Rueben's Ramblings

Michael Buble

Michael Buble is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actor whose interest in jazz began around the age of 5; but it was when he was in his teens that his true singing talent emerged. His first singing engagements were in nightclubs at the age of 16 and then when he was 18, he entered a local talent contest and won. He spent the next 7 years performing in talent shows, conventions, on cruise ships, hotel lounges, bars, clubs and much more. He had several small television appearances throughout the late 1990’s and then he became a frequent guest on the Vicki Gabereau’s national talk show on the CTV network.

It was in 2000 that his career finally had a breakthrough courtesy of an aide to former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, which led to an introduction to David Foster, the multi-Grammy Award winning producer and record executive. This introduction didn’t immediate led to career success, but it got Buble on the right path. He also appeared in small roles in the movies Duets and Totally Blonde.

In 2003, his self-titled debut album was released, featuring a range of standards from various eras including the singles “Fever,” The Way You look Tonight” and “For Once in My Life” (among others). The album hit the top 10 in Canada, the UK and South Africa and hit number 1 in Australia. While the album was only marginally successful in the States, it did reach the top 30 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary charts. That fall, he released a Christmas EP called “Let It Snow” that peaked on the Billboard 200 charts. The next year he won the “New Artist of the Year” award at the Juno Awards.

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Maroon 5

Maroon 5 is an American rock band from Los Angeles that was formed in 1995 by high schoolers Adam Levine (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Jesse Carmichael (keyboards), Mickey Madden (bass) and Ryan Dusick (drums) under the name Kara’s Flowers. They released one album called “The Fourth World” in 1997, which failed to garner any attention.

Two of the band members then went to college in New York, but upon their return to Los Angeles in 2000, the band reformed, adding James Valentine (lead guitar and backing vocals) to the group, changing their name to Maroon 5 and being signed to new record label Octone Records.

In 2002 the band released their debut album called “Songs About Jane,” which contained the following four hit singles: “Harder to Breathe,” “This Love,” “She Will Be Loved” and “Sunday Morning”. This album garnered the band major chart success as well as high record sales around the world. The band eventually went on to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2005, but the following year, Dusick left the band and was replaced by Matt Flynn.

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Imogen Heap

Imogen Heap is a British singer and songwriter who is known for her work as part of the musical duo Frou Frou as well as her solo albums, which she writes, produces and mixes. By the time Heap was 13 years old, she began writing songs, but she had already played music from an early age, being classically trained in several instruments including piano, cell and clarinet. She later taught herself to play guitar and drums.

She signed her first record contract at the age of 18 to an independent label called Almo sounds with her debut album “iMegaphone” being released in 1998. The album featured the three UK singles “Getting Scared”, “Shine” and “Come Here Boy”.

In 2002, she joined with Guy Sigsworth to form the collaborative project Frou Frou, releasing the album “Details,” which included the singles “Breathe In,” “It’s Good To Be In Love” and “Must Be Dreaming.”

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Keane

Keane are an English alternative rock band that was formed in 1997. The group currently consists of members Tim Rice-Oxley (piano and backing vocals), Tom Chaplin (lead vocals and guitar) and Richard Hughes (drums and percussion). Jesse Quin (bass and percussion) is an unofficial fourth member of the band and primarily performs when the band is on tour. Founding member and guitarist Dominic Scott left the band in 2001.

It was three years later when Keane achieved mainstream success with the release of their debut album called “Hopes and Fears”. On that album was the single “Somewhere Only We Know” – today’s Song of the Day – which reached number three on the UK singles charts. The song, written by all three members, was featured in episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, Cold Case, American Idol and Life. It was also featured in promotions for the short-lived series Journeyman and advertising for Victoria’s Secret as well as the trailer for the film The Lake House and He’s Not That Into You.

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Gomez

Gomez are an English indie rock band, consisting of members Ian Ball (vocals and guitar), Paul Blackburn (bass), Tom Gray (vocals, guitars and keyboards), Ben Ottewell (vocals and guitars) and Olly Peacock (drums and synthesizers). Ball and Peacock had been friends since childhood, playing in a 3-piece band during their teens; and then were joined by Blackburn, gray and Ottewell during their time in college.

They played their first gig together in 1996 without actually having a name for the band. At this time the band started recording four-track demos that were eventually handed to Steve Fellows, who distributed them to several record labels. A year later they were signed by Hut Records (a division of Virgin Records).

Their debut album “Bring It On” was released in April of 1998 and featured the UK singles “78 Stone Wobble,” “Get Myself Arrested” and “Whippin’ Piccadilly”. This album earned the ban a Mercury Music Prize, an annual music prize awarded for the best album from the UK and Ireland in September of that year.

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Corinne Bailey Rae

Corinne Bailey Rae is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist whose self-titled debut album came out in February of 2006. The album debuted at number one in the United Kingdom and entered the top ten on the United States Billboard 200 chart, peaking at number four. This album ended up spending 71 weeks on the charts from 2006 to 2008.

The lead single from this album called “Like a Star” – which is today’s Song of the Day – became a hit in both the UK and the States. The song, written entirely by Rae, was featured in episodes of the TV shows Grey’s Anatomy, Men in Trees, Medium and CSI: NY. It was also heard in the films Nancy Drew and 27 Dresses. Other singles from the album included “Put Your Records On” – which ended up being her biggest hit to date – “Trouble Sleeping” and “I’d Like To”.

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Uh Huh Her

Uh Huh Her is an indie-new wave-electropop band that was formed in January of 2007. The band consisted of members Camilla Grey (vocals, bass, guitar, synthesizer and keyboards), a former member of the rock band Mellowdrone, actress-singer Leisha Hailey (vocals, bass and keyboards), a former member of The Murmurs and Gush and former regular on the Showtime series The L Word, and Alicia Warrington, who is now part of the band Gore Gore Girls.

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