Biography Lisa Ono History

Lisa Ono

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Lisa Ono spent her childhood there until the age of 10.

At 15, she began singing and playing the guitar. Her recording debut came in 1989 with the album "Catupiry." With her effortless voice, rhythmic guitar playing, and captivating smile, she soared to immense success, playing a pivotal role in the popularity of Bossa Nova in Japan. Her 1999 album "Dream" sold over 200 thousand copies in Japan. A four-time winner of the Japan Gold Disc Award in the Jazz category, she was honored with the National Order of Rio Branco by the Brazilian government in 2013, solidifying her status as a leading figure in Bossa Nova. Lisa has graced the stage alongside icons like Antonio Carlos Jobim and jazz samba giant João Donato, earning acclaim worldwide.

In 2020, her rendition of "A Whole New World" for the Mitsui Home commercial became a hit, resonating with a sense of hope for a better world after the Corona pandemic.

In 2023, a joint compilation album titled "Amor pela Bossa Nova: The Best of Lisa Ono" from Universal Music and Sony Music was released, featuring 80 tracks with the common themes of Sol(sun), Mar(sea), Sonho(dreams) and Ceu(sky). In 2024, as she celebrates the 35th anniversary of her record debut, Lisa Ono continues to captivate audiences across Japan and Asia with her Anniversary Year Concerts, transcending age and nationality.

Lisa Ono profile photo

History

1989
February

her first single You're so unique from MIDI was released, which was a commercial jingle of Max Factor.

July

her first album Catupiry, which was recorded in Rio de Janeiro, was released.

October

Hoshi no sampo was released as a single from her debut album. This song was a commercial jingle for Sapporo wine "Borreru", and became popular.

1990
April

her 2nd album Nana, which was also recorded in Rio de Janeiro, was released.

May

her first nationwide tour in Japan started.

October

her 2nd nationwide tour in Japan started, with Doris Monteiro, Joni Alf, and Marsar, as guest artists from Brazil.

December

she performed at the John Lennon 50th anniversary concert which was held at Tokyo Dome.

1991
March

her 2nd album Nana received the Japan Gold Disc Award.

May

her 3rd album Menina, which was recorded in Rio de Janeiro and single Clea was released from BMG Victor.

September

Menina was released in the U.S.A. from BMG US Latin section.

1992

This year, Lisa established her own label "Nana label", and started to introduce fine Brazilian music to Japan with passion. Also, she published her first photo and essay book Felicidade from Jyoho center.

January

her first radio program "Serenata Carioca" of Bay-FM started.

March

Menina won the Japan Gold Disc Award.

April

her 1st VHS Menina Concert was released. The single Flor Do Campo was used as a commercial jingle for Shiseido.

April - May

her first Japanese song Taiyo no kodomo tachi was on aired by NHK's national kids program "Minnna no uta".

June

her 4th Album Serenata Carioca, which was recorded in Rio de Janeiro, L.A., and Tokyo, was released.

November

VHS Peace Bossa was released. This collaboration of scenes from Amazon and Rio de Janeiro , and Lisa's music, was produced by Hiroyuki Nakano.

1993
January

her 5th album Namorada, which was recorded in Tokyo, was released. She also performed 36 concerts at the Blue Note Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka.

February

she had her first performance at N.Y.

1994
April

her 6th album Esperanca was released. This album was recorded with the top artists including the legendary Antonio Carlos Jobim in Rio de Janeiro.

October

she had a performance at Sweet Basil in N.Y.

1995
April

her 7th album Minha Saudade, which was produced with Joao Donato was released. This was also recorded in Rio de Janeiro.

June

with Joao Donato, she toured Japan and also performed at Rio, Sao Paulo and scored a great success.

1996
June

her 8 th album Rio Bossa , which was recorded in Rio de Janeiro , was released.

1997
September

her 9th album Essencia, which was recorded in N.Y., and single Shi a wa se was released and scored a hit. In this album she recorded various songs such as a cover of the Beatles' number.

1998
July

her 10th album Bossa Carioca, which was recorded in Rio de Janeiro, was released in Japan, and also Hong-Kong. This album was a tribute to the 40th anniversary of Bossa Nova music. She invited Paolo & Daniel Jobim, who are the son and the grandson of Antonio Carlos Jobim, as guest musicians.

