Dark Ducks

A male vocal quartet formed in December 1951 in Tokyo, Japan, by former members of a college singing group, comprising Hiroshi Takamizawa (b. 9 November 1933, Shizuoka, Japan; first tenor), Tôru Sasaki (b. 18 February 1932, Fukushima, Japan; second tenor), Tetsu Kihayâ (b. 8 November 1930, Tokyo, Japan; baritone) and Hajime Tôyama (b. 26 May 1930, Tokyo, Japan; bass). Formed as the first jazz vocal quartet in Japan, they signed with Teichiku Records in 1956 and energetically and increasingly expanded their repertoire, incorporating Russian folk-songs, Japanese children's songs...