"His voice has that perfect old-timey waver, and his yodel could bring tears to your eyes. His faithful, respectful renditions of heartbreaking country tunes is something to behold."
-SF Gate

"Darkgrass and cowboy."
-Berkeley Daily Planet

"A yodeling cowboy from way out east. It's cute as hell."
-Squidlist.com

Read more about Toshio at SFGate.com

Listen:
Peach Picking Time in Georgia
Toshio was born in Tokyo in the 1950's. Postwar >> Japan >>> embraced >>> everything American, including American popular >> music. >>> As a teenager >>> he became interested in bluegrass and country >> music. >>> One of his >>> first loves was the great John Duffy and The >> Country >>> Gentleman. He >>> later became inspired by the Mississippi legend, >>> Jimmie Rodgers. >>> Toshio learned to play banjo, guitar and mandolin >> and >>> started a >>> family band with his brother and cousin, called >> The >>> Sunny Bluegrass >>> Boys. He continued playing music through college >> and >>> then emigrated >>> to the USA to pursue his love of this music. He >> has >>> lived in >>> Atlanta, Nashville, Minneapolis and Austin, Texas. >> San >>> Francisco has >>> been his home since 1986 and he plays regularly in >>> cafes and bars >>> around town. The deep romantic nature of country >>> music, its' tales >>> of trains and cowboys and broken hearts continues >> to >>> sustain >>> Toshio's imagination and art.