Rick Springfield
Encyclopedia
Rick Springfield is an Australian-born singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. He was a member of pop rock
group Zoot
from 1969 to 1971 and then started his solo career with his début single "Speak to the Sky" reaching the top 10 in Australia. In mid-1972, he relocated to the United States. He had a No. 1 hit with "Jessie's Girl
" in 1981 in both Australia and the US. He received the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
for "Jessie's Girl". He followed with four more top 10 US hits, "I've Done Everything for You", "Don't Talk to Strangers", "Affair of the Heart
" and "Love Somebody". His two US top 10 albums are Working Class Dog
(1981) and Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet
(1982). As an actor, he portrayed Dr. Noah Drake
on the daytime drama General Hospital
, from 1981 to 1983 and during 2005 to 2008. In 2010, Springfield published his autobiography, Late, Late at Night : a Memoir.
, a western suburb of Sydney, on 23 August 1949. Springfield is the son of Norman Springthorpe, an Australian Army career-officer, and Eileen. He has an older brother, Mike Springthorpe. Due to his father's Army career, the Springthorpe family moved to London, where they lived between 1960 to 1962. The family moved back to Australia in June 1962, where they settled in the Melbourne suburb of Ormond
.
to entertain Australian troops. Another member of MPD Ltd was Danny Finley (drummer). Upon returning to Australia, with Springfield, they formed Wickedy Wak. They were joined by Phil Blackmore on keyboards and Dick Howard. Go-Set
journalist, Ian "Molly" Meldrum, produced Wickedy Wak's single, "Billie's Bikie Boys" with Beeb Birtles
of pop rock group Zoot
as a backing vocalist.
In September 1969, Springfield replaced Roger Hicks as lead guitarist and vocalist in Zoot, with Birtles on bass guitar and vocals, Darryl Cotton
on lead vocals and guitar, and Rick Brewer on drums. Upon joining Zoot, Springfield adopted the Think Pink - Think Zoot theme that had the band members dressed head to toe in pink satin. The publicity gimmick brought attention to the group and attracted significant numbers of teenage girl fans, however it caused problems in establishing their credibility as serious rock musicians. Zoot's fifth single, "Hey Pinky", was written by Springfield. The group attempted to shake off their teeny-bopper image. They followed with a hard rock cover version of The Beatles
' hit "Eleanor Rigby
", which peaked at No. 4 on Go-Sets Top 40 in March 1971. Despite another hit single with "Freak" in April, which was written by Springfield, the band broke-up in May.
Springfield signed with Sparmac Records and issued his début solo single, "Speak to the Sky" in October, which peaked at No. 5 on the Go-Set singles chart. Sparmac label owner, Robie Porter
, was also producer and manager for Springfield. After recording his début album, Beginnings in London, Springfield moved to the United States in mid-1972. For the album, Springfield provided all the songwriting, lead vocals, guitar, keyboard and banjo. "Speak to the Sky" was issued in the US by Capitol Records
and peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100
in September. His début album Beginnings was the first of seven top 40 albums on the related Billboard 200
. However, follow-up success was hampered by rumours that Capitol Records paid people to purchase Springfield's albums, which led to some radio stations boycotting his music.
In 1973, Springfield signed to Columbia Records
and recorded his second album, Comic Book Heroes, which was also produced by Porter. In Australia, it was released on Porter's new label, Wizard Records, the album and its two singles failed to chart. Springfield was promoted as a teeny pop idol similar to David Cassidy
and Donny Osmond
. From September, he starred as "himself" in the ABC-TV Saturday morning cartoon series Mission: Magic!, for which he usually wrote and performed an original song in each episode. In 1974, Springfield issued an Australia-only album, Mission: Magic! which was "full of infectious bubblegum pop songs". His single, "Take a Hand", reached the US top 50 in 1976 and was from the album Wait for Night
, which was issued by his new label Chelsea Records. The album was produced by Mark Smith (engineer for Bachman–Turner Overdrive). During the late 1970s Springfield concentrated more on his acting career, guest starring in a number of prime time television dramas.
Springfield continued to write and record, and in 1981 released his next album, Working Class Dog
, it spawned the single, "Jessie's Girl
", which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Australian Kent Music Report
Singles Chart. It became a worldwide hit. Springfield won the 1981 Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
. Working Class Dog reached No.7 on the Billboard 200. Another top 10 single from the album was the Sammy Hagar
-penned "I've Done Everything for You
". Springfield went on to have success with follow-up albums Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet (1982) and Living in Oz (1983).
