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WoongSan

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Woong San
Woong San in 2021
Woong San in 2021
Background information
Birth nameKim Eun Young
Born (1973-04-18) April 18, 1973 (age 51)
Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea[1]
GenresJazz, blues
OccupationSinger
Years active1996~Present
Websitewww.woongsanjazz.com

WoongSan (born Kim Eun Young) is a South Korean musician.[2] She has been a leading figure in the jazz music scene in Korea and Japan for over a decade, having performed live over 500 times since her 1998 Japanese debut. She is the first Korean-born musician to perform at New York City's historic Blue Note Jazz Club and has collaborated with many other well-known jazz musicians including Benny Green, Lonnie Plaxico, Rodney Green, Conrad Herwig and Suzuki Hisatsugu. She is also well known for training Ali (South Korean singer), a popular K-pop singer.

Biography

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When she was 18, WoongSan spent a year and a half at a Buddhist temple in the Korean countryside. During her training she had a powerful realization: her calling in life was music.[3] Initially she played in a college rock band, but after a friend played her a Billie Holiday record, she began to dedicate herself to jazz. She spent several years performing as a solo artist then released her first album accompanied by a jazz ensemble in 1996. By the end of 1998 she was a recognizable figure in both Korea and Japan, and since then, she has released six albums, garnered numerous awards and critical acclaim, and continues to tour prolifically. She has also written many songs for films.

Last year, she proved her career was an ongoing path as a music performer on the stage collaborated with Lee Ritenour.[4]

Style

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WoongSan's style is a distinctive blend of jazz, blues, Latin and funk style. Her mid-low voice does not span as much tonal ground as other famous singers, but what she lacks in range she more than makes up for in creativity and malleability.[5] As an independent lyricist, Woong San has penned powerful ballads, cozy love numbers and everything in between. Buddhism has played a prominent role in her life, and it shines through in her songwriting: she often explores the themes of freedom, mindfulness and the beauty of change in her songs. Her work has been described as "soulful, fearless, sultry."

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[6]
Love Letters —
The Blues
  • Released: November 7, 2005
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 —
Yesterday
  • Released: July 19, 2007
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 —
Fall in Love
  • Released: September 16, 2008
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 —[a]
Miss Mister (1st Gift Album)
  • Released: October 6, 2009
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 —
Close Your Eyes
  • Released: March 17, 2010
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 17
Once I Loved (2nd Gift Album)
  • Released: October 4, 2011
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 41
Tomorrow
  • Released: October 4, 2011
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 23
I Love You
  • Released: October 2, 2013
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 17
Temptation
  • Released: August 12, 2015
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 17
I'm Alright
  • Released: September 5, 2018
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 —
Love, Its Longing (사랑 그 그리움)
  • Released: May 13, 2020
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 48
Love, Its Longing, Vol. 2 (사랑 그 그리움2)
  • Released: January 18, 2022
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 98
Who Stole the Skies
  • Released: September 22, 2022
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 —
Love, Its Longing, Vol. 3 (사랑 그 그리움3)
  • Released: January 24, 2024
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 61

Compilation albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[6]
The Best
  • Released: November 13, 2014
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 17

Extended plays

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Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[6]
Jazz Is My Life
  • Released: November 1, 2016
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 40

Soundtrack appearances

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Awards and nominations

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Award-giving body Year Category Nominee/work Result Ref.
Jazz Critique's Jazz Audio Disc Awards 2011 Gold Prize – Vocals Once I Loved Won [15]
2013 Silver Prize – Vocals I Love You Won [16]
Korean Music Awards 2008 Best Jazz & Crossover Album Yesterday Won [17]
Best Jazz & Crossover Song "Yesterday" Won [18]
Musician of the Year WoongSan Nominated [19]
MBC Campus Music Festival 1993 Popular Singer Award WoongSan Won [20]
Swing Journal 2010 Gold Disk Close Your Eyes Won [21]

