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Ryo Fukui was a self-taught Japanese jazz pianist and composer renowned for his lyrical and energetic playing style. Despite a late start and geographical isolation in Sapporo, he became a cult figure in jazz, particularly after the posthumous viral success of his album 'Scenery'.Born in Hokkaido, Japan, Fukui began playing piano seriously at age 22 after hearing jazz recordings. Entirely self-taught, he developed a distinctive style blending bebop, modal jazz, and lyrical expression. He moved to Sapporo, co-founding the jazz club 'Slowboat' with his wife Yasuko in 1976. His debut album 'Scenery' (1976) and follow-up 'Mellow Dream' (1977) were recorded live at Slowboat with local musicians. He performed actively in Sapporo for decades, releasing a final album 'A Letter from Slowboat' in 1994. His music gained global recognition decades later via YouTube.

• Fukui worked as a barber before dedicating himself to jazz piano at the remarkably late age of 22.
• He was entirely self-taught as a jazz musician, developing his technique and understanding solely through listening to records and relentless practice.
• Based far from Japan's jazz epicenter (Tokyo) in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Fukui cultivated a unique sound largely outside the mainstream scene.
• He co-founded the jazz club 'Slowboat' with his wife Yasuko in Sapporo in 1976. The club became his musical home base and the recording venue for his first two albums.
• His albums 'Scenery' (1976) and 'Mellow Dream' (1977), initially obscure and self-released in limited quantities, achieved cult status decades later, particularly after 'Scenery' went viral on YouTube around 2015.
• Fukui died of complications from sepsis in Sapporo on March 15, 2016, largely unknown internationally at the time. His global fame exploded posthumously.
• A documentary film, 'Ryo Fukui: The Story of a Jazz Legend,' was released in 2020, exploring his life and the phenomenon of his rediscovery.