In 1984
, Springfield starred in his own movie, Hard to Hold
and recorded the majority of the material on the accompanying soundtrack
. This soundtrack included his top-ten hit, "Love Somebody" as well as several moderately successful follow-up singles. However, the movie itself was not successful, and the soundtrack's success (though higher than that of the movie) paled in comparison to previous Springfield albums. Nonetheless, Springfield released his next album, Tao
in 1985, scoring several modest hits from this release, including "State of the Heart" and "Celebrate Youth." That same year, Springfield was one of several performers who participated in the Live Aid
charity concert. Around this time, he took a brief hiatus from recording.
In 1995, Springfield formed a side-project, Sahara Snow, with Tim Pierce on guitar and Bob Marlette on keyboards and percussion, which released a self-titled album in 1997.
Springfield was a judge for the eighth annual Independent Music Awards
to support independent artists.
, which was, with some differences, the pilot episode of the original Battlestar Galactica TV series
. He also co-starred as "Keith Stewart" in episode 17, season 4 ("Dwarf in a Helium Hat") of The Rockford Files
. In 1981, Springfield became a soap opera star on General Hospital. He had signed a contract with RCA Records
and already recorded the album Working Class Dog
, which neither he nor his agent had expected would do very well, which is why Springfield took the soap role. But the song "Jessie's Girl" went to #1, and Springfield ended up both playing the role of Dr. Noah Drake
from 1981 through 1983, while simultaneously going on tour with his band. The success of the song boosted the ratings of the show, which according to Springfield "became the biggest show on TV for that summer," and the fame from the show likewise boosted the sale of the song.
In 1984, Springfield made one full length feature film, Hard to Hold
, and in 1998 he played in the film Legion
. Springfield also wrote the soundtrack for Hard To Hold. In 1992, he played the title role in the short-lived ABC series Human Target
, based on the DC Comics character of the same name
.
In 1989, Springfield starred in the film Nick Knight (Nick Knight in which he played an 800 year old vampire seeking a cure for his condition. The film was later remade as the first 2 episodes of the series Forever Knight
).
In 1991, Springfield appeared in the made for TV movie, Dying to Dance,
In addition to the roles on television and in film, Springfield also acted in musical theatre. In 1995, he was a member of the original Broadway cast of the musical Smokey Joe's Cafe
. This Tony Award
-nominated musical featured the songs of rock & roll songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. From February 2000 through December 2002, Springfield performed in EFX
Alive! at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas
, Nevada
.
Rick stars in several episodes of the third season of Showtime's Californication
. His first appearance was in episode 3 on 11 October 2009, in which he plays a "twisted version of himself"; a "hedonistic Rick Springfield" from the past.
Springfield also starred in "Ho'ohuli Na'au", an episode of Hawaii Five-0. He played the role of photographer Renny Sinclair.
. He considered it his first "grown up" relationship, despite nearly ten years' difference in their ages.
When being interviewed about his autobiography Late, Late at Night, Springfield admitted that he dated while married, and that it was a problem that he has overcome. He mentioned dating Demi Moore, Connie Hamzy, Morgana Welch and Geraldine Edwards, the inspiration for Penny Lane in Almost Famous
, as well as others.
In 1985, when his first son was born and after the release of his Tao
album, Springfield took a break from his musical career to spend more time with his family, and to deal with the depression that had affected him since his adolescence. Springfield had also battled depression in the 1970s, when the serious illness of his father (who died on 24 April 1981) and career troubles caused him to "hit the wall" and contemplate suicide.
Rick Springfield has written two songs as a dedication to his father: "April 24, 1981" (from Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet), and "My Father's Chair" (from Tao).
Springfield has a lifelong love of dogs, going back to his boyhood and used his beloved Ron on the covers of "Working Class Dog" and "Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet".
A new feature documentary titled "An Affair of the Heart: The Journey of Rick Springfield and his Devoted Fans" was filmed in 2010 and will be premiering in Malibu on 26 September 2011.
s
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
group Zoot
Zoot (band)
Zoot are a pop/rock band formed in Adelaide, South Australia in 1965 as Down the Line. They changed their name to Zoot in 1967 and by 1968 had relocated to Melbourne...
from 1969 to 1971 and then started his solo career with his début single "Speak to the Sky" reaching the top 10 in Australia. In mid-1972, he relocated to the United States. He had a No. 1 hit with "Jessie's Girl
Jessie's Girl
"Jessie's Girl" is a rock song written and performed by pop singer Rick Springfield. It was released on the album Working Class Dog. The song is about unrequited love, and centers on a young man in love with his best friend's girlfriend....
