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Richard Page (musician)

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Richard James Page
Page on stage in 2013
Page on stage in 2013
Background information
Birth nameRichard Page
Born (1953-05-16) May 16, 1953 (age 71)
Keokuk, Iowa, U.S.
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • bass
  • guitar
  • keyboards
Years active1977–present
LabelsRCA
Formerly of
Websiterichardpagemusic.com

Richard James Page (born May 16, 1953) is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer and bassist of 1980s band Mr. Mister. The band's hits include "Broken Wings" and "Kyrie". Page has also sung in other bands, been a solo artist, written songs for other artists, and worked as a background singer for other artists.

Early life

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Page graduated from Central High School in Phoenix, Arizona. His mother worked as the Assistant Director of the Phoenix Boys Choir, while his father was a musical director at a Phoenix church. During high school, Page performed in school musicals such as Oliver![1] Page cited that his musical influences at this stage included The Beatles and The Beach Boys.[2] Immediately following his high school graduation, he moved to Hollywood.[1]

Career

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In Los Angeles, Page and Steve George, a friend from Phoenix, "knocked around the LA music scene, eventually working with topflight acts like REO Speedwagon, Andy Gibb, Al Jarreau, and Kenny Loggins".[1] Page turned down an offer to be the lead singer for the bands Chicago and Toto.[3] Page's first major band, Pages, was formed with Steve George in the late 1970s.[4]

After producing three Pages albums, Page and George formed Mr. Mister along with Steve Farris and Pat Mastelotto. Page was on vocals/bass, George handled keyboards, Farris played guitar, and Mastelotto was on drums.[4] Page is best known for his work with Mr. Mister.[5] The band's first album was I Wear the Face (1984). Page has said that in this album the band was "just getting together and figuring out" how they wanted to sound.[6]

Page (middle) performing with Ringo Starr and Todd Rundgren in 2013

As frontman for Mr. Mister, Page scored two consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number ones with the singles "Broken Wings" and "Kyrie",[7] both of which Page composed in collaboration with his cousin, John Lang. In 1985, both songs appeared on Mr. Mister's breakthrough second album, Welcome to the Real World, which reached number 1 on the album charts. The group was nominated for several Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Band in 1986.[8] The band scored another hit with "Is It Love" (1986), which reached number 8 in the charts.[7]

Mr. Mister's third album, Go On... was released in 1987. In an interview, Page said that the band "tried many new and different sounds and ideas" and that it included some of the band's best songwriting.[6] Before breaking up on September 25, 1990, the group recorded a fourth album, Pull, in 1989. The album was not released until 2010. Page has described Pull as the group's "most experimental album".[6]

Many of Page's songs for Mr. Mister, and many of his solo numbers, were co-written with Steve George and John Lang.[9]

Page has also been a solo artist, and he has worked as a background singer for other artists and bands.[10][3] He has written songs for popular artists such as Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Dionne Warwick, and Josh Groban, among others.[2] Page also co-wrote one Madonna hit “I’ll Remember”” in 1994.

Page released his first solo album, Shelter Me, in 1996. It featured the singles "The Best Thing" and "My Oxygen", written by fellow 80s pop star Nik Kershaw.[11]

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; 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 2017.[5]

Personal life

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Page and his wife, Linda, have four children.[12]

Discography

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Solo albums

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  • Shelter Me (1996)
  • Peculiar Life (2010)
  • Songs from the Sketchbook (2012)
  • Goin' South (2015)

Live albums

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  • Solo Acoustic (2011) (DVD/CD)

Extended plays

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  • Acoustic (1996)
  • 5 Songs for Christmas (2010)

with Pages

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with Mr. Mister

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with 3rd Matinee

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Notable album appearances

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References

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  1. ^ a b c FOX (November 25, 2015). "Richard Page of Mr. Mister is from the valley". KSAZ. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Wardlaw, Matt (August 11, 2010). "The Popdose Interview: Richard Page". Popdose. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Hunt, Dennis (December 1, 1985). "Mr. Mister's Mr. Party turns Mr. Clean". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "'Incredibly Unlikely' Mr. Mister Will Ever Reunite, According to Former Drummer – BlastEcho". Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Kozinn, Allan (January 12, 2010). "Ringo Starr Plans to Be Touring When He Hits (Drumroll Please) 70". The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b c "Richard Page Interview July 2014". www.museonmuse.jp. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  7. ^ a b "The Number Ones: Mr. Mister's "Kyrie"". November 23, 2020.
  8. ^ Thomas, Bryan (September 25, 2018). ""When We Hear The Voices Sing": Mr. Mister were one of the mainstream "Best Bets of '86"". Night Flight. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  9. ^ "Biography: John Lang". users.skynet.be. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  10. ^ "Richard Page". Inside MusiCast. January 5, 2009.
  11. ^ Shelter Me (Liner notes). Richard Page. Blue Note Records. 1996. BTD-7006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ "Richard Page's Peculiar Life" @RichardPageMusic.com Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  13. ^ "Paging Mr. Party". Los Angeles Times. December 15, 1985.
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