State honors

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Name of country, year given, and name of honor
Country Year Honor Ref.
South Korea[b] 2021 Prime Minister's Commendation [25]

Notes

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  1. ^ Fall in Love ranked number 44 on the monthly Music Industry Association of Korea album chart for September 2008.[8]
  2. ^ Honors are given at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, arranged by the Korea Creative Content Agency and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.[22][23] They are awarded to those who have contributed to the arts and South Korea's pop culture.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "재즈 뮤지션 웅산, 문경시 홍보대사 위촉". 경북일보 (in Korean). 2022-09-17. Archived from the original on 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  2. ^ "Profile of Woong San". Woong San Jazz. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Beautiful, Brooding Sound". Bubblews. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  4. ^ "The Collaboration of Eastern and Western Musicians: WoongSan & Lee Ritenour". YTN. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Styles of Woong San Music". Japan beyond 3.11 Stories of Recovery. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  6. ^ a b c Circle Album Chart positions:
  7. ^ Cumulative sales of Yesterday:
  8. ^ a b "2008년 9월 가요순위건" [September 2008 K-Pop Ranking]. Music Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  9. ^ "Album Chart, 2011.10 Month". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  10. ^ Cumulative sales of I Love You:
  11. ^ "2015년 Album Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). p. 4. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  12. ^ "Circle Album Chart – Week 21, 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  13. ^ "2014년 Album Chart (국내)" [2014 Album Chart (Domestic)]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). p. 4. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  14. ^ "Album Chart, 2016.11 Month". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 30, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  15. ^ "재즈한류 웅산, 다시 속 꽉 채웠다…'Tomorrow'". Newsis (in Korean). 2011-10-10. Archived from the original on 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-03-05 – via Naver.
  16. ^ "웅산, 일본 '재즈 오디오 디스크 대상' 은상" [WoongSan wins silver prize at Japan’s Jazz Audio Disc Awards]. KBS World News (in Korean). 2014-03-06. Archived from the original on 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  17. ^ "웅산, 한국대중음악상 '최우수 재즈&크로스오버 음반상' 수상" [WoongSan wins Best Jazz & Crossover Album at Korean Music Awards]. Star News (in Korean). 2008-03-05. Archived from the original on 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  18. ^ "웅산, 한국대중음악상 '최우수 재즈&크로스오버 노래상' 수상" [WoongSan wins Best Jazz & Crossover Song at Korean Music Awards]. Star News (in Korean). 2008-03-05. Archived from the original on 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  19. ^ "[AM7]이적·에픽하이 ＇多관왕 후보＇" [[AM7] Lee Juck, Epik High nominated for multiple crowns]. Munhwa Ilbo (in Korean). 2008-02-13. Archived from the original on 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  20. ^ "재즈 디바 '웅산' 함양서 'Fun Fun Fun Jazz'" [Jazz diva WoongSan brings 'Fun Fun Fun Jazz' to Hamyang]. Gyeongnam Ilbo (in Korean). 2014-12-07. Archived from the original on 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  21. ^ "웅산, 日 재즈전문지 '스윙저널' 골드디스크 선정 "한국인 최초"" [WoongSan the first Korean to be selected for a Gold Disk by Japanese jazz magazine 'Swing Journal']. Newsen (in Korean). 2010-01-08. Archived from the original on 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  22. ^ Hicap, Jonathan (October 18, 2018). "BTS, Red Velvet win at Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  23. ^ Yeo, Yer-im (October 25, 2018). "BTS gets award upon their return home". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2021 – via Korea JoongAng Daily.
  24. ^ Lee, Sang-won (October 25, 2016). "Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards announces winners". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  25. ^ Jo Eun-mi (October 28, 2021). "'2021년 대한민국 대중문화예술상' 오늘(28일) 개최..윤여정, 금관문화훈장 수훈" [‘2021 Republic of Korea Popular Culture and Arts Award’ held today (28th)..Yeojeong Yoon, awarded with the Order of Cultural Merit] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021 – via Naver.
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