" in 1981 in both Australia and the US. He received the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance was an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to male recording artists for works containing quality vocal performances in the rock music genre...
for "Jessie's Girl". He followed with four more top 10 US hits, "I've Done Everything for You", "Don't Talk to Strangers", "Affair of the Heart
Affair of the Heart
"Affair of the Heart" is a rock song performed by pop singer Rick Springfield. It was released as the lead single from his album Living in Oz.The song entered the Billboard Top 40 chart on April 23, 1983 and peaked at number 9...
" and "Love Somebody". His two US top 10 albums are Working Class Dog
Working Class Dog
-Album cover:The unusual album cover features a picture of a Bull Terrier dog dressed in a white shirt with a black tie. The dog was Rick's pet named Ronnie, who died in 1994...
(1981) and Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet
Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet
Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet is an album by Rick Springfield, released by RCA in 1982. The album went platinum, and produced three top 40 singles; "Don't Talk to Strangers" , "What Kind of Fool Am I" and "I Get Excited"...
(1982). As an actor, he portrayed Dr. Noah Drake
Noah Drake
Dr. Noah Drake is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. Rick Springfield portrayed the role from 1981 to 1983. Springfield reprised the role from November 24, 2005 to August 24, 2007 and from July 8 to September 22, 2008....
on the daytime drama General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
, from 1981 to 1983 and during 2005 to 2008. In 2010, Springfield published his autobiography, Late, Late at Night : a Memoir.
Early life
Richard Lewis Springthorpe (later known as Rick Springfield) was born in South WentworthvilleSouth Wentworthville, New South Wales
South Wentworthville is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. South Wentworthville is located 28 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Holroyd and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region...
, a western suburb of Sydney, on 23 August 1949. Springfield is the son of Norman Springthorpe, an Australian Army career-officer, and Eileen. He has an older brother, Mike Springthorpe. Due to his father's Army career, the Springthorpe family moved to London, where they lived between 1960 to 1962. The family moved back to Australia in June 1962, where they settled in the Melbourne suburb of Ormond
Ormond, Victoria
Ormond is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Glen Eira. At the 2006 Census, Ormond had a population of 7152....
.
Music
Rick Springield was 13 when he first played guitar, and formed a band, Icy Blues, while still in high school. Springfield left school in his late teens. In 1964, he joined Moppa Blues as a guitarist alongside fellow guitarist Mike Elliott. They changed their name, first to Group X and then to Daniel Jones Ensemble by 1967. Other members of that group included Daniel Jones, Dennis Magee, and John Morgan. In 1968, Springfield was approached by Pete Watson (ex-MPD Ltd, bass guitarist) to join his group Rockhouse and he was first referred to as 'Rick Springfield'. Later in the year, Watson changed the band's name to MPD Ltd, and in October – when Springfield was 19 years old – they toured South VietnamVietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
to entertain Australian troops. Another member of MPD Ltd was Danny Finley (drummer). Upon returning to Australia, with Springfield, they formed Wickedy Wak. They were joined by Phil Blackmore on keyboards and Dick Howard. Go-Set
Go-Set
Go-Set was the first Australian pop music newspaper, published weekly from 2 February 1966 to 24 August 1974, and was founded in Melbourne by Phillip Frazer, Peter Raphael and Tony Schauble...
journalist, Ian "Molly" Meldrum, produced Wickedy Wak's single, "Billie's Bikie Boys" with Beeb Birtles
Beeb Birtles
Beeb Birtles , is a Dutch / Australian musician, one of the founding members of the Little River Band....
of pop rock group Zoot
Zoot (band)
Zoot are a pop/rock band formed in Adelaide, South Australia in 1965 as Down the Line. They changed their name to Zoot in 1967 and by 1968 had relocated to Melbourne...
as a backing vocalist.
