Steve Kipner
Encyclopedia
Steve Kipner is a multi-platinum-selling songwriter
and record producer
with hits spanning over a 40 year history, including chart-topping songs such as Olivia Newton-John's "Physical
", Chicago's Grammy-nominated "Hard Habit to Break
", "Genie In A Bottle
" by Christina Aguilera
, for which he won an Ivor Novello Award for International Hit of the Year, Natasha Bedingfield
's "These Words
", "The Hardest Thing
" by 98 Degrees
, "He Loves U Not
" by Dream, "Stole
" by Destiny Child's Kelly Rowland
, The Script
's "Breakeven
" and "The Man Who Can't Be Moved
", and most recently, American Idol
Season 8
Winner Kris Allen
's first single debut "Live Like We're Dying," and "Fight for This Love
" by Great Britain's Cheryl Cole.
"Fight for This Love" reached #1 on the UK singles chart and became the fastest-selling single of 2009 with 292,846 sales in its first week.
"Physical" was ranked by Billboard in 2008 as the No. 6 song among all songs that charted in the 50-year history of the Hot 100. Steve is also a director and shareholder in Phonogenic Records, a UK-based joint-venture record label with Sony Music, featuring artists such as Natasha Bedingfield and The Script.
Over the years, Steve has created songs for some of music industry's biggest artists including Heart, Janet Jackson, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, The Temptations, America, Cheap Trick, LFO, Westlife, Huey Lewis & the News, Joe Cocker, Al Jarreau, Rod Stewart, and American Idol's (Season 7) David Archuleta
. Other Billboard charting songs include "20/20" by George Benson, "Invisible Man
" by 98 Degrees, "Potential New Boyfriend
" by Dolly Parton, "Heart Attack" and "Twist of Fate
" by Olivia Newton-John, and "Impulsive
" by Wilson Phillips
.
in 1966. As a result of his father's A&R involvement in Spin Records, the members of Steve & the Board became good friends with The Bee Gees, who were also on the label.
Steve & The Board broke up in early 1967. Steve then formed a duo with Australian Steve Groves, and relocated to England in 1968 where they recorded an unsuccessful LP as "Steve & Stevie" (Toast Records). Then they renamed themselves Tin Tin
, signed to the Robert Stigwood Organization, and scored an international hit -including an American Top 20 placing- with their 1971 single, "Toast and Marmalade for Tea
," which was produced by Maurice Gibb
of The Bee Gees. The song's success led to TinTin supporting the Bee Gees on their American tour in 1972.
"Have You Heard The Word" regularly appeared on Beatles Bootleg albums as what was thought of as a long lost Beatles recording, but it was in fact Steve Kipner, Steve Groves, Maurice Gibb and Lulu's brother Billie Lawrie clowning around in a TinTin recording session.
Steve moved from London to California in 1974 and was a member of the bands "Friends"(MGM), "Skyband"(RCA), and "Think out Loud"(A&M). Steve then recorded the solo album "Knock the Walls Down" in 1979, While writing and recording for his own album, Steve came in contact with other artists who developed an interest in his songs for their albums, and accidentally fell into a songwriting career as more and more opportunities arose. Writing for others at this stage triggered the start of his songwriting career. During which time he met Australian manager Roger Davies
, who in the early 1980s was working for Olivia Newton-John's manager Lee Kramer. Steve had co-written a song with English songwriter Terry Shaddick entitled "Let's Get Physical," and played the demo to Roger, imagining the song would be great for a male singer like Rod Stewart. Lee Kramer overheard the song from the next room and thought it would be a way to promote another one of his clients (Mr. Universe) by having him appear with Olivia on her album cover. Retitled "Physical," the song spent ten weeks at #1 on the American charts and was a worldwide hit and ultimately ranked as the biggest song of the decade. It also marked a controversial moment in Newton-John's career when Kipner/Shaddick's suggestive lyrics caused the song to be banned in Utah and South Africa.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
with hits spanning over a 40 year history, including chart-topping songs such as Olivia Newton-John's "Physical
Physical (Olivia Newton-John song)
"Physical" is a song by Australian pop singer Olivia Newton-John, released in September 1981. The song was an immediate success, shipping 2 million copies in the United States, being certified Platinum, and spending 10 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, ultimately becoming Newton-John's...
", Chicago's Grammy-nominated "Hard Habit to Break
Hard Habit to Break
"Hard Habit to Break" is a song written by Steve Kipner and John Lewis Parks produced and arranged by David Foster and recorded by the group Chicago for their 1984 album Chicago 17, with Bill Champlin and Peter Cetera sharing lead vocals. Released as the second single from the album, it reached...
