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Stephen Addiss

1935 – 2022

American musician, artist, and poet

JapanologistArt historian Musician
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About Stephen Addiss

Lived 1935 – 2022 (aged 86–87). Stephen Addiss was an American japanologist, art historian, musician, painter and visual artist.

Stephen Addiss (1935 – May 11, 2022) was an American art historian, musician, painter, and calligrapher. He was a scholar of Japanese art, particularly Zen painting and calligraphy and haiga, and the author of numerous books. Earlier in his career he was, with Bill Crofut, half of the folk-music duo Addiss & Crofut, which toured internationally under United States State Department programs in the 1960s.

Early life and education Addiss was born in New York City in 1935.

Music career With Bill Crofut, Addiss formed the folk duo Addiss & Crofut, which was active for roughly sixteen years beginning in the early 1960s. On April 2, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson honored Addiss and Crofut at a White House ceremony for their cultural work in Southeast Asia. They appeared on national television, including Johnny Carson and "Captain Kangaroo",

Artwork Addiss practiced ink painting, calligraphy, and haiga. This work was exhibited in Asia, Europe, and the United States.

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Important facts

Born
1935, New York City
Birth century
Occupation
Japanologist, art historian, musician, painter, visual artist
Nationality
Employers
University of Richmond, University of Kansas
Also known as
Steve Addiss

People in Stephen Addiss's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Stephen Addiss's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Stephen Addiss?

American musician, artist, and poet (1935–2022)

When was Stephen Addiss born?

Stephen Addiss was born in 1935 in New York City.

When did Stephen Addiss die?

Stephen Addiss died on 11 May 2022.

What was Stephen Addiss's occupation?

Stephen Addiss was a japanologist, art historian, musician, painter and visual artist.

What nationality was Stephen Addiss?

Stephen Addiss was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Stephen Addiss

· Wikidata: Q55940071

· DBpedia: Stephen Addiss

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Stephen Addiss. https://biography.guide/stephen-addiss/

MLA: "Stephen Addiss." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/stephen-addiss/.

Chicago: "Stephen Addiss." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/stephen-addiss/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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