In September 1969, Springfield replaced Roger Hicks as lead guitarist and vocalist in Zoot, with Birtles on bass guitar and vocals, Darryl Cotton
Darryl Cotton
Darryl Cotton is an Australian pop singer, television presenter and actor. Cotton is best known as a founding member of Australian rock group Zoot in 1968, along with Beeb Birtles, Rick Brewer and, later, Rick Springfield....
on lead vocals and guitar, and Rick Brewer on drums. Upon joining Zoot, Springfield adopted the Think Pink - Think Zoot theme that had the band members dressed head to toe in pink satin. The publicity gimmick brought attention to the group and attracted significant numbers of teenage girl fans, however it caused problems in establishing their credibility as serious rock musicians. Zoot's fifth single, "Hey Pinky", was written by Springfield. The group attempted to shake off their teeny-bopper image. They followed with a hard rock cover version of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' hit "Eleanor Rigby
Eleanor Rigby
"Eleanor Rigby" is a song by The Beatles, simultaneously released on the 1966 album Revolver and on a 45 rpm single. The song was written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney...
", which peaked at No. 4 on Go-Sets Top 40 in March 1971. Despite another hit single with "Freak" in April, which was written by Springfield, the band broke-up in May.
Springfield signed with Sparmac Records and issued his début solo single, "Speak to the Sky" in October, which peaked at No. 5 on the Go-Set singles chart. Sparmac label owner, Robie Porter
Robie Porter
Robie Porter is an Australian country, pop/rock musician, producer and record label owner.Beginning in 1959 he performed under the stage name Rob E.G. and recorded lap steel guitar instrumentals or covers of country-style vocals. He provided four top ten hits including two #1 hits in Sydney with...
, was also producer and manager for Springfield. After recording his début album, Beginnings in London, Springfield moved to the United States in mid-1972. For the album, Springfield provided all the songwriting, lead vocals, guitar, keyboard and banjo. "Speak to the Sky" was issued in the US by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in September. His début album Beginnings was the first of seven top 40 albums on the related Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. However, follow-up success was hampered by rumours that Capitol Records paid people to purchase Springfield's albums, which led to some radio stations boycotting his music.
In 1973, Springfield signed to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
and recorded his second album, Comic Book Heroes, which was also produced by Porter. In Australia, it was released on Porter's new label, Wizard Records, the album and its two singles failed to chart. Springfield was promoted as a teeny pop idol similar to David Cassidy
David Cassidy
David Bruce Cassidy is an American actor, singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his role as the character of Keith Partridge in the 1970s musical/sitcom The Partridge Family. He was one of pop culture's most celebrated teen idols, enjoying a successful pop career in the 1970s, and...
and Donny Osmond
Donny Osmond
Donald Clark "Donny" Osmond is an American singer, musician, actor, dancer, radio personality, and former teen idol. Osmond has also been a talk and game show host, record producer and author. In the mid 1960s, he and four of his elder brothers gained fame as the Osmond Brothers on the long...
. From September, he starred as "himself" in the ABC-TV Saturday morning cartoon series Mission: Magic!, for which he usually wrote and performed an original song in each episode. In 1974, Springfield issued an Australia-only album, Mission: Magic! which was "full of infectious bubblegum pop songs". His single, "Take a Hand", reached the US top 50 in 1976 and was from the album Wait for Night
Wait for Night
Wait for Night is an album by Australian singer-songwriter Rick Springfield. He originally released it through Chelsea Records in 1976. He later re-released it through RCA Records in 1982, and that version managed to crack into the Billboard album charts. A CD version has been available since July...
, which was issued by his new label Chelsea Records. The album was produced by Mark Smith (engineer for Bachman–Turner Overdrive). During the late 1970s Springfield concentrated more on his acting career, guest starring in a number of prime time television dramas.
Springfield continued to write and record, and in 1981 released his next album, Working Class Dog
Working Class Dog
-Album cover:The unusual album cover features a picture of a Bull Terrier dog dressed in a white shirt with a black tie. The dog was Rick's pet named Ronnie, who died in 1994...
, it spawned the single, "Jessie's Girl
Jessie's Girl
"Jessie's Girl" is a rock song written and performed by pop singer Rick Springfield. It was released on the album Working Class Dog. The song is about unrequited love, and centers on a young man in love with his best friend's girlfriend....
", which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Australian Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
Singles Chart. It became a worldwide hit. Springfield won the 1981 Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance was an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to male recording artists for works containing quality vocal performances in the rock music genre...