1999
July

her 11th album Dream was released. This album was recorded in L.A., with the leader of Bossa Nova, Oscar Castro-Neves. Good old American classic numbers which were born before Bossa Nova were selected for this album. From this album, "Moonlight Serenade" was used as a commercial jingle for Mitsubishi "Pajero-io." This album sold more than 2 hundred million copies, and was released in Hong-Kong, Taiwan and became popular.

2000
July

her 12th album Pretty World, which was recorded in N.Y., was released. This album included not only Bossa Nova numbers but numbers from pop music, became a best-seller. In Taiwan, she had her first promotion performance in Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. She also received a Gold Disc in Taiwan. From this album, her album releases in over seas such as Hong-Kong, Taiwan, China, and Korea became more active.

November

her first Christmas album Boas Festas was released. This album was recorded in Tokyo.

2001
July

her 13th album Bossa Hula Nova was released. This album's concept was "Bossa Nova" and "Hawaii", since she had performed with Teresa Bright, who is a top singer in Hawaii.

2002
July

her 14th album's concept was "Italy", and was titled Questa Bossa Mia... This album was released in all areas of Asia (Hong-Kong, Taiwan, China, Korea, Malaysia, Thai, Singapore, and Philippines), and establishes a solid position as a Bossa Nova singer.

2003
July

her 15th album Dans Monile was released. This album's concept was "France", and she collaborated with the leader of French Nouvelle Pop for more than 70 years, Henri Salvador.

2004
July

her 16th album Naima - Meu Anjo - was released. This album's concept was "Middle East & Africa." Romero Lubambo who is a Brazilian Guitarist was invited as a guest musician.

November

her 2nd Christmas album Boas Festas 2 - Feliz Natal - was released. Oscar Castro-Neves, Romero Lubambo, and Toninho Horta recorded with Lisa as guest artists.

2005
June

Lisa started her tour to Mexico and Cuba with her new concept "Latin." Her Latin trilogy Romance Latino Vol.1-3 was released in 3 months. Each album has a theme and they are "Sophisticate / Estilo", "Romantico", "Caliente."

November

she had her 3rd performance in Taiwan, and also performed in Singapore and Korea for the first time. She performed Bossa Nova classics and jazz standard numbers, and also sang local songs in their native language. Not only Japan, but the local media also reported this news and the performance was a great success. In Taiwan, her Latin trilogy won a gold disc.

2006
February

her 17th album Romance Latino Vol.1 , which was released in 2005, won the Japan Gold Disc Award "The Best Jazz Album Of The Year."

October

her 20th album Jamabalaya - Bossa Americana - was released.

2007
February

her 20th album Jamabalaya - Bossa Americana - won a platinum disc in Taiwan. Also, this album was the best-seller of the Jazz album ranking for 6 months, and was in the top 10 of the international chart for more than 6 months. This ranking was made by "KK BOX", which is the largest music news website, and at the "KK BOX Digital Music Awards", Jamabalaya - Bossa Americana- won "The Best International Album of the Year." In Japan, she received the Japan Gold Disc Award "The Best Jazz Album Of The Year" again.

March

she performed at the "Java Jazz Festival 2007" in Jakarta. This was her first performance in Indonesia but many fans came to see her performance, and at the end of the stage they gave an enthusiastic standing ovation.

June

she performed at the "2007 Shanghai Jazzy", as an opening act for the Shanghai jazz week. This was her first performance in Shanghai but all tickets of her 2 performances were sold out.

July

her 21st album Soul & Bossa was released. This album was recorded Bill Cantos, who also performed in the last album. The theme of this album is "soul music."

August

to celebrate the 80th year from Antonio Carlos Jobim's birth, she invited Paolo & Daniel Jobim, who are the son and the grandson of Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Miucha, who was a great friend of Antonio, and performed at Hibiya. This concert's title was "Sunset Bossa - Tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim - ."

October

her DVD Lisa Ono 2007 Sunset Bossa - Tribute to Antonia Carlos Jobim -was released. This DVD includes the footage of the tribute concert in August.

