1. Crystal Kay Williams is a Japanese singer, songwriter, actress and radio host.
46 Facts About Crystal Kay
1. 2.
Crystal Kay, formerly signed to Epic Records, a sub-label of Sony Music Japan for 12 years, suddenly transferred to Delicious Deli Records, a sub-label of Universal Music Japan in 2011.
3.
Crystal Kay was born and raised in Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture to a Japanese mother of Korean descent and an African-American father.
4.
Crystal Kay's father was a bassist from New Jersey and a sailor in the United States Navy stationed in Yokosuka, Japan.
5.
Crystal Kay's mother was a 23-year-old professional singer with one album while her father played music as a hobby.
6.
Crystal Kay attended Kinnick High School at the Yokosuka military base, and Sophia University.
7.
Crystal Kay briefly studied the Korean language in Seoul, learning how to read and write hangul, but does not speak Korean fluently and considers herself to be Japanese.
8.
Crystal Kay is fluent in English and Japanese, the latter influencing and making a regular appearance in her songs.
9.
Crystal Kay has cited Janet Jackson, Brandy, Aaliyah and Michael Jackson as her biggest influences.
10.
Crystal Kay began singing for TV commercials as child from the age of 4.
11.
At the age of 11 years old, Crystal Kay signed to the label Epic Records in Japan when a jingle she recorded for TV CM for Vitamin water garnered attention.
12.
Crystal Kay was only 13 years old when this album was released.
13.
The single was a success for Crystal Kay, peaking at number 44, and became her best selling single at the time of its release.
14.
Crystal Kay released her sophomore effort on August 22,2001,637: Always and Forever.
15.
Crystal Kay finished off 2001 with her seventh single, "Think of U", released on November 28,2001.
16.
Nine months after her last single, Crystal Kay released her eighth single, "Hard to Say", on August 7,2002, and sold over double than her previous best selling single, "Ex-Boyfriend".
17.
Three months later Crystal Kay released "Boyfriend " on January 22,2003.
18.
The single, called "I Like It", was released as "Crystal Kay loves m-flo" and was notably the first in a long-running hit series for m-flo.
19.
Crystal Kay performed at the 2003 Mnet Music Video Festival in Seoul, South Korea to promote its release.
20.
Just under two months after "Motherland", Crystal Kay released her first compilation album, CK5, which was released on June 30,2004, featuring a selection of tracks from Crystal Kay's four previous studio albums, as well as her latest single, "Motherland".
21.
Crystal Kay released her seventeenth single, "Koi ni Ochitara", on May 18,2005, which was used as the theme song for the drama Koi ni Ochitara: Boku no Seiko no Himitsu.
22.
Crystal Kay has stated that working with them was the personal highlight of her career and was landed on Crystal Kay as a surprise by her management.
23.
Two weeks later Crystal Kay released her sixth studio album Call Me Miss.
24.
Crystal Kay released her seventh studio album All Yours a month later on June 20,2007.
25.
On November 28,2007, Crystal Kay released her first EP, Shining.
26.
Crystal Kay starred in the commercial, in which she was seen "flying" on a reindeer.
27.
On March 3,2008, it was revealed that Crystal Kay was chosen to sing the theme song to the 2008 Pokemon film Giratina to Sora no Hanataba: Sheimi.
28.
Crystal Kay played the voice of "Nurse Joy's Chansey" in the film.
29.
Crystal Kay graduated in sociology from Sophia University in 2008, allowing her to concentrate on her career full-time.
30.
On September 2,2009, Crystal Kay released her second compilation album, entitled Best of Crystal Kay.
31.
Best of Crystal Kay was released with a "limited edition" disc containing four new songs, including "Step by Step", produced by Yasutaka Nakata of Capsule.
32.
Crystal Kay finished off the year by releasing her first remix album The Best Remixes of CK on December 16,2006.
33.
In 2010, Crystal Kay starred in her first role in a drama series.
34.
Crystal Kay released Crystal Kay Live In NHK Hall: 10th Anniversary Tour CK10 on the same day.
35.
Crystal Kay's tour was cancelled after she went to the hospital complaining of sickness and was diagnosed with Acute Nephritis.
36.
Crystal Kay was advised not to go on with the tour in order to rest and recover from her illness.
37.
Crystal Kay later performed at the August 2011 MTV Zushi Fes music festival.
38.
In 2012, Crystal Kay recorded a cover of "Eyes on Me" for the "FINAL FANTASY Orchestra Album", becoming the latest in a series of notable artists to cover the song, including Angela Aki, MayBee and Kanon.
39.
On March 17, Crystal Kay released her first cover album in fall 2020.
40.
On March 29,2022, Crystal Kay performed the national anthem and halftime show for the NBA match "Washington Wizards vs Chicago Bulls" together with the professional dance team RIZE Dancers at Capital One Arena, the home of the Washington Wizards, for an event called "JAPAN NIGHT".
41.
In February 2023, Crystal Kay released her first English EP, Start Again, a collection of three original jazz tracks and one cover.
42.
Crystal Kay previously appeared in the US and European versions of Bust a Groove in 1998, as the uncredited singer of the song "Shorty and the EZ Mouse" prior to her debut.
43.
Crystal Kay is one of the writers of third single, "Wasted Eyes," which features her spoken Japanese vocals.
44.
In September 2023, Crystal Kay performed with collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis at the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival.
45.
Crystal Kay is considered a pioneer for interracial acts in Japan and across the world.
46.
Crystal Kay has been cited as inspiration to artists outside of Japan like Joyce Wrice and UMI.