. Working Class Dog reached No.7 on the Billboard 200. Another top 10 single from the album was the Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
-penned "I've Done Everything for You
I've Done Everything for You
"I've Done Everything for You" is a 1978 song written and sung by American rock musician Sammy Hagar and covered by Australian singer Rick Springfield whose version became a Top 10 hit in the United States in 1981.-Hagar version:...
". Springfield went on to have success with follow-up albums Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet (1982) and Living in Oz (1983).
In 1984
1984 in film
-Events:* The Walt Disney Company founds Touchstone Pictures to release movies with subject matter deemed inappropriate for the Disney name.* Tri-Star Pictures, a joint venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, releases its first film....
, Springfield starred in his own movie, Hard to Hold
Hard to Hold (film)
Hard to Hold is a 1984 film. It was meant as a starring vehicle for Rick Springfield, who had a solid television acting resume and a blossoming rock/pop career, but had yet to breakout in feature films. It stars Springfield, Janet Eilber and Patti Hansen...
and recorded the majority of the material on the accompanying soundtrack
Hard to Hold
Hard to Hold is an album released by Rick Springfield in 1984 as the soundtrack to the movie of the same name. The single "Love Somebody" reach #5 on the US Hot Singles chart.The Album was originally released on RCA-Victor as ABL1-4935.-Track listing:...
. This soundtrack included his top-ten hit, "Love Somebody" as well as several moderately successful follow-up singles. However, the movie itself was not successful, and the soundtrack's success (though higher than that of the movie) paled in comparison to previous Springfield albums. Nonetheless, Springfield released his next album, Tao
Tao (album)
Tao is an album by pop singer Rick Springfield. It was released in 1985 on RCA Records. It was released on CD in 1990.-Track listing:#"Dance This World Away"#"Celebrate Youth"#"State of the Heart"#"Written in Rock"#"The Power of Love"...
in 1985, scoring several modest hits from this release, including "State of the Heart" and "Celebrate Youth." That same year, Springfield was one of several performers who participated in the Live Aid
Live Aid
Live Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...
charity concert. Around this time, he took a brief hiatus from recording.
In 1995, Springfield formed a side-project, Sahara Snow, with Tim Pierce on guitar and Bob Marlette on keyboards and percussion, which released a self-titled album in 1997.
Springfield was a judge for the eighth annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
to support independent artists.
Acting
In 1978, he played the character of Zac in Saga of a Star WorldSaga of a Star World
"Saga of a Star World" is the pilot for the American science fiction television series of Battlestar Galactica which was produced in 1978 by Glen A. Larson...
, which was, with some differences, the pilot episode of the original Battlestar Galactica TV series
Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction television series, created by Glen A. Larson. It starred Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict and ran for one season in 1978–79. After cancellation, its story was continued in 1980 as Galactica 1980 with Adama, Lieutenant Boomer and...
. He also co-starred as "Keith Stewart" in episode 17, season 4 ("Dwarf in a Helium Hat") of The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files is an American television drama series which aired on the NBC network between September 13, 1974 and January 10, 1980. It has remained in regular syndication to the present day. The show stars James Garner as Los Angeles-based private investigator Jim Rockford and features Noah...
. In 1981, Springfield became a soap opera star on General Hospital. He had signed a contract with RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
and already recorded the album Working Class Dog
Working Class Dog
-Album cover:The unusual album cover features a picture of a Bull Terrier dog dressed in a white shirt with a black tie. The dog was Rick's pet named Ronnie, who died in 1994...
, which neither he nor his agent had expected would do very well, which is why Springfield took the soap role. But the song "Jessie's Girl" went to #1, and Springfield ended up both playing the role of Dr. Noah Drake
Noah Drake
Dr. Noah Drake is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. Rick Springfield portrayed the role from 1981 to 1983. Springfield reprised the role from November 24, 2005 to August 24, 2007 and from July 8 to September 22, 2008....
from 1981 through 1983, while simultaneously going on tour with his band. The success of the song boosted the ratings of the show, which according to Springfield "became the biggest show on TV for that summer," and the fame from the show likewise boosted the sale of the song.
In 1984, Springfield made one full length feature film, Hard to Hold
Hard to Hold (film)
Hard to Hold is a 1984 film. It was meant as a starring vehicle for Rick Springfield, who had a solid television acting resume and a blossoming rock/pop career, but had yet to breakout in feature films. It stars Springfield, Janet Eilber and Patti Hansen...
