Typical tropical savanna in Northern Australia demonstrating the high tree density and regular spacing characteristic of many savannas.

A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of grasses.^[1][2][3] Some classification systems^[which?] also recognize a grassland savanna from which trees are absent.^[4] This article deals only with savanna under the common definition of a grassy woodland with a significant woody plant component.

It is often believed that savannas feature widely spaced, scattered trees. However, in many savannas, tree densities are higher and trees are more regularly spaced than in forest. Savannas are also characterized by seasonal water availability, with the majority of rainfall confined to one season. Savannas are associated with several types of biomes. Savannas are frequently in a transitional zone between forest and desert or prairie. Savanna covers approximately 20% of the Earth's land area. The largest area of savanna is in America.

Etymology[link]

San Rafael Gran Sabana, Venezuela.

Although the term savanna is believed to have originally come from an Arawak word describing "land which is without trees but with much grass either tall or short" (Oviedo y Valdes, 1535), by the late 1800s it was used to mean "land with both grass and trees". It now refers to land with grass and either scattered trees or an open canopy of trees.

Spanish explorers familiar with the term "sabana" called the grasslands they found around the Orinoco River "llanos", as well as calling Venezuelan and Colombian grasslands by that specific term. "Cerrado" was used on the higher savannas of the Brazilian Central Plateau.^[5]

Distribution[link]

Many grassy landscapes and mixed communities of trees, shrubs, and grasses were described as savanna before the middle of the 19th century, when the concept of a tropical savanna climate became established. The Köppen climate classification system was strongly influenced by effects of temperature and precipitation upon tree growth, and his over-simplified assumptions resulted in a tropical savanna classification concept which resulted in it being considered as a "climatic climax" formation. The common usage meaning to describe vegetation now conflicts with a simplified yet widespread climatic concept meaning. The divergence has sometimes caused areas such as extensive savannas north and south of the Congo and Amazon Rivers to be excluded from mapped savanna categories.^[5]

"Barrens" has been used almost interchangeably with savanna in different parts of North America. Sometimes midwestern savanna were described as "grassland with trees". Different authors have defined the lower limits of savanna tree coverage as 5-10% and upper limits range from 25-80% of an area.^[6]

Two factors common to all savanna environments are rainfall variations from year to year, and dry season wildfires. In the Americas, e.g. in Belize, Central America, savanna vegetation is similar from Mexico to South America and to the Caribbean.^[7]

Threats[link]

Changes in fire management[link]

Savannas are subject to regular wildfires and the ecosystem appears to be the result of human use of fire. For example, Native Americans created the Pre-Columbian savannas of North America by periodically burning where fire-resistant plants were the dominant species.^[8] Pine barrens in scattered locations from New Jersey to coastal New England are remnants of these savannas. Aboriginal burning appears to have been responsible for the widespread occurrence of savanna in tropical Australia and New Guinea,^[9] and savannas in India are a result of human fire use.^[10] The maquis shrub savannas of the Mediterranean region were likewise created and maintained by anthropogenic fire.^[11]

Prescribed burn; Wisconsin bur oak savanna

These fires are usually confined to the herbaceous layer and do little long term damage to mature trees. However, these fires either kill or suppress tree seedlings, thus preventing the establishment of a continuous tree canopy which would prevent further grass growth. Prior to European settlement aboriginal land use practices, including fire, influenced vegetation^[12] and may have maintained and modified savanna flora.^[3][9] It has been suggested by many authors^[12][13] that aboriginal burning created a structurally more open savanna landscape. Aboriginal burning certainly created a habitat mosaic that probably increased biodiversity and changed the structure of woodlands and geographic range of numerous woodland species.^[9][12] It has been suggested by many authors^[13][14] that with the removal or alteration of traditional burning regimes many savannas are being replaced by forest and shrub thickets with little herbaceous layer.

