From the South Bay's Daily Breeze:
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.
"All of a sudden I heard `krunk,' " Shinagawa said. "That is my guitar's last gig."
Even without a connection to Van Zandt, a similar guitar could sell for $5,000, according to prices on the Internet.
Shinagawa said it will cost about $2,000 to fix it. And it would cost at least $1,000 to buy a new Martin guitar. He won't go with a cheaper guitar because he said he wants to play a quality instrument.
Shinagawa hopes the vendor will make good and pay for it, but so far that hasn't happened. He isn't looking for pity or help, but he's using a borrowed guitar until he can save enough money to buy a new one.
He earns between $20 and $100 during each farmers market he attends.
"If I'm good, I can make money," he said.
Looking to become a professional musician, Shinagawa left his home in Misumi-cho in 1974 and traveled to the United States.
"I go to America and roam about the United States while playing the guitar for six years," he wrote on his MySpace page.
If you live in the Los Angeles area and you'd like to drop some cash into Hisao Shinagawa's guitar case, see him every Tuesday at the Torrance Farmers' Market at Wilson Park, and Sundays at the Hollywood Farmers' Market at Ivar and Selma avenues. He also shows up in Long Beach and at other markets.
To watch videos and listen to Shinagawa's music, go here.
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