Wainwright (musician)
Encyclopedia
Wainwright is a singer-songwriter
from Canada
. He has 2 albums released, The Circus Is Coming To Town and Wainwright. He is the background vocalist and opening act for Tears For Fears
.
and Manchester
. As a young boy he relocated to St. Catharines, Ontario
, Canada
. He began playing guitar and writing songs when he was 10. He founded the band “Flat Broke” in high school along with his brother. He has released 2 albums, The Circus Is Coming To Town and Wainwright. Through Charlton Pettus, bass guitarist for Tears for Fears
, he met and established a relationship with Curt Smith
and Roland Orzabal
. Since 2009, he has toured with Tears For Fears
as their opening act and background vocalist.
(Aerosmith
) on keyboards, Curt Smith
(Tears for Fears
) on vocals, and Fred Eltringham (The Wallflowers
, Dixie Chicks
) on drums. The album also features guest singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno
(a John Lennon Songwriting Contest winner) on two tracks. “Wainwright” was mastered by Ted Jensen
(Norah Jones
, Metallica
) at Sterling Sound. The album artwork was created by artist Alan Aldridge
(Beatles, Elton John
).
of Tears For Fears
. Contributors to the album include: Charlton Pettus, Roland Orzabal, Reggie Hamilton (Tina Turner
, Christina Aguilera
, John Mellencamp
), Doug Petty (Tears For Fears
) on piano, Brian Geltner (Johnny Society
, Tears For Fears
, Dave Wilson (Michael Bublé
, Englebert Humperdink) on horns, Holly Palmer
(David Bowie
, k.d. Lang
) on vocals and Robert Patrick
. The CD was illustrated and designed by Canadian designer, Cassie Randall. .
co-founder Curt Smith
announced that Wainwright will open for the group on most of its 2009 West Coast tour dates]. Since then, Wainwright has been their background vocalist and opened for almost all their shows for the 2010 Asia Tour, 2010 East Coast Tour and 2011 West Coast, Mexico and South American Tour. He is most notable for his rendition of "Woman In Chains" and "Bad Man Song" where he replaces the vocals for Oleta Adams
.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He has 2 albums released, The Circus Is Coming To Town and Wainwright. He is the background vocalist and opening act for Tears For Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
.
Biography
Michael Wainwright is a Canadian singer, songwriter and musician . He was born in Warrington, England, a small working class town between LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. As a young boy he relocated to St. Catharines, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He began playing guitar and writing songs when he was 10. He founded the band “Flat Broke” in high school along with his brother. He has released 2 albums, The Circus Is Coming To Town and Wainwright. Through Charlton Pettus, bass guitarist for Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
, he met and established a relationship with Curt Smith
Curt Smith
Curt Smith is an English musician. He is best known for forming the band Tears for Fears, along with childhood friend Roland Orzabal. Also a solo artist, he released his third album Halfway, Pleased in May 2008....
and Roland Orzabal
Roland Orzabal
Roland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana is an English musician, songwriter and record producer. He is known mainly as a co-founding member of Tears for Fears, of which he is the main songwriter and joint vocalist, but he has also achieved success as a producer of other artists.- Early career :Orzabal...
. Since 2009, he has toured with Tears For Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
as their opening act and background vocalist.
Wainwright (EP)
Michael Wainwright released his first 6-song EP in 2002. It was co-produced by Niagara Falls producer and studio owner Dean Malton at Groundloop Productions. The track "Radio on" placed second (out of 5,000 entries) in Toronto's Mix 99.9 13th annual songwriting competition.Wainwright (album)
Michael Wainwright met producer Charlton Pettus, of Tears for Fears, in 2004 and began recording songs which eventually became the album "Wainwright," released in February 2008 on Town Records. Guest musicians include Russ IrwinRuss Irwin
Russ Irwin is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Melville, New York. He was signed by Charles Koppelman to SBK Records in 1991, and a self-titled album, produced by Phil Ramone, followed later that year...
(Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
) on keyboards, Curt Smith
Curt Smith
Curt Smith is an English musician. He is best known for forming the band Tears for Fears, along with childhood friend Roland Orzabal. Also a solo artist, he released his third album Halfway, Pleased in May 2008....
(Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
) on vocals, and Fred Eltringham (The Wallflowers
The Wallflowers
The Wallflowers is a rock band from Los Angeles, California, fronted by Jakob Dylan. Formed in 1989 and originally known as The Apples, the ensemble has gone through numerous personnel changes with Dylan the only constant....
, Dixie Chicks
Dixie Chicks
The Dixie Chicks are an American country band which has also successfully crossed over into other genres. The band is composed of founding members Martie Erwin Maguire and Emily Erwin Robison, and lead singer Natalie Maines...
) on drums. The album also features guest singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno
Gaby Moreno
Gaby Moreno is originally from Guatemala City, Guatemala and is an award-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist. She now resides in Los Angeles, California.-Biography:...
(a John Lennon Songwriting Contest winner) on two tracks. “Wainwright” was mastered by Ted Jensen
Ted Jensen
Ted Jensen is an American recording engineer. Jensen is the chief mastering engineer at Sterling Sound. He started his career as a mastering engineer in 1976 and is currently the most active Mastering Engineer in the industry...
(Norah Jones
Norah Jones
Norah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
) at Sterling Sound. The album artwork was created by artist Alan Aldridge
Alan Aldridge
Alan Aldridge is an English artist, graphic designer and illustrator.-Personal life:Born in 1943 in east London, he currently resides in Los Angeles...
