'Japanese Bob Dylan' mourning loss of instrument

A musician is mourning the loss of a beloved instrument. But the Daily Breeze reports this musician has a back story -- some call him the Japanese Bob Dylan:

Hisao Shinagawa says he has written 1,700 songs -- "more songs than Bob Dylan." Some, in fact, have dubbed him as the Japanese Bob Dylan, writing and singing about social injustice with an antique guitar given to him 28 years ago by the late country folk singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. "Someone came up to me and said, 'Do you know the difference between you and Bob Dylan?' I said, 'Yeah, he made money,' " Shinagawa said Tuesday, taking a break at the Torrance Farmers' Market at Wilson Park. Shinagawa makes money, but only a quarter or dollar at a time. He sings regularly at farmers markets in Long Beach and Hollywood. But the last few weeks have been difficult for the 62-year-old street musician. As Shinagawa was setting up at the Hollywood Farmers' Market three weeks ago, a vendor accidentally drove over his prized 1954 Martin 00-18 acoustic guitar.

Comments

[ks2problema]

That is such a dreadful drag!

I saw Hisao a number of times over the years and he is pretty unique. One doesn't like to diminish a word like "tragedy" but I can imagine that the loss of that prized guitar, given to him by a legendary songwriter who has now passed on, is deeply saddening.

Hell, I'm saddened just thinking about it.

Hang in there, Hisao!

Music lives on...