In San Francisco's Mission District, there is a bar called Amnesia. It is dimly lit and reasonably priced- pretty typical of the area, even of the city in general. But inside there is something distinctly unusual, phenomenal even, taking place. 55-year old Toshio Hirano is a local hero- a teaching assistant by day, and a yodeling, crooning, country music jukebox by night.
Standing alone on stage, Toshio picks and sings his way expertly and without irony through classic country songs by the legendary Jimmie Rodgers, and those in his esteemed company. Each new song is met with a roar of applause, and his eccentric banter in between is lapped up with palpable adoration by the near 50-strong audience.
Since leaving Tokyo in his 20's, Toshio's quest to find the spiritual home of American bluegrass and country music has taken him from the Appalachians to Atlanta, from Nashville to the Lone Star State. Now Settled in California, he's doing what he loves best- singing the blues, and spreading the words of great Old Timers, the grandfathers of folk.
