RICH WYMAN
BIOGRAPHY
"I've always had this dream. My whole life has been about making it happen." - Rich Wyman
Passion and perseverance are the force behind Rich Wyman's music and life. Piano-driven tunes and heart-felt lyrics have garnered the artist international recognition as well as five ASCAP Awards. A master of his instrument and a powerful vocalist, Wyman's on-stage presence has mesmerized audiences from The Ritz in New York City to sold-out crowds of 250,000 in The Netherlands. On the verge of releasing his fifth and highly anticipated album, "Factory," this piano man proves that his superior musicianship is matched only by creativity, soul and an ability to never ever quit.
An Allentown, Penn. native, Wyman discovered the piano at the age of seven - two years after he had taken classical violin and taught himself to read music. By age eight, he was composing, at 14, performing in nightclubs and recording at age 15. Classically trained for 15 years, Wyman fine-tuned his skills at the High School for the Performing Arts in South Florida. After a year at New York University, he transferred to the acclaimed Manhattan School of Music. However, he soon discovered his true education could not be found on campus.
Wyman became a bike messenger by day and worked the graveyard shift at a New York recording studio. In between, he performed at all the New York hot spots and recorded with various incarnations of the Rich Wyman Band. In the midst of eight years of recording and knocking on doors, he met his wife Lisa. He started venturing out of the sweltering city in the summers and after a ski vacation, landed a gig across the country in Park City, Utah. He returned to New York to record his first album in 1991, "Just Might Make It." More than 6,000 copies of his self-distributed album sold at Utah festivals that summer and his hit song "Weird Man's March" made the play list of Salt Lake and Park City radio stations. Wyman continued to pursue his dream from a new angle as he and Lisa decided to settle in the mountains.
"It's so important to me to be a musician 24-7 and I know that's rare. Making a living as a musician is not an easy thing," he explained. Performing in Park City clubs, Wyman won a best keyboards WAM (Wasatch Area Music) Award and caught the ear of the legendary guitarist, Eddie Van Halen. In 1993, Van Halen recorded with Wyman and co-produced his second CD, "Fatherless Child."
"I'm blown away by his performing and song writing," Van Halen said of Wyman. Although the CD didn't immediately result in a recording contract, Wyman's manager found a niche for "Fatherless Child" in Ireland. His success soon began to spread to England, Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands. On his second night on tour in Holland, he landed a record contract. His songs, "So What" and "The Little Things," topped the charts, making Rich Wyman a Dutch household name. He produced his third CD, "Where We Stand" and for the next six years, commuted to The Netherlands, touring, recording and meeting the press.
The Olympic Games brought the world to Wyman for a change in 2002. Opening for Alanis Morisette and the Goo Goo Dolls at the award ceremonies, Wyman's band brought down the house. He returned to The Netherlands to promote his fourth CD, "Live From the Heart," appearing in massive Dutch festivals: Hunten Pop, Bos Pop and Park Pop. Touring with The Wild Romance (Dutch legend, Herman Brood's band), Wyman discovered a whole new audience for his music. His unique cover of the late Brood's song "Sleepin' Bird" left audiences in awe, turning it into a hit with Brood fans and Wyman fans alike. "It was amazing," he recalled.
Seeking creative freedom, Wyman founded his own record label in 2004, Auspicious Records. "I am Auspicious Records. I don't need a record company - it's only taken me 40 years to realize it," he said. Auspicious Records partnered with Rough Trade Records on a two-year contract and promotional tour in May 2005. His fifth CD, "Factory" showcases Wyman's matured talent and his passion for the environment. The album is scheduled for release in March 2005.
For more information, please visit www.richwyman.com. Updated March 2005.
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