Saburo Watanabe

Founding banjo player with Bluegrass 45. Died November 21, 2019 in Japan at the age of 69. He was also the publisher of Moonshiner magazine, and has the distinction of being the producer for Tony Rice’s first recording project in 1973. Together with his brother, Toshio Watanabe, Sab managed the Takarazuka Bluegrass Festival in Sanda City since launching it together in 1972. The brothers also operated B.O.M. Service in nearby Hyogo, since ’72. The company, whose initials stand for Bluegrass and Old-time Music, sells US and European bluegrass CDs in Japan via their newsletter and online.