As a form of appreciation a mouth-watering concert titled Thank You SA, has been arranged by world’s celebrated musician and concert organiser Vincent Masondo, scheduled for November 8 at Johannesburg Theatre. It starts at 8pm.
Kato has been billed to perform alongside SA’s exponents Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Raymond Green, Isaac Mtshali, Godfrey Mgcina, Mdu Mtshali, Themba Mkhize, Theo Kgosinkwe, and Victor Masondo.
According to the organiser, the beneficiary of the concert is the Orlando Children’s home.
Kato has endeared herself to the Japanese public since she started her career more than four decades ago when she won the best new talent award in the Japan Record Grand Prix with her song A Red Balloon.
She was catapulted into overnight stardom when she won the same award in 1969 with her virtuoso performance of her own song Lullaby for a Lonely Night. Over the years she has written many great hits such as the Seventies’ Love Life, The Gray Eyes, An Old-Fashioned Bar and If I Could Fly; the Eighties’ No Regrets for My Life, Million Rose, and A Wrecked Ship; and the Nineties’ The River Flows.
In addition, she has successfully covered other Asian and European hits in her own style. “It is not often we get talent like this arriving on our shores. Especially with the staying power of Kato,” said Masondo.
“Rescue SA’s 50-member team braved freezing cold and difficult conditions in their non-stop search for bodies in Japan’s earthquake and tsunami-devastated areas, in March this year, and it is this effort which is being acknowledged by Kato.”
The legendary producer and musician Masondo, who is behind the Thank you SA- Tokiko Kato show, served as music director and producer of the music for the closing ceremony for the Fifa World Cup. At the same time he served as musical director for the Brenda Fassie Musical.
Not only has Masondo produced an album for Kato, but has also toured Japan two or three times a year doing recordings, musical directing and television concerts and shows. Tickets are available from R100 to R300. Tickets can be obtained from www.joburgtheatre.com
