It’s 1972 and Singer Nobuko “JoAnne” Miyamoto and her partner Chris Ijima get “the call.” It’s Yoko Ono and John Lennon inviting them to sing on national TV. What happens next is musical history. And a young massage therapist in Miami Beach gets the business offer of a lifetime. So he shakes hands with the devil and hopes for the best.
STORIES
We Are Not Yellow Pearl
It’s 1972 and Singer Nobuko “JoAnne” Miyamoto and her partner Chris Ijima get “the call.” It’s Yoko Ono and John Lennon inviting them to sing on national TV. What happens next is musical history.
This story contains strong language and references to Japanese Internment and racism against Asians and Asian Americans. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.
Thank you, Nobuko, for sharing your story with Snap!
After their first and last TV performance, Nobuko and Chris recorded “Yellow Pearl,” “We Are The Children,” and other songs on their 1973 album A Grain of Sand: Music for the Struggle by Asians in America. And while Chris, unfortunately, passed away in 2005, Nobuko is still making music to this day.
For more, check out Noboku’s recently released memoir: Not Yo’ Butterfly: My Long Song of Relocation, Race, Love, and Revolution. And go to Noboku’s website to see what she’s working on next!
Produced by David Exumé, original score by Daniel Riera
The Accidental Arms Dealer
A young massage therapist in Miami Beach gets the business offer of a lifetime. So he shakes hands with the devil and hopes for the best.
Big thanks to David Packouz for sharing your story. If you want to find out the dirty, dirty, gritty, gritty behind this piece, check out the book written by Guy Lawson; it's called "Arms and the Dudes."
Produced by Anna Sussman & Julia DeWitt in collaboration with Guy Lawson. Original score by Renzo Gorrio.
Artwork by Teo Ducot
Season 12 - Episode 49
Tau = 10.8 from This is Love
Vote for El Hottie
Winning Colors - Snap Classic
Hounded from Spooked
The Trials of Lt. McFadden
Belly of the Beast - Snap Classic
Transcendent - Snap Classic
The Cannonball Run
Subterfuge - Snap Classic
Father Forgive Them
Weight For It
Money Truck - Snap Classic
New Folsom from On Our Watch
Photo Session
Genghis Khan
The Pink Palace - Snap Classic
No Good Turn
Hyphy Kids Got Trauma
Shake, Rattle, and Roll - Snap Classic
Con Man Daddy - Snap Classic
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Stuff You Should Know
On Being with Krista Tippett
TED Radio Hour
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Planet Money
The Dinner Party Download