The consumption of herbage by introduced grazers in savanna woodlands has led to a reduction in the amount of fuel available for burning and resulted in fewer and cooler fires.^[15] The introduction of exotic pasture legumes has also led to a reduction in the need to burn to produce a flush of green growth because legumes retain high nutrient levels throughout the year, and because fires can have a negative impact on legume populations which causes a reluctance to burn.^[16]

Grazing and browsing animals[link]

Oak savanna, United States

The closed forests types such as broadleaf forests and rainforests are usually not grazed owing to the closed structure precluding grass growth, and hence offering little opportunity for grazing.^[17] In contrast the open structure of savannas allows the growth of a herbaceous layer and are commonly used for grazing domestic livestock.^[18] As a result much of the world's savannas have undergone change as a result of grazing by sheep, goats and cattle, ranging from changes in pasture composition to woody weed encroachment.^[19]

The removal of grass by grazing affects the woody plant component of woodland systems in two major ways. Grasses compete with woody plants for water in the topsoil and removal by grazing reduces this competitive effect, potentially boosting tree growth.^[20] In addition to this effect, the removal of fuel reduces both the intensity and the frequency of fires which may control woody plant species.^[21] Grazing animals can have a more direct effect on woody plants by the browsing of palatable woody species. There is evidence that unpalatable woody plants have increased under grazing in savannas.^[22] Grazing also promotes the spread of weeds in savannas by the removal or reduction of the plants which would normally compete with potential weeds and hinder establishment.^[12] In addition to this, cattle and horses are implicated in the spread of the seeds of weed species such as Prickly Acacia (Acacia nilotica) and Stylo (Stylosanthes spp.).^[15] Alterations in savanna species composition brought about by grazing can alter ecosystem function, and are exacerbated by overgrazing and poor land management practices.

Introduced grazing animals can also affect soil condition through physical compaction and break-up of the soil caused by the hooves of animals and through the erosion effects caused by the removal of protective plant cover. Such effects are most likely to occur on land subjected to repeated and heavy grazing.^[23] The effects of overstocking are often worst on soils of low fertility and in low rainfall areas below 500 mm, as most soil nutrients in these areas tend to be concentrated in the surface so any movement of soils can lead to severe degradation. Alteration in soil structure and nutrient levels affects the establishment, growth and survival of plant species and in turn can lead to a change in woodland structure and composition.

Tree clearing[link]

Large areas of savanna have been cleared of trees, and this clearing is continuing today. For example until recently 480,000 ha of savanna were cleared annually in Australia alone primarily to improve pasture production.^[12] Substantial savanna areas have been cleared of woody vegetation and much of the area that remains today is vegetation that has been disturbed by either clearing or thinning at some point in the past.

Clearing is carried out by the grazing industry in an attempt to increase the quality and quantity of feed available for stock and to improve the management of livestock. The removal of trees from savanna land removes the competition for water from the grasses present, and can lead to a two to fourfold increase in pasture production, as well as improving the quality of the feed available.^[24] Since stock carrying capacity is strongly correlated with herbage yield there can be major financial benefits from the removal of trees.^[25] The removal of trees also assists grazing management. For example in sheep grazing regions of dense tree and shrub cover harbours predators, leading to increased stock losses^[26] while woody plant cover hinders mustering in both sheep and cattle areas.^[27]

A number of techniques have been employed to clear or kill woody plants in savannas. Early pastoralists used felling and girdling, the removal of a ring of bark and sapwood, as a means of clearing land.^[28] In the 1950s arboricides suitable for stem injection were developed. War-surplus heavy machinery was made available, and these were used for either pushing timber, or for pulling using a chain and ball strung between two machines. These two new methods of timber control, along with the introduction and widespread adoption of several new pasture grasses and legumes promoted a resurgence in tree clearing. The 1980s also saw the release of soil-applied arboricides, notably tebuthiuron, that could be utilized without cutting and injecting each individual tree.

