Guitar slinger Tak Matsumoto put his house in Beverly Hills for sale on the open market this month, asking $8.5 million. Matsumoto—a Grammy-winning master of the blistering solo—has owned the property going on a decade; according to public records, he picked it up in 2011, for $3.6 million.
The period Spanish Eclectic-style house was built in 1922. It is located on a storied street in the storied town, and boasts a famous name or two in its roll call of ownership; previous tenants include silent-to-sound era actress Georgia Kennedy, but it was Noel Blanc who resided here in the late 20th century.
The interiors of the home have been modernized; some of the original softness remains, but as it stands the living style is bright, open, and fairly understated. Natural-finished oak plank runs throughout the common area, and exposed beams have been given a whitewash with the rest of the walls and ceilings…until one arrives at the master, one of five bedrooms in the 7,000 square foot home. A barrel ceiling, a few soft or rounded edges, and the occasional arch voice the original narrative, if distantly.
The lot is of fair size for this corner of the 90210—about four-tenths of an acre. That’s enough room for a very private, very lush outdoor living area, with a lagoon pool and spa, a patio, an outdoor solarium dining area, a lounge, and a guesthouse.
Matsumoto and partner in crime, singer Koshi Inaba, formed B’z in the late 1980s; to date, their records have sold a hundred million copies. The last decade saw Matsumoto trading licks with jazz-rock legend Larry Carlton, earning both guitarists a Grammy.
