KANGAROO

Kangaroo is a Japanese band that emerged in the early 1980s. Formed in 1982, the group initially consisted of keyboardists Ikuko Arakaki and Hitomi Maseki, who won Best Keyboardist honors at an amateur band contest called EastWest. Kangaroo debuted in 1983 with their album "Steppin'," and by 1984, they added vocalists Midori Fukuhara and Emi Kuwasawa to their lineup. Kuwasawa later left, and the band shifted focus to center around Fukuhara's vocals. Their music style is often compared to the English jazz-funk band Shakatak, earning them the nickname "the Japanese Shakatak." Kangaroo released four albums between 1983 and 1986, including "Steppin'," "Nice Nice!! Nice!!!," "Disk," and "A Night in New York." The band's final album, "A Night in New York," was released in 1986, the same year they disbanded.

Some of their notable releases include "Steppin'," "Nice Nice!! Nice!!!," "A Night in New York+1," and "Disk." Their music often featured elegant vocals and a blend of jazz and funk elements, making them a unique presence in the Japanese music scene of the 1980s.