In many ways "artificial" clearing, particularly pulling, mimics the effects of fire and, in savannas adapted to regeneration after fire as most Queensland savannas are, there is a similar response to that after fire.^[29] Tree clearing in many savanna communities, although causing a dramatic reduction in basal area and canopy cover, often leaves a high percentage of woody plants alive either as seedlings too small to be affected or as plants capable of re-sprouting from lignotubers and broken stumps. A population of woody plants equal to half or more of the original number often remains following pulling of eucalypt communities, even if all the trees over 5 metres are uprooted completely.

Exotic plant species[link]

Equatorial savanna in the East Province of Cameroon

A number of exotic plants species have been introduced to the savannas around the world. Amongst the woody plant species are serious environmental weeds such as Prickly Acacia (Acacia nilotica), Rubbervine (Cryptostegia grandiflora), Mesquite (Prosopis spp.), Lantana (Lantana camara and L. montevidensis) and Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.) A range of herbaceous species have also been introduced to these woodlands, either deliberately or accidentally including Rhodes grass and other Chloris species, Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), Giant rat's tail grass (Sporobolus pyramidalis) parthenium (Parthenium hysteropherus) and stylos (Stylosanthes spp.) and other legumes. These introductions have the potential to significantly alter the structure and composition of savannas worldwide, and have already done so in many areas through a number of processes including altering the fire regime, increasing grazing pressure, competing with native vegetation and occupying previously vacant ecological niches.^[29][30] Other plant species include: white sage, spotted cactus, cotton seed, rosemary.

Climate change[link]

There exists the possibility that human induced climate change in the form of the greenhouse effect may result in an alteration of the structure and function of savannas. Some authors^[31] have suggested that savannas and grasslands may become even more susceptible to woody plant encroachment as a result of greenhouse induced climate change. However, a recent case described a savanna increasing its range at the expense of forest in response to climate variation, and potential exists for similar rapid, dramatic shifts in vegetation distribution as a result of global climate change, particularly at ecotones such as savannas so often represent.^[32]

Savanna ecoregions[link]

Mediterranean savanna in Alentejo region, Portugal.

Savanna ecoregions are of several different types:

• Tropical and subtropical savannas are classified with tropical and subtropical grasslands and shrublands as the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome. The savannas of Africa, including the Serengeti, famous for its wildlife, are typical of this type.
• Temperate savannas are mid-latitude savannas with wetter summers and drier winters. They are classified with temperate savannas and shrublands as the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, that for example cover much of the Great Plains of the United States. (See areas such as the Central forest-grasslands transition).
• Mediterranean savannas are mid-latitude savannas in Mediterranean climate regions, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, part of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome. The oak tree savannas of California, part of the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion, fall into this category.
• Flooded savannas are savannas that are flooded seasonally or year-round. They are classified with flooded savannas as the flooded grasslands and savannas biome, which occurs mostly in the tropics and subtropics.
• Montane savannas are high-altitude savannas, located in a few spots around the world's high mountain regions, part of the montane grasslands and shrublands biome. The lowland savannas of the Angolan Scarp savanna and woodlands ecoregion are an example.

See also[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Media related to Savanna at Wikimedia Commons

• The Savanna

Savanna Samson
Savanna Samson attending the AVN Awards Show at the Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada on January 9, 2010
Born	(1967-10-14) October 14, 1967 (age 44)[1][2]
Other names	Savanah Samson, Savanna
Height	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)[3]
No. of adult films	83 (per IAFD)
Website
http://www.clubsavannasamson.com/

Savanna Samson, is an American pornographic actress.^[4] The winner of several AVN Awards, she has spent most of her career as a contract performer with major producer Vivid Entertainment, and is known for her roles in acclaimed adult films such as The New Devil in Miss Jones. In addition to performing, she has her own adult film studio, Savanna Samson Productions. A native of upstate New York, she entered the adult film industry in 2000, after working as a dancer at the Manhattan strip club, Scores.

Samson has gained mainstream recognition with appearances on television shows such as Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show and 30 Rock. Her wide range of activities outside pornography include working as a sex-advice columnist, a radio presenter and a political correspondent. She also produces her own line of wines, has a recording contract with E1 Music and is a trained ballerina.