November

her 22 nd album The Music of Antonio Carlos Jobim "Ipanema" was released. The Jobim family, Paolo & Daniel Jobim, and Miucha also performed in this recording.

2009
April-January

her Asian tour from Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, to Bangkok was held.

March

her 2 new albums, Cheek To Cheek - Jazz Standards from RIO - and Look To The Rainbow - Jazz Standards from L.A. - were released at the same time. Both albums' theme is Jazz music, and features arrangers from Brazil and Los Angeles.

From May

Lisa Ono Concert Tour 2009 - Jazz Standards -, a tour to celebrate her two new albums, has started.

2010
February

Released her 25th album ASIA, which is a collection of folk songs from Asia. Lisa sung every song in its local language.

April

Performed in Hong Kong for 2 days.

May

Performed in Singapore.

July

Performed at Billboard Live Tokyo for 2 days with a special guest, Dori Caymi. Also she released her latest best album, Complete BEST, which covers her career of 20 years. On July 16th, she performed at Shenyang, China, in an opening ceremony for International Tourism Festival as a guest representing Japan.

December-November

She was on the road for LISA ONO Winter Bossa Tour, performing in Yokosuka, Saitama, Ibaraki, Osaka, Sapporo, Tokyo, and Sendai. On December 5th she participated in Urban Simple Life Festival at Taipei, Taiwan. Also she had two concerts in China, Shenzhen on the 29th of December and Chongqing on the 31st as her count down concert series.

2011
April

Made a guest appearance at "Earth Day Concert" which was co-hosted by Earth Day Tokyo and the Earth Summit Arrangements Committee. She completed her role as Japan's goodwill ambassador to Brazil by appealing the importance of environmental protection.

May-July

Her first "Talk & Live Tour" which featured her own memories and stories from Brazil.

June

Performed as a guest in KAMA Love Music Festival in Beijing, China.

July

Performed at Billboard Live Osaka and Tokyo for 4 days with special guest Oscar Castor Neves.

August

On August 6th, her "Lisa Ono Asia Tour 2011" started, which includes over 20 performances in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan etc. The schedule of this tour is as follows:

August 6th (Sat.) - Macao Cultural Centre, Macao
August 25th (Thu.) - Qingdao Grand Theatre, Qingdao, China
August 27th (Sat.) - Wuhan Theater, Wuhan, China
August 28th (Sun.) - Hunan Grand Theater, Changsha, China
September 4th (Sun.) - Chengdu Sports Center, Chengdu, China.
September 25th (Sun.) - Jiageng Stadium, Xiamen, China
September 27th (Tue.) - KITEC Rotunda Star Hall, Hong Kong
October 6th (Thu.) - National Dr. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, Taiwan
October 8th (Sat.) - Chung-Shan Hall, Taiwan
October 9th (Sun.) - Kaohsiung Culture Center, Taiwan
November 17th (Thu.) - Shenzhen Concert Hall, Shenzhen, China
November 18th (Fri.) - Zhongshan Culture and Arts Center Grand Theater, Zhongshan, China
November 19th (Sat.) - Lingnan Pearl Stadium, Foshan, China
November 20th (Sun.) - Symphony Hall of Guangdong Xinghai Concert Hall, Guangzhou, China
November 25th (Fri.) - Nanjing Great Hall of the People, Nanjing, China
November 27th (Sun.) - Shanghai Grand Stage, Shanghai, China
December 9th (Fri.) - Fuzhou Gymnasium, Fuzhou, China
December 11th (Sun.) - Dalian World Expo Cneter, Dalian, China
December 25th (Sun.) - Great Hall of Shandong, Jinan, China
December 27th (Tue.) - Changzhou Grand Theatre, Changzhou, China
December 29th (Thu.) - Hangzhou Theater, Hangzhou, China
December 31st (Sat.) - Beijing Gymnasium, Beijing, China
Performances in Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thai and Brunei will be in 2012.

October

On October 26th she released her 26th album Japao. As the goal for her musical journey of the world she chose Japan for the theme of the album.

2012
July - December

Had Asian tour performances in Taiwan, China and several other places between July ~ December, 2012

2013
August

Was awarded to observe many years of achievement. Awarded, the medal called "RIO BRANCO", which is one of the highest Medals presented by the Brazilian Government.

