Kamasami Kong

Last updated
Kamasami Kong
Kamasami Kong with mic, 2017.jpg
Kong in 2017
Born
Robert W. Zix

(1949-12-21) December 21, 1949 (age 74)
Hamilton, Ohio, United States
Occupation(s) Disc jockey, radio personality
Years active1965–present
Career
ShowThe Kong Show
Station Love FM
Time slot19:00–21:00
ShowKamasami Kong Show
Station FM Cocolo
Time slot24:00–25:00
Country Japan

Robert W. Zix (born December 21, 1949), known professionally as Kamasami Kong, is an American disc jockey and radio host. Previously a host for the Hawaii radio station KIKI, Kong has since moved to Tokyo, Japan to continue his career. [1] [2] Kong's broadcast style and distinct voice led him to get a cult following in Japan due to him playing city pop in Hawaii in the genre's early stages, as well as lending his voice to multiple city pop compilation albums. [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Kong was born Robert W. Zix on December 21, 1949, in Hamilton, Ohio. He developed an interest in radio at an early age, starting his own amateur radio for his neighborhood as a teenager. [4] During the Vietnam War, he was drafted and became a disc jockey for the American Forces Network in South Korea. During his time in South Korea, he was able to listen to the Japanese radio program All Night Nippon with Katsuya Kobayashi. After the war ended, he moved to Honolulu from Oregon the year after and started his radio career there. [1]

Career

Kong in 1980. Kamasami Kong, 1980.jpg
Kong in 1980.

Kong began his radio career in 1965 with the radio station WMOH before moving to Hawaii in the 1970s. Kong explained that the program director wanted him to have the name Jack Stone, which he disliked and was tasked with coming up with his new name. He wanted a name that was also an onomatopoeia, and after hearing the sound of a gong, he decided to give himself the name Gong. He also explained that one day, a little girl had called and misinterpreted his slogan, "I call myself Gong!" as the name Kamasami Kong, and he chose the name moving forward. [1] In early programs, he used the intro of the song "King Kong" by The Jimmy Castor Bunch as the lyric "Komo Sambe Kong!" was similar to his name.

In 1978, Kong became the first host of the new show Hawaiian Moving Company, being replaced by Michael W. Perry after two seasons. [5] [6]

By the late 1970s, Kong's shows were being recorded by Japanese listeners in Hawaii and brought back to Japan, where they sold bootleg cassette tapes of Kong. [4] The sales of the tapes led Kong to have a cult following in Japan, and in 1979, CBS/Sony approached Kong to create an album based on Kong speaking as if he was hosting his show, but with no music as to allow listeners to create their own shows with Kong's voice. The album, Disc Jockey In Hawaii, helped propel Kong to stardom in Japan. [1] In 1982, he was featured in the album Surf Break from Sea Breeze by Toshiki Kadomatsu, where he talked over the songs from Kadomatsu's album Sea Breeze as if it was his radio show, and would later do the same for multiple other albums. [7]

After moving to Japan in 2005, Kong has hosted The Kong Show on Love FM and Kamasami Kong Show on FM Cocolo. In 2015, he was featured on the album Pacific Oasis, [8] and in 2023, he was featured on the album FM STATION 8090, which followed previous DJ albums and compiled various city pop songs. [9] [10] [11]

In 2005, Kong moved from Hawaii to Osaka due to frustration with the U.S. stations, where he became a DJ for JOFV-FM while being sponsored by Mitsubishi Motors. He wasn't allowed to be streamed except for a KTUH alumni show. [12]

Personal life

Before moving to Japan, Kong had lived in Hawaii and traveled from Japan to Hawaii multiple times. Kong developed melanoma due to not using sunscreen, being successfully treated for it in 2012 but still not allowed to be in the sun. Regardless, he was advised to not go in the sun, and in 2005, he moved to Japan. [4]

Credits

Radio

YearShow
2021–presentKamasami Kong Show
2018–presentThe Kong Show
1989–1998Pacific Oasis
2010–2021
2016Cotton Club Music Tree
2010Radio-i Kamasami Kong Show
2006–2009Eternity
2005–2006On Saturday Kamasami Ride Kong Show

Music

YearArtistTitle
1979Kamasami KongD.J In Hawaii
1984 Toshiki Kadomatsu Summer Time Romance ~ From Kiki
Tatsuro Yamashita Come Along
Come Along II
1985 S. Kiyotaka & Omega Tribe Kamasami Kong DJ Special
1986 Toshiki Kadomatsu Surf Break From Sea Breeze ~ D.J. Special
2017 Tatsuro Yamashita Come Along lll

Film

YearFilmRole
1984 Big Wave Narrator

Television

Year(s)ShowRole
1978–2004Hawaiian Moving CompanyHost
1980Brown Bags to Stardom
1984Breakin' Hawaii

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 St. Michel, Patrick (July 15, 2022). "Kamasami Kong gives voice to city pop's resurgence on 'FM Station 8090'". The Japan Times .
  2. ↑ Engle, Erika (December 12, 2011). "New radio stations spice up local market for music, jobs". Honolulu Star-Advertiser .
  3. ↑ "（ラジオアングル）７２歳、いつでも青春 森綾". The Asahi Shimbun . October 19, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Yee, Chelsee (February 21, 2022). "Kamasami Kong sets the mood for Japanese longing for their Hawaiian vacation". KHON-TV .
  5. ↑ Engle, Erika (January 23, 2004). "'Hawaiian Moving Co.' winding down after 26 years". Honolulu Star-Bulletin .
  6. ↑ Sigall, Bob (December 9, 2011). "'Moving Company' traveled far beyond its disco origins". Honolulu Star-Advertiser .
  7. ↑ "バブル期流行のDJカセット30年ぶり復活、カマサミ・コングのDJをフィーチャー". MusicVoice (in Japanese). February 24, 2015.
  8. ↑ "カマサミ・コングのDJをフィーチャーしたコンピ盤『PACIFIC OASIS』発売". CDJournal (in Japanese). February 24, 2015.
  9. ↑ "『FM STATION 8090』2タイトル同時リリース カマサミコング、小林克也、早見優が80'sシティポップをナビゲート". Real Sound (in Japanese). April 25, 2023.
  10. ↑ "雑誌「FM STATION」の世界観を再現したコンピ盤、今年は2作同時リリース". Natalie (in Japanese). April 25, 2023.
  11. ↑ Hornyak, Tim (December 20, 2023). "City Pop's Endless Summer". Tokyo Weekender .
  12. ↑ Lum, Burt (September 16, 2003). "Former Hawai'i DJ can't get streamed". The Honolulu Advertiser .
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