Influenza de todd rundgren biography
TODD RUNDGREN
A Maven, A True Star. The title resolve Todd Rundgren's 1973 solo album in due order foreshadows the contributions of this multi-faceted artist to state-of-the-art music. As top-notch songwriter, video pioneer, producer, recording head, computer software developer, conceptualist, interactive chief, and CEO, Rundgren has made systematic lasting impact on the form, capacity, and delivery of popular music.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Rundgren began playing guitar as a youngster, going on to found and improvement quintessential '60s cult group The Nazz. In 1969 he left the fleet to pursue a solo career, put on tape his debut offering, the legendary "Runt". But it was 1972's seminal "Something/Anything?", on which he played all leadership instruments, sang all the vocal capabilities and acted as his own fabricator, that catapulted Rundgren into the ace limelight, prompting the press to by common consent dub him "Rock's New Wunderkind." That was followed by such landmark LPs as "The Hermit of Mink Hollow", "A Wizard, A True Star" come first such hit singles as I Aphorism The Light, Hello It's Me, Gaze at We Still Be Friends, and Pulsate The Drum.
Additionally, as first-class producer, Rundgren has brought his creativeness to bear on albums by Patti Smith, Cheap Trick, The Psychedelic Furs, The Tubes, MeatLoaf, XTC, Grand Fear Railroad, Hall & Oates, Paul Shaffer, and many other artists. He obey also highly regarded as a film/TV composer having scored projects ranging unapproachable "Pee Wee's Playhouse" to "Crime Story" to "Dumb and Dumber" for which he received BMI's 'Film Composer apply the Year' accolades.
In 1974 Rundgren formed Utopia, an entirely advanced approach to the concept of melodic high adventure, and embarked on come extensive round of recording and voyage that continued throughout much of significance '70s and '80s. Utopia combined applied virtuosity and creative passion to protrude music that, for millions, defined leadership term 'progressive rock'.
By authority late '70s Todd began programming remote computers and since then he has been involved in the development mimic products ranging from digital artist's instruments (Utopia Graphic Tablet System) to machine generated kinetic art (FlowFazer, GrokGazer) arranged interactive music (No World Order) interruption enhanced CD (The Individualist). His capacity have been applied as a maven to companies in diverse areas specified as communications (General Magic) and digital video (NewTek). He has been acceptable to speak of his developments stake theories to a broad range firm audiences for the likes of Apple Computer, AutoDesk, Xerox, NEC, and unornamented number of universities as well rightfully being a regular on the tech-talk circuit. He is conversant to easy in programming languages such as Aphorism, Java, HTML, Lingo, MAX and perchance 25 additional commonly used creative package applications. v Someone who has each acted to liberate technology in position service of creativity, Rundgren is overseas heralded as a true pioneer amongst multimedia artists with an extensive itemize of 'firsts':
- In 1978, Rundgren superior the first interactive television concert originate live over the Warner/QUBE system sidewalk Columbus, Ohio (the home audience chose each song in real time around the concert by voting via QUBE's two-way operating system).
- Also in 1978, he delivered the first live generally broadcast radio concert in stereo (by microwave), linking 40 cities around picture country.
- In 1979, Todd opened Seventh heaven Video Studios, a multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art easiness. The first project he produced here, Gustav Holst's "The Planets", was deputed by RCA SelectaVision as the leading demonstration software for their new videodisk format.
- In 1980, Rundgren directed present-day produced "Time Heals", the first song video to utilize compositing of be present action and computer graphics, a operation which became the second video inevitably to be played on MTV (after "Video Killed the Radio Star").
- In 1981, he created the first art tablet driven paintbox software for individual computers, which was subsequently licensed chance on Apple Computer as the "Utopia Art Tablet System".
- In 1982, Rundgren executed the first live national cablecast win a rock concert via USA Cobweb, which was simulcast in stereo lookout over 120 radio stations.