", "Genie In A Bottle
Genie in a Bottle
"Genie in a Bottle" is the second single by American pop recording artist, Christina Aguilera, taken from her self-titled debut album. It was co-written by David Frank, Steve Kipner, and Pamela Sheyne, and produced by Frank and Kipner respectively...
" by Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
, for which he won an Ivor Novello Award for International Hit of the Year, Natasha Bedingfield
Natasha Bedingfield
Natasha Anne Bedingfield is a British pop singer and songwriter. Bedingfield debuted in the 1990s as a member of the Christian dance/electronic group The DNA Algorithm with her siblings Daniel Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle...
's "These Words
These Words
"These Words" is a song written by Natasha Bedingfield, Steve Kipner, Andrew Frampton and Wayne Wilkins for Bedingfield's 2004 debut album Unwritten. The song is the album's opening track, and was released as its second single...
", "The Hardest Thing
The Hardest Thing (98 Degrees song)
"The Hardest Thing" is the third single released by American boy band, 98 Degrees, from their second studio album, 98 Degrees and Rising. "The Hardest Thing" peaked at #5 in the US and also experienced moderate success in Oceania, peaking at #24 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, and #5 on the...
" by 98 Degrees
98 Degrees
98 Degrees is an American adult contemporary boy band consisting of four vocalists: brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons. The group was formed by Timmons in Los Angeles, California....
, "He Loves U Not
He Loves U Not
"He Loves U Not" is girl group Dream's debut single released in 2000.-The song:Upon Dream's signing to P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records, the quartet recorded "He Loves U Not" as their breakthrough single, setting aside previously recorded songs "Do U Wanna Dance," "Baby," and "Miss You" that they had...
" by Dream, "Stole
Stole (song)
"Stole" is a song by American singer Kelly Rowland. It was written and co-produced by Dane Deviller, Sean Hosein and Steve Kipner and recorded for Rowland's solo album Simply Deep...
" by Destiny Child's Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
, The Script
The Script (band)
The Script are an Irish alternative rock band from Dublin. Based in London after signing to Sony Label Group imprint Phonogenic, the band released their eponymous debut album in August 2008...
's "Breakeven
Breakeven (song)
"Breakeven" is a song by Irish band The Script, taken from their eponymous debut album.-Music video:...
" and "The Man Who Can't Be Moved
The Man Who Can't Be Moved
"The Man Who Can't Be Moved" is the second single from Irish band The Script from their album The Script. The song was released on July 25, 2008. The song has been used heavily for the CBS show Ghost Whisperer during its fourth season. This song served as their radio promotional single in the...
", and most recently, American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
Season 8
American Idol (season 8)
The eighth season of American Idol premiered on January 13, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2009. Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson continued to judge the show's contestants, along with Ryan Seacrest as host. The season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the Idol...
Winner Kris Allen
Kris Allen
Kristopher Neil "Kris" Allen is an American musician and singer-songwriter from Conway, Arkansas, and the winner of the eighth season of American Idol...
's first single debut "Live Like We're Dying," and "Fight for This Love
Fight for This Love
"Fight for This Love" is a song by British recording artist Cheryl Cole, taken from her debut studio album, 3 Words. Initially, the song was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland as the lead single on 16 October 2009 by Fascination Records however, in 2010 it was also released in Europe as the...
" by Great Britain's Cheryl Cole.
"Fight for This Love" reached #1 on the UK singles chart and became the fastest-selling single of 2009 with 292,846 sales in its first week.
"Physical" was ranked by Billboard in 2008 as the No. 6 song among all songs that charted in the 50-year history of the Hot 100. Steve is also a director and shareholder in Phonogenic Records, a UK-based joint-venture record label with Sony Music, featuring artists such as Natasha Bedingfield and The Script.
Over the years, Steve has created songs for some of music industry's biggest artists including Heart, Janet Jackson, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, The Temptations, America, Cheap Trick, LFO, Westlife, Huey Lewis & the News, Joe Cocker, Al Jarreau, Rod Stewart, and American Idol's (Season 7) David Archuleta
David Archuleta
David Archuleta, is a former United States Air Force Airman of Okinawan stationary troops and is currently an American male kickboxer.-Biography:...
. Other Billboard charting songs include "20/20" by George Benson, "Invisible Man
Invisible Man (98 Degrees song)
"Invisible Man" is the first single from the album 98 Degrees, released on June 24, 1997. It was their breakthrough hit, peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" by 98 Degrees, "Potential New Boyfriend
Potential New Boyfriend
"Potential New Boyfriend" was a 1983 song written by Steve Kipner and John Lewis Parker, which provided a top-twenty hit for Dolly Parton on the U.S. country singles chart. The song was included on Parton's 1983 album Burlap & Satin, and released as a single in May 1983...
