Biography
Born in Tokyo, Japan, she trained on classical violin at the city’s Kunitachi School of Music, yet regular exposure to country music broadcasts on the AFN network redirected her musical path. Throughout the late 1960s she performed for American troops stationed across the Far East, Vietnam, Italy, and England. After moving to the United States she appeared on the Wheeling Jamboree and served as an opening act on tours with Faron Young, Dolly Parton, and Tammy Wynette. Her Grand Ole Opry debut introduced her fiddle work to fresh audiences, while her live shows also showcased a confident yodeling style. Singing in a lilting yet limited English, she delivered a popular version of “Locky Top” that listeners found both lightly humorous and appealing. She drew particular praise at the 1987 Wembley Festival in London for an electrifying treatment of “Orange Blossom Special.” Eventually she married, relocated permanently to Nashville, and concentrated on raising her family.