Early life[link]

One of five daughters, Samson grew up Roman Catholic in Watertown, New York.^[4][5] She began dancing at a young age,^[5] and at 17 moved to New York City to pursue a career in ballet. However, she eventually gave this up, admitting she "wasn't good enough", and took a job dancing at the Manhattan strip club Scores,^[4] on the recommendation of her sister who worked there.^[5] When starting at the club, she chose the stage name Savanna in homage to a character in The Prince of Tides. The surname Samson, taken from the biblical figure, was added later in her career to distinguish her from porn actress Savannah.^[6] While at Scores, she met her future husband, wine merchant Daniel Oliveros, with whom she now has a son.^[5]

Adult film career[link]

Samson's move into the adult film business began in 2000, after she wrote a letter to Italian porn actor and director Rocco Siffredi, asking to work with him. She initially wanted to make a movie in order to fulfill a fantasy, after her husband had given her the idea, and hoped no one she knew would find out. However, after her first movie, Rocco Meats An American Angel In Paris, which was nominated for "Best Foreign Release" at the AVN Awards, she got what she described as "porn fever" and went on to make further movies.^[4][5][7] Her family soon discovered her film career when she appeared on The Howard Stern Show and Entertainment Tonight. Samson stated in 2006, "My parents are devastated by my career choices".^[4][5]

In April 2002, she signed an exclusive contract with Vivid Entertainment. She continued to live in New York, and commuted to California to shoot films for the company.^[8] Samson was among three Vivid Girls to be profiled in an early-2003 issue of Vanity Fair, as part of an annual roundup of the entertainment industry. The Girls were featured alongside other entertainers, such as Daniel Day-Lewis and Julianne Moore, in a double-page photograph taken at Elton John's home on the French Riviera.^[9] She was also one of several Vivid Girls to provide content for the book How to Have a XXX Sex Life: The Ultimate Vivid Guide, published by ReganBooks on July 20, 2004.^[10][11] Samson helped promote the book with appearances on The O'Reilly Factor and The Howard Stern Show.^[12][13] In May 2004, she joined several other porn actresses as a columnist for AVNInsider.com.^[14] At the 2004 AVN Awards, Samson won "Best Actress – Film" and "Best Group Sex Scene – Film" for her role in Looking In, a 2003 film about four suburban couples who have a view into each other's houses.^[15][16]

Along with comedian Thea Vidale, Samson hosted the 2005 AVN Awards,^[17] at which she won awards herself for "Best All-Girl Sex Scene – Film" and "Best Group Sex Scene – Film".^[18] In February 2005, Samson began co-hosting a daily music-and-talk radio show on the Internet station Electric Eye Radio.^[19] Later in the year, she featured alongside Jenna Jameson in Vivid's high-budget remake of the classic adult film The Devil in Miss Jones.^[20] Samson's role as Miss Jones earned her the 2006 AVN Awards for "Best Actress – Film" and "Best All-Girl Sex Scene – Film".^[21] During her acceptance speech, she revealed the importance of support from her peers and said "most of my family is pretty ashamed of what I do".^[22][23]

Samson announced in early 2006 that she had started her own production company, Savanna Samson Productions, which would release one film a year, distributed exclusively by Vivid.^[24] During 2006, Samson appeared on The Tyra Banks Show, The Dr. Keith Ablow Show, Secret Lives of Women, and for the second time, Saturday Night Live.^{[25][26][27][28]} Michael Lucas' 2006 gay-porn remake of La Dolce Vita featured a cameo appearance by Samson,^[29][30] which in 2007 won her the GayVN Award for "Best Non-Sexual Performance".^[31]

