Crystal Kay

Japanese singer and actress Crystal Kay started out singing jingles for TV commercials at age 6, and she was just 13 when she released her debut single, “Eternal Memories.” ∙ Kay’s breakthrough third album, 2002’s Almost Seventeen, rose to No. 2 on the Japanese charts, where it remained for more than a year. ∙ Her collaboration with Japanese hip-hop collective m-flo on the singles “I Like It” and “REEEWIND!” became her first Top 10 hits. ∙ In 2003, Crystal Kay, her debut compilation of English-language songs, was her first album released outside Japan. ∙ “Together,” which she recorded with producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men), was the theme song for the 2006 Japanese Winter Olympics coverage. ∙ Kay was nominated for Best Actress at the 2020 Yomiuri Theater Awards for her role as Leading Player in a Japanese version of Pippin.