Wildhorn, Frank 1959–

views updated

WILDHORN, Frank 1959–

PERSONAL

Born 1959, in New York, NY; married Linda Eder (an actress and singer), May 3, 1998; children: (with Eder) Jake Ryan; (previous marriage) Justin. Education: Attended Miami University and University of Southern California. Avocational Interests: Tennis, other sports.

Career:

Composer, producer, lyricist, and musician. Atlantic Theatre, New York City, creative director, beginning 1995; Alley Theatre, Houston, TX, associate artist. Songwriter for numerous artists and groups, including Trace Adkins, Julie Andrews, Regina Bell, John Berry, Peabo Bryson, Betty Buckley, Deana Carter, Natalie Cole, Dennis DeYoung, Linda Eder, Amy Grant, Jennifer Holliday, Hootie and the Blowfish, Whitney Houston, Freddie Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Stacy Lattishaw, Tracy Lawrence, Johnny Mathis, Liza Minnelli, Molly Hatchet, the Moody Blues, Jeffrey Osborne, John Raitt, Kenny Rogers, Brenda Russell, Travis Tritt, Stanley Turrentine, Ben Vereen, Anthony Warlow, Bryan White, Colm Wilkinson, BeBe Winans, Tricia Yearwood, and Sammy Davis, Jr. Worked as a musician; instructor of master classes; public speaker at various venues. A scholarship in Wildhorn's name has been established at the University of Southern California.

Awards, Honors:

Grammy Award nomination, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, 1997, for cast recording of Jekyll & Hyde; Antoinette Perry Award nominations, best original score and best new musical, 1999, and Drama Desk Award nomination, outstanding new musical, all for The Civil War.

CREDITS

Stage Work:

Coproducer, Harlem Song, Apollo Theatre, New York City, 2002.

Stage Appearances:

Pianist, An Intimate Evening with Frank Wildhorn and Friends (concert), Upstairs@Studio 54, New York City, 2002.

Television Executive Producer; Specials:

(And musical director) The Goodwill Games Opening Celebration, TBS, 1998.

Linda Eder, the Christmas Concert, Bravo, 2001.

(And artistic director) Broadway's Best, Bravo, 2002.

RECORDINGS

Album Coproducer:

It's Time, by Linda Eder, Atlantic, 1997.

It's No Secret Any More, by Linda Eder, Atlantic, 1999.

WRITINGS

Stage Composer:

Jekyll & Hyde (musical), book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, Houston, TX, 1990, then Plymouth Theatre, New York City, 1997–2001.

Ali–Svengali (musical), book and lyrics by Gregory Boyd, Alley Theatre, Houston, TX, 1991, included as part of The Romantics.

Additional songs "Living in the Shadows," "Louie Says," and "Trust Me," Victor/Victoria (musical), Marquis Theatre, New York City, 1995–97.

The Scarlet Pimpernel (musical), book and lyrics by Nan Knighton, Alley Theatre, revised version, Minskoff Theatre, New York City, 1997–99, then Neil Simon Theatre, New York City, 1999–2000.

(And author of book and lyrics with Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy) The Civil War (musical), Alley Theatre, 1998, then St. James Theatre, New York City, 1999.

Dracula, the Musical (musical), book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla, CA, 2001, then Belasco Theatre, New York City, 2004.

Camille Claudel (musical), book and lyrics by Knighton, Norma Terris Theatre, Chester, CT, 2003.

Composer of Ali, Big Nose, Christopher, Cyrano de Bergerac, Havana, The Road to Nirvana, other segments of The Romantics, and Wonderland; composer for the ballet Natasha. Wildhorn's work has been performed widely in repertory, regional, and touring productions in the United States and abroad.

Television Composer; Specials:

Additional songs, Victor/Victoria, Bravo, 1995.

The Goodwill Games Opening Celebration, TBS, 1998.

Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical (musical), multiple channels, 2001.

Songs featured in other television programs.

Singles:

(With Chuck Jackson) "Where Do Broken Hearts Go," by Whitney Houston, Arista, 1987.

(With Nan Knighton) "You Are My Home," by Linda Eder and Peabo Bryson, c. 1992.

Wildhorn's songs have been recorded by others, published as sheet music, and included in songbooks.

Albums with Others:

Highlights from Jekyll & Hyde (concept recording), RCA, 1990.

The Scarlet Pimpernel: Concept Recording (concept recording), EMI Angel, 1992.

Jekyll & Hyde: The Complete Work, Atlantic, 1994.

Jekyll & Hyde: The Gothic Musical Thriller (concept recording), Atlantic, 1995.

It's Time, by Linda Eder, Atlantic, 1997.

Jekyll & Hyde (original Broadway cast recording), Atlantic, 1997.

The Civil War: The Nashville Sessions (studio cast recording), Atlantic, 1998.

The Scarlet Pimpernel: The New Musical Adventure, Atlantic, 1998.

The Civil War (studio cast recording), Atlantic, 1999.

It's No Secret Any More, by Linda Eder, Atlantic, 1999.

Jekyll & Hyde: The Bremen Highlights, Polydor, 1999.

The Scarlet Pimpernel: Encore! (Broadway revival cast recording), Atlantic, 1999.

Wildhorn's music has been featured in cast albums and several other recordings and translated for foreign recordings.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Contemporary Musicians, Volume 31, Gale, 2001.

Periodicals:

Billboard, June 17, 1995, p. 38.

New Criterion, June, 1999, p. 39.

Time, December 22, 1997.

Wildhorn Side, 1998.

Electronic:

Broadway World Online,http://www.broadwayworld.com, June 13, 2004.

Frank Wildhorn Official Site,http://www.frankwildhorn.com, November 22, 2004.

More From encyclopedia.com