Toshi Yanagi -Artist-

In 1985, Toshi set foot on American soil.
Spending the first year in San Francisco, he immersed himself into blues clubs every night.
He played the guitar to overcome his language barrier, and soon enough he found himself performing on stage every week. A year later he moved to Los Angeles, a world-leading city where talented musicians gather to achieve their endless dreams. By joining Musicians Institute in Hollywood, Toshi absorbed Rock/soul/jazz/fusion, and contemporary music, and expanded personal network at the same time.

When Toshi graduated from Musicians Institute in 1988, he agreed to take a teaching position which the school offered him enthusiastically. After six months, he stepped out to start off asa professional guitar player.

1992 was a year that brought him an encounter with a band which sets Cecilia Noel & Wild Clams. Supported by LA’s top studio musicians, the band was popular at The Baked Potato, a renowned jazz club in LA. As a first Japanese musician to play every week at The Baked Potato, Toshi quickly became known among the packed audience. Through this opportunity, he joined Cecilia Noel & Wild Clams’ German and Cuban tour, followed by various international tours such as Sovory’s U.S. and Canadian tour, including the opening act for Sheryl Crow’s European tour and for Bryan Adams’ Italian tour(*3),Talor Daine North American Tour , 2001 Man At Work tour , Colin Hay (tour) and participated in numerous recordings. Toshi has played with David lee Roth for 2017 2018 Brent Shapiro Foundation.

From 1997, Toshi’s career makes a big leap by making appearance in a national network TV show VIBE produced by Quincy Jones. Band master and the keyboardist Greg Phillinganes strongly urged Toshi to play the guitar in his band. VIBE was a privileged music program which aired every weekday night, featuring
guest stars as Herbie Hancock, Tower Of Power, Earth, Wind & Fire and James Brown,,.etc. Playing among the biggest names gave Toshi a firsthand knowledge of what it is like to be a part of well-established musicians with a big success, and helped him develop his professional skills.
Also has Toshi was on , 1999 The Martin Short show. 2000-2002 The Wayn Brady show. 2004 was a notable year in Toshi’s career; he was named by Eikichi Yazawa, who is known to select topnotch international musicians, to join his Japan tour. Returning home after twenty years, this became his first opportunity to perform and tour professionally in Japan, since then Toshi participating in Yazawa’s Album projects and Live Tours as Band Leader Till 2014 !
He produced YOKO YAZAWA’s Album BAD CAT and Lady No 5.
2017, 2018, played with David lee Roth for charity events.
2023 Eikichi Yazawa 50th anniversary at Tokyo Olympic Stadium..
2023 2024 Besame mucho music festival with Grammy winning band LaLey

Currently,

Since 2003 Toshi has been playing with inhouse band member of the ABC’s Late Night
Talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, Since 2021 playing with 80’s pop band ABC.