, and in 1998 he played in the film Legion
Legion (1998 film)
Legion is a 1998 made for TV film directed by John Hess with screenplay by Patrick Highsmith and Evan Spiliotopoulos. It was produced by Avi Nesher for Mahagonny Pictures and Conquistador Entertainment Inc...
. Springfield also wrote the soundtrack for Hard To Hold. In 1992, he played the title role in the short-lived ABC series Human Target
Human Target (1992 TV series)
Human Target is an American action drama television series broadcast by ABC in the United States. It is based on the comic book character of the same title created by Len Wein and Carmine Infantino, and developed for television by Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo. The seven-episode series premiered on...
, based on the DC Comics character of the same name
Human Target
The Human Target is the name of two fictional comic book characters that have appeared in books published by DC Comics. The first is Fred Venable, who appears in Detective Comics #201 , by Edmond Hamilton and Sheldon Moldoff....
.
In 1989, Springfield starred in the film Nick Knight (Nick Knight in which he played an 800 year old vampire seeking a cure for his condition. The film was later remade as the first 2 episodes of the series Forever Knight
Forever Knight
Forever Knight was a Canadian television series about Nick Knight, an 800-year-old vampire working as a police detective in modern day Toronto. Wracked with guilt for centuries of killing others, he seeks redemption by working as a homicide detective on the night shift while struggling to find a...
).
In 1991, Springfield appeared in the made for TV movie, Dying to Dance,
In addition to the roles on television and in film, Springfield also acted in musical theatre. In 1995, he was a member of the original Broadway cast of the musical Smokey Joe's Cafe
Smokey Joe's Cafe
Smokey Joe's Cafe is a musical revue showcasing 39 pop standards, including rock and roll, rhythm and blues songs written by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller...
. This Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-nominated musical featured the songs of rock & roll songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. From February 2000 through December 2002, Springfield performed in EFX
EFX (show)
EFX was a Las Vegas production show residing at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino which opened on March 23, 1995 and closed January 1, 2003. When it premiered, it was the most expensive and largest scaled theatre installation in the world. A significant entertainment landmark of the strip for nearly 8...
Alive! at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
Rick stars in several episodes of the third season of Showtime's Californication
Californication (TV series)
Californication is an American comedy-drama that premiered on Showtime on August 13, 2007. The show was created by Tom Kapinos. The protagonist, Hank Moody , is a troubled novelist whose move to California, coupled with his writer's block, complicates his relationships with his longtime girlfriend...
. His first appearance was in episode 3 on 11 October 2009, in which he plays a "twisted version of himself"; a "hedonistic Rick Springfield" from the past.
Springfield also starred in "Ho'ohuli Na'au", an episode of Hawaii Five-0. He played the role of photographer Renny Sinclair.
General Hospital
In December 2005, Springfield was asked by the General Hospital producers to return to the show, and he returned to his role as Dr. Noah Drake after a 23-year absence. His run was subsequently extended, although as of 2007 he remains a guest star on recurring status, and not a full contract cast member.Personal life
In 1974, Springfield dated and lived with then 15-year-old actress Linda BlairLinda Blair
Linda Denise Blair is an American actress. Blair is best known for her role as the possessed child, Regan, in the 1973 film The Exorcist, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award and two Golden Globes, winning one. She reprised her role in 1977's Exorcist II: The Heretic.-Biography:Blair...
. He considered it his first "grown up" relationship, despite nearly ten years' difference in their ages.
When being interviewed about his autobiography Late, Late at Night, Springfield admitted that he dated while married, and that it was a problem that he has overcome. He mentioned dating Demi Moore, Connie Hamzy, Morgana Welch and Geraldine Edwards, the inspiration for Penny Lane in Almost Famous
Almost Famous
Almost Famous is a 2000 musical comedy-drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe and telling the fictional story of a teenage journalist writing for Rolling Stone magazine while covering the fictitious rock band Stillwater , and his efforts to get his first cover story published...
, as well as others.
In 1985, when his first son was born and after the release of his Tao
Tao (album)
Tao is an album by pop singer Rick Springfield. It was released in 1985 on RCA Records. It was released on CD in 1990.-Track listing:#"Dance This World Away"#"Celebrate Youth"#"State of the Heart"#"Written in Rock"#"The Power of Love"...
album, Springfield took a break from his musical career to spend more time with his family, and to deal with the depression that had affected him since his adolescence. Springfield had also battled depression in the 1970s, when the serious illness of his father (who died on 24 April 1981) and career troubles caused him to "hit the wall" and contemplate suicide.
