Yamash'ta was born in
Kyoto, Japan on 15 March 1947. He studied music at
Kyoto University,
Juilliard School of Music, and
Berklee College of Music, and has also lectured in music. His innovation and acrobatic drumming style earned him many accolades. In the 1960s he performed with
Thor Johnson,
Toru Takemitsu, and
Hans Werner Henze amongst others. He changed his name from Tsutomu Yamashita to the phonetic Stomu Yamash'ta and in 1969 gained worldwide recognition during a concert with
Seiji Ozawa and the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Time reviewed the concert declaring 'the star of the evening was Stomu Yamash'ta who stole the show with his virtuoso performance', and when it was over the audience gave him a five-minute standing ovation. At the turn of the 1970s he worked with
Peter Maxwell Davies and brought the Red Buddha Theatre company from Japan to Europe, acting as their director, producer and composer, writing and performing in the multi-media event
The Man From The East, with
Morris Pert's Come To The Edge providing the musical backing. He has composed for the British
Royal Ballet; contributed pieces from his albums to the
Nicolas Roeg film
The Man Who Fell to Earth (starring
David Bowie); performed in
Peter Maxwell Davies's score for
Ken Russell's
The Devils and in
John Williams' score for
Robert Altman's
Images (1972). He has also composed film scores.
Name Originally known as Tsutomu Yamashita, most of his albums for Western audiences use the name "Stomu Yamash'ta", though some (such as
Go and
Raindog) use the name "Yamashta" (without the apostrophe). ==Discography==