyo Matsu the Singing Japanese cowgirl. No rehersal but she played her fiddle and sang the country standards and it went well until she left the the orange blossum special solo and took off into some weird Jappanese tune with completley alien chord strucure. She bowed and scraped some shades of the Sukiyaki Song and many unknown regions of the music scale. The band looked on stunned, the audience politely clapped, sort of. She hoed down and up, danced around the stage hit her high note stamped her little foot and and shouted TAKE IT? Tony looked at her shaking his head "Take it the f**k Where? and all came crashing to a halt.
I played steel guitar for a road band in the 70's, and we backed Matsu for 2 weeks.....She did a great job and we all had a ball together with her and her husband George......If anyone knows how to contact her I would appreciate it....Dick Hitchcock
ReplyDeleteI could find no mention of her anywhere I just didn't want her to be totally forgotten. any further insights would be appreciated. Gary
ReplyDeleteIf I'm not mistaken, the singing cowgirl may have ended up in Branson, or am I thinking of another Japanese fiddler?
ReplyDeleteLeading the house band at the Horseshoe was utter insanity. Remind me to tell you the story of the night when everyone ended up on the floor in a morass of overturned tables and broken glass. It involved a bunch of cops, the drunken regulars and Jeni's tits.
Tony "Morgan" Vice
Her daughter is Rose Knight (an ex girlfriend) who is currently living in Fort Bragg, California I believe. She has a band and performs regularly. You can find her on facebook and she could probably get you her mother's info. Awhile back she was doing some shows with Tokyo Matsu. I remember when they lived in Hendersonville in the early 80's and I would sneak into Rose's room while George was asleep in his recliner and her mom was out of town performing. Honestly I never met George but would recognize the top of his head. Google Rose Knight to get her contact info. Good luck. P.S. I think she is in Branson often doing shows.
ReplyDeleteRose and I were friends as kids and I currently live in branson but have not heard of them being in town. I also worked at Shoji Tabuchi Theatre for 12 years in branson..he is the one that is the Japanese fiddle player.
DeleteWalking into the Horseshoe in the 70's I heard a kick ass rendition of orange blossom. Tokyo Matsu 'natch . Mind blown returned every night with friends 'till she was gone . One enduring memory is her turning to the band and saying " gimme A chord prease.
ReplyDeleteTokyo Matsu is my aunt by marriage She was married to my uncle George Shockley. I have not seen her since the early 80's. She was great. We always loved seeing her. I would love some info on her.
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