The members of DREAMS COME TRUE got their start when Nishikawa Takahiro (keyboard) met Nakamura Masato (producer and bass), who had been involved in a band that was influenced by Japanese folk, rock, and rhythm n blues music. Vocalist Yoshida Miwa would later be discovered by Takahiro.
In January 1988, they formed the band CHA-CHA & AUDREYs Project, which featured session members like Koizumi Kyoko, Nakayama Miho, and Tonneruzu. This name, however, was only temporary and they quickly changed it to DREAMS COME TRUE.
Affectionately nicknamed DCT, Dorikamu, or simply Dori in Japan, they debuted in 1989 with the simultaneous release of their self-titled album, Dreams Come True, and a single, Anata Ni Aitakute. They quickly earned a record deal with Sony EPIC Records and set out on a tour through Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. With steady single releases and a second album under their belts, the bands popularity skyrocketed. Their CD sales climbed into the millions with 1992s The Swinging Star becoming their first release to sell over three million copies in Japan.
Embarking on an even greater adventure, they made a quick trip to the USA in 1994 to record the song Eternity for the animated film The Swan Princess, which included the music video for the song when it was released on VHS.
Around this time, the members began work on various other activities. Masato ventured into composing for video games like Sega's Sonic series while Miwas solo career kicked of in 1995 with the release of an album entitled Beauty and Harmony. Through solo activities she worked with musicians like Michael Brecker (a famous jazz saxophonist), David T. Walker (guitarist for Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye), and Chuck Rainey (bassist for Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, and The Beatles). This was followed by another album release in 2003 and she also formed a duet project with RIN (Urashima Rinko) called FUNK THE PEANUTS. A light concept with comical lyrics, their four single releases were quite successful.
The year 1997 was marked by a label change for DREAMS COME TRUE, moving them from Sony Epic to Toshiba EMI for the Japanese market, while also signing with Virgin Records America, giving the band a chance to release on an international level. Songs were re-recorded in English and 1998s album Sing Or Die was made available domestically and was promoted through live performances during the US SHOW CASE TOUR in Boston, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Canada. An impressive feat, DCT ranked number one at New York's Tower Records. With newly gained confidence, they opened up to even larger international audiences with a concert in Taipei where they were seen by 25,000 people.
The following year brought trouble for DREAMS COME TRUE. In March of 2002, Nishikawa Takahiro left the band, getting into more trouble a few months later due to drug use. Coincidence or not, their contracts with Virgin Records America and Toshiba EMI were broken off that same year. The trio-gone-duo formed their own independent label, DCT Records, and released a new single titled Its All About Love under it.
The band announced their first single under Universal in 2004 along with two maxi-CDs, released just months apart. That same year, they released their first album, DIAMOND 15, as a duet.
While their success in recent years hasnt matched that of their debut and the years following it, they have maintained a constant fan base. With continuing activity in the music industry, and their work with artists of various styles, DREAMS COME TRUE will remain a solid presence in Japans past, present, and future music scene.
