Japan Society is proud to host the currently sold out New York debut of breakthrough singer JERO on June 9, where he will discuss his unlikely path to stardom and perform his celebrated take on the traditional Japanese balladry that is enka.

Enka is a melodic, uniquely Japanese, deeply sentimental, vocally challenging and lyrically driven style of pop ballad that reached its height of popularity in the 1960s and ’70s. Recent years have witnessed a revival of sorts in the genre as contemporary pop artists borrow from the enka tradition. Enter JERO. The thirty-year old Pittsburgh native is the first charting African-American professional enka singer in Japanese history.

Click Here to Watch JERO perform his hit single Umiyuki

Jerome Charles White Jr., a.k.a. JERO, was born of mixed Japanese and African American heritage. He was exposed to enka music at an early age by his Japanese grandmother. JERO learned Japanese from a young age and would imitate the enka performers his grandmother loved. As he grew older, his affection for the style continued, his voice improved and he moved to Japan to practice his craft. In 2008, JERO’s first single, Umiyuki (“Ocean Snow”), entered the top five of the Japanese pop charts. JERO went on to be named Best New Artist of 2008 at The 50th Annual Japan Record Awards, was invited to perform at that year’s Kohaku Uta Gassen (Japan’s most prestigious New Year’s Eve musical celebration) and has seen continued success ever since.

JERO’s hip hop clothing and dance styles set him apart as a truly unique artist among modern enka performers, who tend to dress in either the kimono or glitzy costumes. For his NYC debut, JERO will perform a selection of karaoke-accompanied enka originals as well as enka classics including those of Misora Hibari (美空ひばり) and Itsuki Hiroshi (五木ひろし) among others, and will speak at length about his childhood, his trailblazing success, the challenges he’s faced and his love for the enka tradition. Following the concert, a limited number of JERO’s CDs (generally quite difficult to acquire stateside) will be available for purchase and JERO will be autographing his albums. Additionally, JERO totebags will be on sale for only $10. All proceeds from totebag sales will be donated to JERF, The Japan Earthquake Relief Fund, set up by Japan Society in the wake of 3/11. For more information on JERF, visit http://www.japansociety.org/page/earthquake

Founded in 1907, Japan Society is a world-class, multidisciplinary hub for both English and Japanese-speaking artists and audiences. Since the inception of the Performing Arts Program in 1953, Japan Society has produced more than 600 showings of Japan’s finest performing arts to an extensive American audience in and out of New York City. Program topics range from the traditional to the avant-garde. Japan Society commissions new works, administrates national tours, organizes residency programs for American and Japanese artists and develops and distributes educational programs. The Society is responsible for hosting more than 100 events each year. An American nonprofit, nonpolitical organization, the Society’s overarching goal is to cultivate a constructive, resonant and dynamic relationship between the people of the U.S. and Japan.

For more info: http://www.japansociety.org/event/lets-enka-with-jero