Richard Page (musician)

Richard Page

Page on stage in June 2014
Background information
Born (1953-05-16) May 16, 1953
Keokuk, Iowa, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • bass
  • guitar
Years active 1977–present
Labels RCA
Associated acts
Website richardpagemusic.com

Richard Page (born May 16, 1953) is an American musician who is best known as being the lead singer and bassist of 1980s band Mr. Mister[1] and is now a songwriter and solo artist.[2][3]

Early life

Page was born May 16, 1953 in Keokuk, Iowa. His parents, Robert and Joyce Page, were both professional musicians – he a singer and choral director, she an accomplished organist, pianist, and singer. The family of seven (Page has a sister and three brothers, who are all musicians) landed in Montgomery, Alabama in the mid-1950s where his parents worked as music directors at a local Methodist church. His mother knew Richard had a special interest in the family "business" when he came home from Sunday school to announce that he was the only baritone in the four-year-old class.

In the late 1960s, the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona where Page attended Central High School, performing in school musicals such as Oliver!.

Career

His first major band, Pages, was formed with his childhood friend, Steve George, after he moved to Los Angeles from San Diego in the late 1970s. After producing three "Pages" albums, Page and George formed Mr. Mister along with Steve Farris and Pat Mastelotto.

As lead vocalist for Mr. Mister, Page scored two consecutive Hot 100 No. 1's with the singles "Broken Wings" and "Kyrie". Prior to Mr. Mister's breakthrough 1985 No. 1 album, Welcome to the Real World, he turned down the opportunity to be a lead singer with the groups Chicago and Toto.[3] The position that he turned down with Chicago was accepted by Jason Scheff. Mr. Mister would release three albums before breaking up on September 25, 1990. A fourth Mr. Mister album, Pull was recorded in 1989, but ultimately never released (BMG Japan canceled plans to release the album in 2001). However, in December 2008 Richard Page told the Internet radio station 957StarFM about plans to release Pull on his new website: "I'm in the process of getting it back from the record company and publish it on the website."

Subsequently he was a member of Third Matinee with Patrick Leonard, before he released his first solo album Shelter Me in 1996. It featured the singles "The Best Thing" and "My Oxygen", a remake of Nik Kershaw's hit. In 1997, he turned down an offer from Leonard to record a second Third Matinee album.

Following Shelter me, Page worked as a songwriter and session player. His songwriting clients include Kenny Loggins, Madonna (Golden Globes and Grammy nominated song, "I'll Remember" from With Honors), Josh Groban, Céline Dion, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Dionne Warwick, The Pointer Sisters, Meat Loaf, Patti LaBelle, Hall & Oates, BB Mak, Bill Champlin, Al Jarreau, Leona Lewis and many others.

Page performed his own material in December 2008 for the first time since Shelter Me. The song entitled "I Always Cry at Christmas" was co-written with Walter Afanasieff. In 2010 Page released two of his own song collections, Peculiar Life and 5 Songs for Christmas. These were followed by Solo Acoustic (2011) and Songs from the Sketchbook (2012).

Based on a recommendation by his friend, songwriter Richard Marx, Ringo Starr approached Page to join his 11th All-Starr Band and, in the summer of 2010, they embarked on a 32-date U.S. tour and, then in 2011, they embarked on a 40-date Europe tour. Page also toured with Ringo's 12th All-Starr Band in the summer of 2012, 2013 and 2014.[1]

Personal life

Richard lives with his wife Linda and their four children in Malibu in Southern California.

Discography

Page has been both a primary band member in various groups, as well as background vocalist for other artists.

Albums

Pages

Mr. Mister

See Mr. Mister discography

Third Matinee

Solo

Notable album appearances

Page performed backing vocals on Peter Allen's 1980 album Bi-Coastal as well as on Barbra Streisand's 1985 recording of "I Know Him So Well" for The Broadway Album. He also performed a duet with Cher, "One Small Step", as well as backing vocals on her 1991 album Love Hurts.

Other appearances include:

References

  1. 1 2 Kozinn, Allan (January 12, 2010). "Ringo Starr Plans to Be Touring When He Hits (Drumroll Please) 70". The New York Times.
  2. ↑ Interview on Inside MusiCast, January 5, 2009
  3. 1 2 3 Hunt, Dennis (December 1, 1985). "Mr. Mister's Mr. Party turns Mr. Clean". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Paging Mr. Party". Los Angeles Times. December 15, 1985.
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