October

Sang the ending song of the Chinese movie called "Fall Of Ming".

December

Performed at Christmas＆New Year's concerts held in six cities in China.

2014
January

Performed for commercials for Nomura Real Estate ,"PROUD" Series was arranged for(PROUD x Whitehaven Beach with RISA ONO) in the called "Someone to watch over me"

February

Attended as a guest for Tsugaru shamisen player, HIROMITSU AGATSUMA's performance, a combination of Japanese and Western songs in Hyogo Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture, and Tokyo.

April

JAZZ WEEK TOKYO, 2014 (in Shibuya Orchard Hall), Titled the "Brazil Project", one of the masterpieces, Antonio Carlos Jobim's famous songs was performed by Lee Ritenour (Dave Grusin) and Antonio Carlos' grandson called Daniel Jobim. Their performance was great and fully successful.

May

In May A commerations of the 25th anniversary from the date of the first CD published. Return to the origin and announced the music ALBUM called "BRASIL".
From Brazil in June, Mario Ajine, a longtime friend, who arranged this music, joined the performance for four days in Blue note Tokyo. All the seats in all eight performances were SOLDOUT. There were also many standing customers gathered to see the performance.

July

One of the three most famous JAZZ FESTIVALS in the world, the Montreux Jazz Festival. Attend as a guest of the Blue note TOKYO ALL ☆ BIG BAND.

September

The Lisa Ono Japao tour - Travel around the world with the song of Bossa Nova - Started the journey from performances in West Japan. Traveled many places and sold out all the ticket in several places.
Also, performance overseas started.

November

2015 GW roadshow,"The queen's palace", the ending song of the movie "PLAISIR D'AMOUR" was played by Ono Lisa.
The story was written by Jiro Asada's, played by actor called Yutaka Mizutani.
Also, "Bossa Disney Best" was announced by Disney and was created with many famous bossa nova music artists.
In the first recording, Lisa covered the song "Let It Go" from the movie called "Frozen" into the bossa nova style.

December

The China tour in 2014 (travel all 14 cities) started from Beijing jazz fes in September. It was also in the beginning of the year of 2015.

2015
March

Southeast Asia's largest music event,"Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival, was performed in 2015. There were full of standing customers in the locations which has available customer space for 4,500 people. Those performances were totally successful with great cheers for two days.
Also, right after returning back to Japan, we had a "3/11 Tohoku Earthquake events " (CINEMA MUSIC JAM for Tohoku @ Toyosu PIT). Japanese music band called " Gosupera-zu" and Sarah, Oleic, Hajime Mizoguchi joined the event.

May

Members of the popular Korean artist group "Brown Eyed Soul", JUNG YUP (Anne Jon'yobu)'s original 3rd album, "Merry Go Round"'s one of the songs (A Thousand Miles) were joined with Ono.
In addition, in the Nikkei newspaper (Japanese newspaper that is published five times a week in Sao Paulo City), asked for the interview to find out what kind of food that Lisa ate in Brazil and wanted to announce that in Japan. From that, a cooking essay called "Lisa Ono's of Bom Apetite!" cooking essay "was started to be publish.

2016
August

Shanhai music festival
Concert in Ishinomaki(reconstracting support concert for Fukushima)

September

Jwave Jet stream 50 anniversary Concert
Legends meet Jet stream, my sound graffit

concert in Iseyama koutai Shrine

October

Billboards Tokyo & Osaka with Toninho Horta

December to January 2017

China tour

2017
February

LISA ONO valentines concert in Shanghai
Billboard classics festival2017

March

Billboards Classics in Toyama
Lisa Ono spring concert 2017 at Osaka Shinkabukiza

May

JFN Kirin Good luck live

June

2017 Lisa Ono bossanova concert in Otaku

July

TV BS Japan day special program for Japanese songs to be sung forever

August

Lisa Ono Bossa Nova Night at Yatsugatake
Lisa Ono Bossa Nova concert, a charity concert for Childen Cancer Gold Ribbon association

October

Lisa Ono with Brasilian friends at Blue Note Tokyo & Nagoya,
Billboard Osaka and Hamamatsu Jazz week ,Yamaha jazz festival in Hamamatsu

December to January 2018

China Tour