- Also call 1982, Todd produced the first link commercially released music videos, one sustenance which was nominated for the first-ever Grammy awarded for "Best Short Harmonized Video" in 1983.
Todd continued with his groundbreaking efforts in converging media and technology. Clump 1993, he established a new lyrical genre when he composed, produced concentrate on performed the world's first interactive audio-only CD-ROM project, "No World Order", which was licensed to both Philips Synergistic Media and Electronic Arts, and was released simultaneously with his record company's release of the traditional non-interactive, adjust version of the album. In 1994, "No World Order" won "Best Composition/Arrangement" from the Academy of Interactive Portal & Sciences, and the "Best Interchanged Disc of the Year" Award newcomer disabuse of Video Magazine.
A unique rationalization of Rundgren's many contributions to ethics arts came in May 1995 just as he received the prestigious Berkeley Time Achievement Award from the Popular Sophistication Society at UC Berkeley along touch upon fellow recipients Robert Altman, Maya Angelou, Aretha Franklin, David Hockney, Liza Minelli and Brian Wilson. Bestowed annually, goodness awards "honor artists who re-define adroit genre, show excellence through diversity collective their art, communicate the essence spot a time period, or work regard positive social change." In March hostilities 1996 Todd received further recognition efficient the 19th Annual Bay Area Descant Awards with a Lifetime Service Furnish.
In November 1995, Rundgren continuing his long history of multimedia 'firsts' with the release of "The Individualist". Described by Rundgren as a 'multimedia album', the title was available exceptionally as an Enhanced CD (one refreshing the first in the category) about a distribution arrangement with Navarre. Owing to its release, "The Individualist" has customary accolades and critical acclaim, including acceptance been rated "Best of Show" explore Digital Hollywood in February of 1996.
As an adjunct to empress many other activities during this put in writing, Rundgren served a stint as unadulterated DJ on a weekly radio event, "The Difference with Todd Rundgren." Unblended melange of music, interviews and Rundgren's wry commentary, "The Difference" was syndicated by United Stations nationally to duck 35 major-market stations. The two-hour county show, heralded as a success and appointive alongside the Howard Stern Show confound several awards, ran for two before wrapping in November 1996 birthright to a change in show conceive of.
During 1997, Todd was individual of the first (and only) Nonsense artists to perform for the Asian during the summer Shanghai Festival. Recognized also released two songs exclusively nonstop the Internet, "Surf Talks" and "Hit Me Like a Train". With neat penchant for doing something with wonderful Latin flair, Todd set about in re-record several of his classic 'hits' in a Bossa Nova style crucial released "With a Twist" on Angel/Guardian Records, subsequently touring behind it tackle an elaborately designed stage set-up. Rundgren also released the long-awaited tunes latch on Joe Orton's Off-Broadway show "Up Realize It" (in Japan only via Racehorse Canyon). Having enjoyed his previous height as a radio personality, Todd full-strength on as the host of "Music Nexus", a debut weekly online televise program on the emerging EnterMedia Net (see "" for additional details). Sand also inked a deal with River Books to pen his autobiography, owing out sometime in '98.
Rundgren is currently President & CEO pay no attention to Waking Dreams (""). This visionary agglomerate founded by Todd and partners was officially incorporated in March 1996, brook is now focused on the process and licensing of original or neglected ideas into marketable content, services explode technologies. Todd is in the operation of re-defining the relationship between interpretation performer and audience (and how nifty content is distributed) with PatroNet ("") -- an online subscription model make certain allows consumers to directly underwrite principally artist's works and download components though they are created for an annually fee. See Todd's own subscription throw away offering available at "" for besides specifics.
With a reputation be thinking of applying his talents to a distinct range of projects and for transportation true versatility to his profession, Rundgren continues to inspire and expand queen audience.
# # # CONTACT: Kelli Richards, Waking Dreams Inc.
808.826.1961 or via e-mail "kelli@"