Early in 2007, Samson signed a record contract with Koch Records, now known as E1 Music, who approached her after hearing her sing during a radio tour.^[32] On May 3, 2007, she appeared as a guest on the WNYC radio series, The Tristan Mysteries, to discuss Richard Wagner's opera "Tristan und Isolde". A long-time Wagner fan, Samson stated "I think I'm in a unique position to discuss the sensual aspects of the 'Tristan and Isolde' characters and of opera in general".^[33][34][35] In June 2007, Savanna Samson Productions released its first title, Any Way You Want Me, an interactive movie directed by and starring Samson.^[36][37] She also appeared in the 2007 film Debbie Does Dallas ... Again, a sequel to the 1978 classic Debbie Does Dallas, as well as its "making of" series that was broadcast weekly on Showtime.^[38] The film gained her a 2008 AVN Award for "Best Group Sex Scene – Film".^[39]

In April 2008, Samson became a political correspondent on Fox News Channel's late-night talk show Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld.^[40] She had made several previous appearances on the show, and in 2007 had endorsed New York mayor Rudy Giuliani's Republican presidential candidacy.^[41][42] September 2008 saw the unveiling of her debut album, Possession,^[43] and her first single, a title track co-written by Samson during the breakup of her marriage. Commenting on the theme of the song, she said, "People see me nude and having sex and think they know me and that I'm available, but I'm no more available than Angelina Jolie".^[44] Later in the month, she had a cameo role on The Daily Show, in which she portrayed CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric in a commercial for a fictional action-adventure show. In the appearance, Samson asks Daily Show correspondent Jason Jones, "Hey, Jones, you really think you've got the balls for that story?"^[45][46] She began writing a sex-advice column for the adult entertainment site XCritic.com in June 2009, having previously written such columns for Men’s Fitness magazine and AdultFriendFinder.com.^[47][48] Samson made her mainstream acting debut in the 30 Rock episode, "Into the Crevasse", which first aired on October 22, 2009. In the episode, she plays a porn version of Tina Fey's character, Liz Lemon.^[49][50] In 2011, Samson will be inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame. ^[51]

According to the Internet Adult Film Database, as of May 2010 Samson had appeared in 90 adult movies, including compilations containing recycled scenes.^[3] A 2006 article in The New York Times reported that she earns from $20,000 to over $100,000 per film, depending on sales, with each one taking from three days to two weeks to make.^[4] An Adult Video News article written in February 2006 stated that Samson had five years left on her contract with Vivid.^[24]

Winemaking[link]

Samson at the 2008 Adult Entertainment Expo

Despite enjoying her career in the adult film industry, Samson felt it left her unfulfilled. In 2005, while on vacation in Tuscany, Italy, she decided she could "leave a mark on this world" by making wine.^[4] The wife of a wine merchant,^[52] she had frequently traveled to Italy and France, and often fantasized about owning her own vineyard. When she was a child, she had helped her family make wine in their basement.^[7]

She formed the company, Savanna Samson Wines, and asked Italian winemaker and consultant Roberto Cipresso to help find a blend of grapes local to Tuscany that would produce her ideal flavor. They eventually chose a mixture of 70 percent Cesanese, 20 percent Sangiovese and 10 percent Montepulciano, which produced a red wine that she named Sogno Uno, meaning Dream One. Its label played on Samson's notoriety as a porn star, featuring a side view of her wearing only a see-through gown and high heels.^[4][5][53] Wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr. gave Sogno Uno a rating of 90 to 91 out of 100, and described it as "awfully good".^[4] A gala launch was held for the wine at a Manhattan restaurant on February 27, 2006.^[54] On the following Saturday Night Live, a news parody segment poked fun at Samson’s new venture, commenting that the wine "goes well with meat... and fish".^[55] By June 2007, her company had produced a further two wines.^[56]

Awards[link]