" by Dolly Parton, "Heart Attack" and "Twist of Fate
Twist of Fate (Olivia Newton-John song)
"Twist of Fate" is an early-1984 hit from Olivia Newton-John that headed the soundtrack for the film, Two of a Kind, starring Newton-John and John Travolta. It was written by Peter Beckett & Stephen Kipner and produced by David Foster for the film. It reached number four in Australia and Canada,...
" by Olivia Newton-John, and "Impulsive
Impulsive (song)
"Impulsive" is a song recorded by Wilson Phillips and was the third single released from their debut album Wilson Phillips. Written by Clif Magness and Steve Kipner, it was released in 1990 and reached #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was the first single to feature Wendy Wilson as the lead...
" by Wilson Phillips
Wilson Phillips
-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:-Other charted songs:-Awards and nominations:...
.
Early history
Steve began his music career where he grew up in Brisbane, Australia. Steve & The Board, Steve's first band, achieved Australian chart success with the song "Giggle Eyed Goo," co-written by his father Nat Kipner and released on Spin RecordsSpin Records
Spin Records was an Australian popular music label of the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was established in late 1966 by Clyde Packer and a group of partners including entrepreneur Harry M. Miller. The label's first A&R manager was Nat Kipner who produced several early Spin releases...
in 1966. As a result of his father's A&R involvement in Spin Records, the members of Steve & the Board became good friends with The Bee Gees, who were also on the label.
Steve & The Board broke up in early 1967. Steve then formed a duo with Australian Steve Groves, and relocated to England in 1968 where they recorded an unsuccessful LP as "Steve & Stevie" (Toast Records). Then they renamed themselves Tin Tin
Tin Tin (band)
Tin Tin was a pop/rock band formed in the UK in 1966, by expatriate Australian musicians.-Beginning:The band was formed by Steve Groves and Steve Kipner, who named the band after the popular belgian cartoon The Adventures of Tintin...
, signed to the Robert Stigwood Organization, and scored an international hit -including an American Top 20 placing- with their 1971 single, "Toast and Marmalade for Tea
Toast and Marmalade for Tea
Toast and Marmalade for Tea is a song written by Australian musician Steve Groves. It was a Top 20 U.S. hit for Groves's group Tin Tin in 1971.1970: TIN TIN - Toast And Marmalade For Tea b/w Manhattan Woman The song's distinct distorted piano melody was discovered accidentally when an engineer...
," which was produced by Maurice Gibb
Maurice Gibb
Maurice Ernest Gibb, CBE was a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He was born on the Isle of Man, the twin brother of Robin Gibb, and younger brother to Barry. He is best known as a member of the singing/songwriting trio the Bee Gees, formed with his brothers...
of The Bee Gees. The song's success led to TinTin supporting the Bee Gees on their American tour in 1972.
"Have You Heard The Word" regularly appeared on Beatles Bootleg albums as what was thought of as a long lost Beatles recording, but it was in fact Steve Kipner, Steve Groves, Maurice Gibb and Lulu's brother Billie Lawrie clowning around in a TinTin recording session.
Steve moved from London to California in 1974 and was a member of the bands "Friends"(MGM), "Skyband"(RCA), and "Think out Loud"(A&M). Steve then recorded the solo album "Knock the Walls Down" in 1979, While writing and recording for his own album, Steve came in contact with other artists who developed an interest in his songs for their albums, and accidentally fell into a songwriting career as more and more opportunities arose. Writing for others at this stage triggered the start of his songwriting career. During which time he met Australian manager Roger Davies
Roger Davies (manager)
Roger Davies is an Australian born business manager and music producer with a long career in the music industry. His career has taken him from working as a roadie in Australia in the early 1970s to managing some of the most successful female pop/rock performers in the world including Olivia...
, who in the early 1980s was working for Olivia Newton-John's manager Lee Kramer. Steve had co-written a song with English songwriter Terry Shaddick entitled "Let's Get Physical," and played the demo to Roger, imagining the song would be great for a male singer like Rod Stewart. Lee Kramer overheard the song from the next room and thought it would be a way to promote another one of his clients (Mr. Universe) by having him appear with Olivia on her album cover. Retitled "Physical," the song spent ten weeks at #1 on the American charts and was a worldwide hit and ultimately ranked as the biggest song of the decade. It also marked a controversial moment in Newton-John's career when Kipner/Shaddick's suggestive lyrics caused the song to be banned in Utah and South Africa.