* En anglais uniquement
Singer, songwriter and poet, Rupert Holmes has performed and written for various music legends. Although a reserved playwright and bookwriter, his contributions to the rock music industry and Broadway have been numerous.
Rupert Holmes was born in England because of his father's involvement in USAF. After the family moved to New York, Rupert Holmes developed an interest in music. He attended the Manhattan School of Music. It was after graduation that he seriously began as a songwriter. A successful piano player, he played with the Cuff Links and the Buoys in the 70s. As an arranger and songwriter, he composed songs for Gene Pitney, the Platters, the Drifters and the Partridge Family. At the age of 24, Rupert Holmes had a hit on both the American and UK charts. "Timothy" was his first hit in 1971.
After this first hit, Rupert Holmes decided on pursuing a singing career of his own. Composing for several popular 70s bands, he had no problem getting people to listen to him. He released his first album, Widescreen, in 1974. He then produced albums for such singing legends as Barbra Streisand, Sparks and Sailors. A booming career was underway. He released several more albums in the 70s including Rupert Holmes, The Singles and Pursuit of Happiness.
The 80s took Rupert Holmes into a new realm of success. Although known as a singer and songwriter, he made international fame with "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" and "Him" which placed on both the UK and American charts. It only added to the success of the albums Partners in Crime, Adventure and Full Circle. With a list of popular artists, singer-songwriter Rupert Holmes has definitely made his contribution to music. Composing for several successful 70s rock groups is just one of the many accomplishments for Rupert Holmes.
Rupert Holmes is also an accomplished playwright. His 1986 Broadway musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, was the recipient of five Tony Awards. The awards include Best Musical, under the production of Joseph Papp, Best Actor in a Musical, awarded to George Rose and Best Direction of a Musical, by director Wilford Leach. The Best Book of a Musical Award and The Original Score Award was given to Rupert Holmes. His most recent project was creating the American Movie Classics, Remember WENN. The show centers around a radio station in Pittsburgh in 1939. Rupert Holmes has collected more than 3,000 of these radio programs and plans to bring audiences back to the days when radio broadcasting began. Guest stars include Molly Ringwald and Patti LuPone. Another Broadway musical is also in the works, The Picture of Dorian Gray, based on the Oscar Wilde book of the same name.