(Beatles, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
).
The Circus Is Coming To Town
September 2011 brought the release of Wainwright's 2nd album "The Circus Is Coming To Town". The album was once again produced by Charlton Pettus of Town Record. All songs were written in collaboration between Wainwright and Pettus with one exception of titled, "Heart-Shaped Man" which was penned by Roland OrzabalRoland Orzabal
Roland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana is an English musician, songwriter and record producer. He is known mainly as a co-founding member of Tears for Fears, of which he is the main songwriter and joint vocalist, but he has also achieved success as a producer of other artists.- Early career :Orzabal...
of Tears For Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
. Contributors to the album include: Charlton Pettus, Roland Orzabal, Reggie Hamilton (Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
, 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...
, John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
), Doug Petty (Tears For Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
) on piano, Brian Geltner (Johnny Society
Johnny Society
-Biography:Johnny Society was formed in 1996 by multi-instrumentalist Kenny Siegal and Brian Geltner. They had released their first album on Geffen under the name Hunk early 1996 after the Hunk debut they disbanded & reformed as Johnny Society...
, Tears For Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
, Dave Wilson (Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé
Michael Steven Bublé is a Canadian singer. He has won several awards, including three Grammy Awards and multiple Juno Awards. His first album reached the top ten in Canada and the UK. He found worldwide commercial success with his 2005 album It's Time, and his 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible was...
, Englebert Humperdink) on horns, Holly Palmer
Holly Palmer
Holly Palmer is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. She has released four albums as a solo artist, and has toured extensively as a vocalist with acts including David Bowie and Gnarls Barkley. She is also the "Cheesecake" partner in Bubbles & Cheesecake, an...
(David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, k.d. Lang
K.D. Lang
Kathryn Dawn Lang, OC , known by her stage name k.d. lang, is a Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter and occasional actress...
) on vocals and Robert Patrick
Robert Patrick
Robert Hammond Patrick, Jr. is an American actor, known for his leading and supporting roles in a number of films and television shows....
. The CD was illustrated and designed by Canadian designer, Cassie Randall. .
Guitar and a Car Tour
In May 2008, Wainwright launched his “Guitar and a Car” tour, which has taken him across Canada, the United States, and (in October 2008) to the United Kingdom. He’s documenting the tour online via his YouTube page.Tears for Fears Tours
Tears for FearsTears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
co-founder Curt Smith
Curt Smith
Curt Smith is an English musician. He is best known for forming the band Tears for Fears, along with childhood friend Roland Orzabal. Also a solo artist, he released his third album Halfway, Pleased in May 2008....
announced that Wainwright will open for the group on most of its 2009 West Coast tour dates]. Since then, Wainwright has been their background vocalist and opened for almost all their shows for the 2010 Asia Tour, 2010 East Coast Tour and 2011 West Coast, Mexico and South American Tour. He is most notable for his rendition of "Woman In Chains" and "Bad Man Song" where he replaces the vocals for Oleta Adams
Oleta Adams
Oleta Adams is an American soul, jazz, and gospel singer and pianist.-Biography:Adams was born the daughter of a preacher and was raised with gospel music. In her youth her family moved to Yakima, Washington, which is sometimes shown as her place of birth.Before gaining her opportunity to perform,...
.
Contributions
- 2007: Contributed three songs to the soundtrack of Moving McAllisterMoving McAllisterMoving McAllister is a 2007 American comedy film starring Mila Kunis, Jon Heder, Rutger Hauer, and Billy Drago. The film was shot largely in Utah and St Johns County, Florida and was produced by Camera 40 Productions...
, starring Ben Gourley, John Heder, Mila KunisMila KunisMilena "Mila" Kunis is an American actress. Her work includes the role of Jackie Burkhart on the TV series That '70s Show and the voice of Meg Griffin on the animated series Family Guy...
, and Rutger Hauer: “Across the World”, “World To Bring Me Down”, and “Can’t Believe My Eyes”. - 2008 “Can't Believe My Eyes" was licensed by EA sports for the video game The Sims 2: Apartment LifeThe Sims 2: Apartment LifeThe Sims 2: Apartment Life is the eighth and final expansion pack in the The Sims 2 video game series.A flyer included in later copies of The Sims 2: FreeTime expansion pack and The Sims 2: Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff Pack announced Apartment Life, which brings magic back to the franchise...
. - 2008 "Across The World" was licensed by NBC's show as Vegas (TV series)]] for its DVD release.
- 2010 "Last Goodbye" was licensed by Spike TV's Blue Mountain StateBlue Mountain StateBlue Mountain State is an American comedy series that premiered on Spike on January 11, 2010. The series producers include Chris Romano and Eric Falconer and is produced by Lionsgate Television...
in its Season 1, Episode 8 (Ep 108)
Guest Vocals
- 2007: Backing vocals for Los Angeles-based band Sleeping Masses, fronted by lead singer Patrick MuldoonPatrick MuldoonPatrick Muldoon is an American actor.-Early life:Muldoon was born in San Pedro, California, the son of Deanna, a homemaker, and William Patrick Muldoon II, a personal injury lawyer. He is of Irish descent on his father's side and of Croatian descent on his mother's side...
. - 2008: Guest vocalist on Elvis StojkoElvis StojkoElvis Stojko, MSC, MSM is a Canadian figure skater. He is a three-time World champion , two-time Olympic silver medalist , and seven-time Canadian champion ....
’s solo album - 2009-present: Opening act and background vocals for Tears for FearsTears for FearsTears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...