Jazz singer Toshio Oida died from kidney cancer Tuesday in a Tokyo hospital, his family said. He was 78.
Oida, a pioneer among Japanese jazz singers, gained fame as a vocalist for bands, including Stardusters. He was especially known for his versions of standard numbers by Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby.
Born in Berlin, Oida also costarred in the film "Arashi wo yobu otoko" ("The Man Who Ignites Storms") in 1958 along with the late movie star Yujiro Ishihara.
His wide variety of work included roles in musicals and television dramas, hosting music programs on TV, and critiquing jazz.