Rupert Wates

Bio:

Born in London, I've been a full time songwriter most of my waking life and also in many of my dreams. I signed a publishing deal with Eaton Music in 1994. I've done stints as a journalist, travelling to Europe, the far east and the US. Moved to Paris in 2001 and lived there five years. Since fall 2006 I've been based in the US, first on the west coast and lately on the east. I play 100-150 live shows a year. In 2008 alone I covered more than 15,000 miles, with gigs in almost every state. People have been nice or I've been lucky, and I've received over twelve songwriting awards (see list below). I've made three CDs since coming to the States, 'Coast To Coast', 'Dear Life', and now in 2010 my most exciting project to date: 'Joe's Cafe'. So far they've had some good reviews. If you'd like to read some of the reviews they're on my blog. Over the years I've also had pretty consistent radio play, and been on TV a few times too. All this is just a way of saying that I'm glad to be here. So is my music. **************************************************************** DISCOGRAPHY: "Blue Afternoons" (Written for Jazz singer Liz Fletcher) Mainstem 2002 **************************************************************** "Sweet Or Bitter Wine" Mainstem 2005 **************************************************************** "Coast To Coast" Bitemusic Limited 2007 **************************************************************** "Dear Life" Bitemusic Limited 2008 **************************************************************** "Joe's Cafe" Bitemusic Limited 2010 **************************************************************** SONGWRITING AWARDS: February 2007 Songwriter Universe: Song Of The Month for 'After The Rains' ('Sweet Or Bitter Wine') **************************************************************** March 2007 International Singer/Songwriter Awards: Honorable Mention for 'On The Road To Santa Fe' ('Coast To Coast') and 'After The Rains' ('Sweet Or Bitter Wine') **************************************************************** July 2007 11th Unisong Song Contest: (Acoustic Category) Top 20 Finalist for 'After The Rains', and (Jazz Category) Top 20 Finalist for 'Come In Come Out (Of The Rain)' ('Sweet Or Bitter Wine') **************************************************************** September 2007 John Lennon Songwriting Competition: (Folk Category) Honorable Mention for 'After The Rains' ('Sweet Or Bitter Wine') **************************************************************** October 2007 North Carolina Songwriting Contest: Second Prize for 'After The Rains' and 'Prisoner Of The Open Road' ('Sweet Or Bitter Wine') **************************************************************** October 2007 Britsound Radio: Album Of The Month for CD 'Coast To Coast' (Bitemusic Limited) **************************************************************** November 2007 Midatlantic Song Contest: Gold Prize (Folk Category) and Second Prize overall for 'After The Rains' ('Sweet Or Bitter Wine') **************************************************************** January 2008 Britsound Radio: TOP 10 Album of 2007 for CD 'Coast To Coast' (Bitemusic Limited) **************************************************************** May 2008 Wildflower Song Contest: Top 10 Finalist for 'After The Rains' ('Sweet Or Bitter Wine') **************************************************************** September 2008 Great Lakes Song Contest: Top 20 Finalist for 'After The Rains' ('Sweet Or Bitter Wine') **************************************************************** October 2008 Independent Singer/Songwriter Awards: Honorable Mention for 'Elegy For The Coming Man' ('Dear Life') **************************************************************** December 2008 North Carolina Songwriting Contest: Honorable Mention for 'I Dream' and 'Blackness Of The Night' ('Dear Life')**************************************************************** January 2009 Mike Pinders SONGWARS: Top prize in the Folk/Acoustic Category for 'After The Rains' ('Sweet Or Bitter Wine')**************************************************************** February 2009 Mike Pindars BANDWARS: Finalist for 'Elegy For The Coming Man' ('Dear Life') **************************************************************** March 2009 Indie Acoustic Project: One of 3 Top Finalists in 'Best Lyrics' Category for album 'Dear Life' (Bitemusic Limited) *************************************************************** September 2009 UK Songwriting Contest: Semi finalist in the Adult Contemporary Category for 'I Will Follow' and 'Reach Out' ***************************************************************** July 2010 Billboard Song Contest Honorable Mention for 'After The Rains' ('Sweet Or Bitter Wine)************************************************************* August 2010 Austin Songwriters Contest (Americana category) Honorable Mention for 'Sally's Farm' ("Joe's Cafe")***************************************************************** September 2010 San Francisco Fringe Festival: Best Music Revue for "JOE'S CAFE" (live show)***************************************************************** REVIEWS: "Wates doesn't withhold his power as a poet, tearing through the veneer of consensus reality to bring listeners the raw truth of the human condition..."JOE'S CAFE" burrows deep into the heart and mind. This play of seemingly innocent musics with stark reality is something not often attempted in popular music" (Mark S Tucker, Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange)**************************************************************** "Truly gripping lyrics with great themes and troubling witty messages. An inspirational artist" (Leith Radio 98.8FM)**************************************************************** "Wates carried himself with the confidence and charm of someone who has truly found their calling...