Japanese Music Superstar Yoshiki to Compose Theme for 2012 Golden Globe Awards®

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Yoshiki, the classically trained multi-instrumentalist and leader of one of Japan's most successful rock groups, X Japan, will compose the theme for this year's Golden Globe® Awards show. The announcement was made today by Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) president Dr. Aida Takla-O'Reilly and dick clark productions (dcp) executive vice president, television, Barry Adelman. The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards airs internationally in more than 190 countries (please check local listings). In the U.S., it will be broadcast LIVE coast-to-coast on NBC on Sunday, January 15, 2012, with the pre-show from 4:00-5:00p.m. (PST)/7:00-8:00p.m. (EST), and main telecast from 5:00-8:00p.m. (PST)/8:00-11:00p.m., (EST), hosted by Ricky Gervais from the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

"Yoshiki is a world-renowned musician and composer of enormous talent and versatility, who in addition to being a rock superstar has composed for film and television," said Takla-O'Reilly. "As an international organization dedicated to creative achievements, the HFPA is delighted to have a global musical artist of Yoshiki's stature create the theme for the show."

Added Adelman, "We look forward to incorporating Yoshiki's music into the production of the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards."

"The Golden Globe Awards are extremely prestigious, but the show is also edgy," said Yoshiki, who attended the awards presentation for the first time last year. "I'm a classical pianist and a rock drummer, so it was natural to create something beautiful that also has an edge."

Produced by dick clark productions in association with the HFPA, the Golden Globe Awards are viewed in more than 190 countries worldwide. The 2011 "Golden Globe Awards" earned the event's biggest overall audience (17 million) since 2007.

Sample of Yoshiki's theme song for the 69th Golden Globes

Download link: https://files.me.com/yoshikix/7kc1vl.wav  Password: ggedit

About Yoshiki

Yoshiki, considered Asia's most influential music artist and biggest rock icon, is also a songwriter, drummer, and a classically-trained pianist. His rock group X Japan has sold 30 million singles and albums combined and filled the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome a record 18 times. Now the band's popularity is spreading throughout the world, having recently completed a sold-out World Tour, performing in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. In 1999, Yoshiki composed a piano concerto and performed it with a 77-piece orchestra to celebrate the 10th year of the Emperor of Japan's reign. In 2005, Yoshiki composed the theme song and conducted the Super World Orchestra at the opening ceremony of the World Expo. Previously, Yoshiki recorded a classical album co-produced and arranged by acclaimed Beatles producer Sir George Martin and performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Beyond music, Yoshiki has his own Visa Card and MasterCard issued by one of the largest Japanese banks. Recently, the legendary Stan Lee created a Super Hero based on him, and for the first time, a Hello Kitty product line is named after a person – "Yoshikitty."  In 2010, he launched his non-profit organization Yoshiki Foundation America , which continues to donate to various charitable organizations, including supporting Japanese Earthquake victims.  Follow Yoshiki on www.twitter.com/yoshikiofficial, www.yoshiki.net and www.xjapanmusic.com.

About the Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Founded in the 1940s during World War II, the HFPA was originally comprised of a handful of Los Angeles-based overseas journalists who sought to bridge the international community with Hollywood, and to provide distraction from the hardships of war through film. Sixty-eight years later, members of the HFPA represent 55 countries with a combined readership of 250 million in some of the world's most respected publications. Each year, the organization holds the third most watched awards show on television, the Golden Globe Awards, which has enabled the organization to donate more than $12 million to entertainment related charities and scholarship programs. For more information, please visit www.goldenglobes.org, and follow us on Twitter (@goldenglobes) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/goldenglobes) for exclusive celebrity videos and up to the minute Golden Globes news!

About dick clark productions

Founded in 1957, dick clark productions, inc. (dcp) is a leading independent producer of television programming. dcp produces perennial hits such as the "American Music Awards," "Golden Globe Awards," "Academy of Country Music Awards," and "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest." dcp also produces popular weekly television programming, including "So You Think You Can Dance," and owns and maintains one of the world's most unique and extensive entertainment libraries, which includes more than 30 years of "American Bandstand" footage.

SOURCE Hollywood Foreign Press Association