• 2004 AVN Award for Best Actress for Looking In^[15]
• 2004 AVN Award for Best Group Sex Scene – Film for Looking In^[15]
• 2005 AVN Award for Best All-Girl Sex Scene – Film for The Masseuse (with Jenna Jameson)^[18]
• 2005 AVN Award for Best Group Sex Scene – Film for Dual Identity^[15]
• 2005 Eroticline Award for Best Erotic Actress in the World^[57]
• 2006 XRCO Award for Best Single Performance – Actress for The New Devil in Miss Jones^[58]
• 2006 AVN Award for Best Actress – Film for The New Devil in Miss Jones^[21]
• 2006 AVN Award for Best All-Girl Sex Scene – Film for The New Devil in Miss Jones^[21]
• 2007 GayVN Award for Best Non-Sexual Performance for Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita
• 2008 AVN Award for Best Group Sex Scene – Film for Debbie Does Dallas ... Again^[39]
• 2011 AVN Hall of Fame^[59]

See also[link]

• List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Savanna Samson

• Official website
• Savanna Samson at the Internet Movie Database
• Savanna Samson at the Internet Adult Film Database
• Savanna Samson at the Adult Film Database
• Savanna Samson exclusive interview on Adversus
• Adult DVD Talk interview (audio)

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (February 2011)

The Thrillseekers (born Steve Helstrip)^[1] is the name of an English trance DJ, record producer and remixer.^[2] He has been at the forefront of the trance genre since the release in 1998 of his critically acclaimed track, "Synaesthesia (Fly Away)". He has also worked under the guises of En Motion, Insigma, Rapid Eye, and Hydra. He is also prominent for his work in remixing, having remixed work by Tiësto, Ferry Corsten, Timo Maas, Sonique, Chicane, Blank & Jones, and Seb Fontaine. He owns his own record label, 'Adjusted Music'.

Career[link]

Helstrip has worked with Trevor Horn, shared co-production credits with Chicane, and co-wrote on Ferry Corsten's Grammy Award nominated, Right of Way album. He has remixed Tiësto and Armin, and reworked Sonique's "It Feels So Good" into a worldwide #1 record.

Helstrip is also a DJ, who has performed at The Ministry, Gallery, PaSSion and Gatecrasher. Just twelve months after he first put needle to vinyl, he found himself invited to play at Paul van Dyk's birthday party.^{[citation needed]} 2004 saw The Thrillseekers crack DJ Magazine's Top 100 DJs chart for the first time. In 2006 and 2007, Thrillseekers landed at positions 45 and 52 respectively.

The Thrillseekers story started in 1999, where, with a relatively basic home recording studio, Helstrip constructed "Synaesthesia (Fly Away)". Signed and released by Neo Records in 1999, it peaked at #28 in the UK Singles Chart.^[1]

Following the collapse of Neo Records in 2003, Helstrip took charge of his catalogue by launching his own label Adjusted Music. With demand for re-releases of "Synaesthesia (Fly Away" and "Affinity" (which originally came out under his Hydra moniker), both tracks were brought back out in 2004. As well as releasing his own records, Helstrip also sought out fresh talent for Adjusted. He signed the club hits "Safe to Dream" by the Russian act, Evolve, and "Alone Again" by the transatlantic duo Deep Voices. His remix of the former was followed by the "By Your Side" release. The track was championed by Paul van Dyk and Pete Tong.

Artist collaborations have played an important part in Helstrip's production career. Immediately following the success of "Synaesthesia", Helstrip went on to launch a new moniker for the Ministry of Sound subsidiary, Incentive. En-Motion was born with "Truth" in 2000, and "Getting Away with It" followed in 2002. In the adjoining years he also partnered collaborations with Andy 'Pulser' Perring as Insigma ("Insigma" / "Open Our Eyes" / "Avalon") and with Tim Stark under the name Rapid Eye ("Never Going Back" / "Circa-Forever"/ "Stealing Beauty" / "Santa Cruz" / "Absolut").

In late 2005, The Thrillseekers released the compilation album, Nightmusic Volume 1, and Volume 2 appeared in 2007. This led to a five month world tour of Thrillseekers.