(His) gift for smart lyrics and sharp hooks only hints at the depth of his talent" (James Haag, 'Port Jefferson Patch', 11 10)***************************************************************** "To describe Rupert Wates as a singer/songwriter does not do him justice. You feel, not just hear his music and lyrics. He is an experience. He finished his set with 'I Dream', a song reminiscent of Jacques Brel's work, to a standing ovation" (Eileen Batson, North Carolina Songwriter's Co-op)**************************************************************** "Each song yanks the listener fully into the story and rhythms, not to mention an emotionality imbuing Wates' plaintively melodic voice. Every cut's a gem, completely enthralling, absorbing, and thus we have a new and unique songwriter/musician already in the fronk rank by dint of...timeless work. Trust me, Rupert Wates is an exceedingly rare talent" (Mark Tucker, Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange)**************************************************************** ('Dear Life' is) "One of the best CDs of 2008" (Jon Sirkis, Indie Acoustic Project) ****************************************************************"A songwriter of the very highest quality...'I Dream' (has) the makings of a cult song" (Stefan Schmoe, Online Musik Magazine) **************************************************************** "...Like a clearer and more theatrical Gordon Lightfoot...A true tunesmith" (Robert Francos, www.jerseybeat.com)**************************************************************** "I first met Rupert Wates when he performed at a small coffee shop in Chicago in July 2008. His performance floored me...Rupert gave a coliseum-quality performance. Sounding like a one-man Moody Blues unplugged, he is truly a musician that deserves to be heard" (T. Mannis, http://rogersparkbench.blogspot.com) **************************************************************** "A delight to listen to...These are songs crafted with care and imbued with sincerity and conviction. ('Coast To Coast' is) An album to be savored, not rushed" (Rob Quicke, Britsound Radio) **************************************************************** "A singer who makes you think while he entertains...Rupert Wates manages that tricky tightrope with great skill" (Chris Kocher, pressconnects.com) **************************************************************** (FOR MORE REVIEWS see my BLOG) **************************************************************** RADIO SHOWS: Live interviews and performances for Britsound Radio, NJ (November 2007); WPSC, Wayne, NJ (December 2007); WXAV, Chicago, IL (July 2008); KOTO, Telluride, CO (July 2008); KPSU, Portland OR (August 2008); Britsound Radio, Wayne NJ (March 2009); WRPI, Troy NY (June 2009) Leith FM, Edinburgh Scotland (August 2009); WRPI, Troy NY (May 2010); CFMU, Hamilton, Ontario (July 2010) **************************************************************** LIVE TV APPEARANCES: Bart Hawley TV Show, Jackson, MI (September 2008) SACC TV, Schenectady NY (April 2009) SACC TV, Schenectady NY (June 2009) ABC TV, Mount Pleasant SC (September 2009) SACC TV, Schenectady NY (November 2009) **************************************************************** RADIO PLAY 2009: Danny Watson Folk Show, 2MAX FM New South Wales Australia; Radio Upper Galilee 105.3FM Israel; Mojo Alt, 94.1 FM Radio 2, Skopje Macedonia; Radio Zusa, FM 95.5, Luneberg, Germany; Britsound Radio, WPSC 88.7FM, Wayne NJ; CJLX, FM 92.3, Ontario, Canada; Barely Darker Than Air, WHUS Storrs CT; RADIO PLAY 2010: Mark Watkins Radio Show, Blast 1386, Thames University Reading UK; Danny Watson Folk Show, 2MAX FM 91.3 New South Wales Australia; Grassroots, AusFolk Radio, FM 107.9, New South Wales Australia; Just Us Folk, AM 1380 Ontario Canada; Barley Darker Than Air, WHUS Storrs CT; Radio Zusa, Luneberg Germany; WESU 88.1 FM, Middletown CT; CountryMusic24 Radio, Nuremberg Germany; "General Eclectic", WCVF FM Fredonia NY; Acoustic Planet, CHES 101.5 FM Erin, Ontario Canada; Just Folking Around, WHUS 91.7FM Storrs CT; Music You Can't Hear On The Radio, WPRB at 103.3FM Princeton NJ (For more radio play see blog) **************************************************************** 'Coast To Coast', 'Dear Life' and 'Joe's Cafe' available at www.rupertwates.com and at www.cdbaby.com/cd/rupertwates 'Sweet Or Bitter Wine' available at www.rupertwates.com .. I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4 North Carolina Song Contest

Add to My Profile | More Videos Rupert Wates Performing Jacques Brel

Add to My Profile | More Videos First US TV Show: Bart Hawley TV, Jackson MI

Member Since:

September 29, 2006

Members:

Rupert Wates and friends

Influences:

Igor Stravinsky, Kurt Weil, George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Michel Legrand, Jacques Brel, Pete Seeger, Carole King, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Ray Davies, Marvin Gaye, Burt Bacharach, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Randy Newman, James Taylor, Nick Drake, Townes Van Zandt, Cat Stevens, John Martyn, Jeff Buckley, and any other good writer before, since and still to come

Sounds Like:

You've always known him

Record Label:

Mainstem, Bite Music Ltd