Rick Springfield has written two songs as a dedication to his father: "April 24, 1981" (from Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet), and "My Father's Chair" (from Tao).
Springfield has a lifelong love of dogs, going back to his boyhood and used his beloved Ron on the covers of "Working Class Dog" and "Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet".
A new feature documentary titled "An Affair of the Heart: The Journey of Rick Springfield and his Devoted Fans" was filmed in 2010 and will be premiering in Malibu on 26 September 2011.
Discography
- Beginnings (1972)
- Comic Book Heroes (1973)
- Mission Magic! (1974)
- Wait for NightWait for NightWait for Night is an album by Australian singer-songwriter Rick Springfield. He originally released it through Chelsea Records in 1976. He later re-released it through RCA Records in 1982, and that version managed to crack into the Billboard album charts. A CD version has been available since July...
(1976) - Working Class DogWorking Class Dog-Album cover:The unusual album cover features a picture of a Bull Terrier dog dressed in a white shirt with a black tie. The dog was Rick's pet named Ronnie, who died in 1994...
(1981) - Success Hasn't Spoiled Me YetSuccess Hasn't Spoiled Me YetSuccess Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet is an album by Rick Springfield, released by RCA in 1982. The album went platinum, and produced three top 40 singles; "Don't Talk to Strangers" , "What Kind of Fool Am I" and "I Get Excited"...
(1982) - Living in OzLiving in OzLiving in Oz is an album released by Rick Springfield in 1983. The album went platinum and Springfield was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance" for the "Affair of the Heart" single, which peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.-Track listing:#"Human...
(1983) - Hard to HoldHard to HoldHard to Hold is an album released by Rick Springfield in 1984 as the soundtrack to the movie of the same name. The single "Love Somebody" reach #5 on the US Hot Singles chart.The Album was originally released on RCA-Victor as ABL1-4935.-Track listing:...
(1984) - TaoTao (album)Tao is an album by pop singer Rick Springfield. It was released in 1985 on RCA Records. It was released on CD in 1990.-Track listing:#"Dance This World Away"#"Celebrate Youth"#"State of the Heart"#"Written in Rock"#"The Power of Love"...
(1985) - Rock of LifeRock of LifeRock of Life is an album by Australian singer-songwriter Rick Springfield. He originally released it as an LP through RCA Records in 1988. The album was reached #55 on the Billboard 200 album chart, the least successful of his six RCA releases. The title-track also was a success as a single,...
(1988) - KarmaKarma (Rick Springfield album)Karma is an album by Australian singer-songwriter Rick Springfield. Following about a decade without a new album from Springfield, its 1999 release took place amid a resumption of touring as well...
(1999) - Shock/Denial/Anger/AcceptanceShock/Denial/Anger/AcceptanceShock/Denial/Anger/Acceptance is an album by Australian singer-songwriter Rick Springfield released in 2004 as a follow-up to 1999's Karma.-Personnel:*Rick Springfield - lead vocals, guitars*John Billings - bass*David Whiston - guitars...
(2004) - The Day After Yesterday (2005)
- Christmas With You (2007)
- Venus in OverdriveVenus in OverdriveVenus in Overdrive is the 14th album by rock musician Rick Springfield. According to an interview that Springfield gave to the website Songfacts, the title track was written about his wife, Barbara Porter, whom he married in 1984...
(2008) - My Precious Little One: Lullabies For A New Generation (2009)
Awards and Nominations
Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | "Jessie's Girl" | Best Rock Vocal Male Performance | |
| 1983 | "I Get Excited" | Best Rock Vocal Male Performance | |
| 1983 | "Don't Talk To Strangers" | Best Pop Vocal Performance Male | |
| 1984 | "Affair of the Heart" | Best Rock Vocal Male Performance |
External links
- RickSpringfield.com
- Official myspace page
- Rick Springfield interview
- NPR Interview
- Rick Springfield – The Early Sound City Sessions On Sonic Past Music
- Rick Springfield Interview "I miss the 80s" July 2006
- Rick Springfield/Fans Documentary "An Affair of the Heart: The Journey of Rick Springfield and his Devoted Fans" – Yellow Rick Road Productions – 2011.