Gary Wright, known for the hit singles "Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive", will perform with 'Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band' on his UK tour which starts Friday June 17th at Hampton Court. 2011 celebrates the 35th anniversary of Wright's album "The Dream Weaver".
When the album was released in 1976, Wright toured extensively with Fleetwood Mac, Yes and Peter Frampton. Now, with the release of "Connected", his first album in 20 years, Wright showcases a collection of songs that captures the joyous magic of his all-time classic hits. "Satisfied", the new single, features Ringo Starr (drums), Joe Walsh (lead guitar), and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (rhythm guitar).
Formerly the lead singer of the British progressive blues rock band Spooky Tooth (1967-1974), American-born Wright embarked on a solo career in 1975, and was one of the first classic rock musicians to combine synthesizers with rock and funk.
Ringo Starr's All Starr Band, UK tour dates as follows: Hampton Court (June 17), Liverpool Empire (June 18), Birmingham Symphony Hall (June 20), Manchester Opera House (June 22), Glasgow Clyde Auditorium (June 23) and Bournemouth BIC (June 24).
The All Starr Band has toured consistently since its inception in 1989. Based on the concept "everybody on stage is a star in their own right", each concert sees Ringo performing songs from his solo and Beatles' career and each Starr performing hits from their own careers. Over the years the revolving line up has included such stellar artists as Joe Walsh, Dr. John, Todd Rundgren, Timothy B. Schmidt, John Entwhistle, Peter Frampton, Sheila E., Rod Argent and Paul Carrack.
18th June - Liverpool, England - Empire
20th June - Birmingham, England - Symphony Hall
22nd June - Manchester, England - Opera House
23rd June - Glasgow, Scotland - Clyde Auditorium
24th June - Bournemouth, England - BIC
26th June - Paris, France - Palais des Sports
28th June - Budapest, Hungary - Sport Arena
29th June - Prague, Czech Republic - KCP Congress Centre
2nd July - Lyon, France - Centre de Congres
3rd July - Milan, Italy - Civic Arena
4th July - Rome, Italy - Auditorium Cavea
7th July - Hamburg, Germany - Stadtpark
9th July - Weert, Holland - Bospop Festival
10th July - Dusseldorf, Germany - Philipshalle
12th July - Berlin, Germany - Tempodrom
13th July - Munich, Germany - Circus Krone
14th July - Salzburg, Austria - Halle 1
16th July - Frankfurt, Germany - Jahrhunderthalle
17th July - Vienna, Austria - Open Air Arena
Returning to the stage for the 2011 tour are the six All Starr band members who toured with Ringo in 2010:
Rick Derringer is a noted rock guitarist, vocalist and entertainer who was just 17 when his band The McCoys recorded the No.1 hit 'Hang On Sloopy' in 1965, knocking 'Yesterday' by The Beatles from the top spot. He later played with both Edgar Winter and Johnny Winter and had considerable success with his hit single 'Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo' and with his eponymous band Derringer. Throughout the 70's and 80's he appeared on albums with Alice Cooper, Richie Havens, Todd Rundgren, Cyndi Lauper, Barbra Streisand, Kiss and Steely Dan. Derringer discovered Weird Al Yankovic, producing music for Grammy-winning albums and videos and the 2006 Grammy Awards brought Rick his third Grammy with his participation on the Les Paul 90th birthday tribute CD.
Gary Wright - over the course of his 40-year career which began in the UK with the rock band Spooky Tooth, Wright is hailed as a pioneer who utilized synthesizers in pop music. His name is synonymous with his worldwide hits 'Dream Weaver' and 'Love Is Alive'. Gary has inspired generations of artists including Jay-Z, Chaka Khan, Anastacia, Joan Osbourne, Judas Priest, Eminem, Mya, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, and DJ Armand Van Helden all of whom have either sampled or covered his songs. Gary's world-unifying vision and musical prowess are evident on 'Connected' - his first pop-rock album for 20 years. Gary joined the All Starr Band in 2008.
Richard Page is best known as the singer/bassist for the multi-platinum, Grammy nominated group Mr. Mister. In the late 70's and early 80's Richard recorded three albums under the moniker of Pages with Steve George. The pair formed Mr Mister in the mid 80s. The band released three albums and had several world-wide hits, including 'Broken Wings' and 'Kyrie'. They split in 1990 and a fourth Mr Mister album, 'PULL' remained unreleased for 20 years. Recently re-mastered, the album is now available on Richard's own label, Little Dume Records. Page has recorded two solo albums, 'Shelter Me' and 'Peculiar Life', as well as providing backing vocals for Elton John, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Barbara Streisand and Elvis Costello. As a songwriter Page has had his songs recorded by Madonna, Leona Lewis, Josh Groban, Celine Dion and Hall & Oates.
Wally Palmar, lead vocalist, harmonica, rhythm guitar player, and founding member of The Romantics, is amongst one of the most recognized voices of the 80's. The group's self-titled debut album yielded the hit 'What I Like About You', which carries on throughout the decades. Other singles include, 'When I Look In Your Eyes', 'One in a Million', and the international hit 'Talking In Your Sleep'. The Romantics are continuously being re-introduced to new generations today via the extensive airplay on contemporary, rock and satellite radio, commercials and movie soundtracks. Never content to simply rest on his red-leathered laurels, Palmar continues to write, record and tour with The Romantics.
Edgar Winter is an accomplished jazz, rock and blues keyboard player and saxophonist as well as a vocalist who found success in the early 70s and has continued to record throughout the 80s, 90s and 00s. Edgar has worked with guitarists Rick Derringer and Ronnie Montrose as well as his older brother Johnny Winter (a noted blues rock guitarist). In 1972 Edgar had a #1 hit with 'Frankenstein', taken from his acclaimed album 'They Only Come Out At Night'. Edgar also enjoyed great success with the hit 'Free Ride' as well as 'Dying To Live' which Eminem produced for the hit movie 'Tupac'. Winter's songs have appeared on soundtracks to over 20 films.
Gregg Bissonette is a drummer and vocalist who comes from a musical family, where his father was also a drummer, his mother a pianist, brother a bass player and sister a violinist. Gregg played on three albums by former Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth, with the first 'Eat 'Em And Smile' one of the most acclaimed rock albums of the mid 80s. Since then Gregg has recorded and toured with a number of artists, including Toto, ELO, Santana, Andrea Bocelli, The Maynard Ferguson Big Band, Spinal Tap and James Taylor. Having first worked and toured with Ringo Starr in 2003, Gregg's been an All Starr member since 2008, making this his third All Starr tour.
The Official Gary Wright website
www.thedreamweaver.com
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