A week before the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, Helstrip was on a week long tour in Japan. Shortly after the earthquake & tsunami, Helstrip produced a track called "Song for Sendai" released on April 8, 2011. The song was available exclusively through Beatport, and it was announced that all proceeds from the track would be donated to the Japanese Red Cross. Within 3 days of its release, it became The Thrillseekers' #1 song on their Beatport page. The track also garnered a lot of attention by being played on Armin van Buuren's A State of Trance, Above & Beyond's Trance Around the World, and many other trance radio shows.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• Nightmusic Volume 1 (2005)
• Nightmusic Volume 2 (2007)
• Nightmusic Volume 3 (2008)

Singles[link]

As The Thrillseekers:

• 1999 "Synaesthesia (Fly Away)" [Neo] - UK #28
• 1999 "Castaway" [Neo]
• 1999 "36 Weeks" [Neo]
• 2002 "Dreaming of You" [Ministry of Sound] - UK #48
• 2002 "Escape" [Adjusted]
• 2004 "NewLife" [Adjusted]
• 2004 "Synaesthesia 2004" [Adjusted]
• 2005 "By Your Side" [Adjusted]
• 2005 "Sublime" [Tsunami] with Ferry Corsten
• 2007 "Waiting Here For You" [Adjusted] featuring Aruna
• 2008 "The Last Time" [Adjusted] featuring Fisher
• 2008 "City of Angels" [Adjusted]
• 2010 "Savanna" [Armada]
• 2010 "Effectual" (The Thrillseekers vs. M.I.K.E.) [Armada]
• 2011 "Song for Sendai" [Adjusted]
• 2012 "Angel" [Adjusted]

As Rapid Eye:

• 1999 "Alderaan" [ATCR]
• 1999 "H.E.I.G.H.T.S." [ATCR]
• 2000 "Never Going Back" [ATCR]
• 2002 "Circa Forever" [ATCR]
• 2003 "Stealing Beauty" [ATCR]
• 2004 "Santa Cruz" [ATCR]
• 2004 "Absolut" [ATCR]
• 2008 "Circa Forever - 2008 Remixes" [ATCR]

As Insigma:

• 2000 "Insigma/Evolution" [ATCR]
• 2000 "Open our Eyes" [ATCR]
• 2003 "Avalon" [ATCR]

As En-Motion:

• 2000 'Truth" [IDJ]
• 2002 "Getting Away With It" [Incentive]
• 2002 "Getting Away With It (Don't Be Afraid)" [Incentive]

As Hydra:

• 2003 "Affinity" (featuring Tiff Lacey) [Discover]

As Morpheus:

• 2003 'Signs/Magnetica' [Captivating Sounds]

Remixes[link]

As The Thrillseekers:

• 1999 Free Radical - "Unity Theme" [ATCR]
• 1999 Force Majeure - "Redemption" [Additive Three]
• 1999 Rapid Eye - "Alderaan" (as Thrillseekers v. Rapid Eye) [ATCR]
• 1999 Alice Deejay - "Back In My Life" [Positiva]
• 1999 Silhouette - "Cant Wait To Find Love" [Neo]
• 1999 Cequenza - "Cequenza" (as Rapid Eye v. Thrillseekers) [Spot On]
• 1999 Compulsive - "Movin'" [Amato International]
• 1999 Digitale - "New York Doll" [Y2K]
• 1999 Chicane - "Saltwater (Ambient Mix)" [Xtravaganza]
• 1999 Taskforce - "Touch Me" [Y2K]
• 2000 Blank & Jones - "Beyond Time" [Gang Go]
• 2000 Rhythm of Life - "You Put Me In Heaven With Your Touch" [Xtravaganza]
• 2000 Ascension - "Someone" [Code Blue]
• 2000 Chicane - "Autumn Tactics" [Xtravaganza]
• 2000 Tiesto & Armin van Buuren pres. Alibi - "Eternity" [Vandit/Armind]
• 2001 Vincent de Moor - "Fly Away" [Virgin]
• 2001 Orinoko - "Island" [Positiva]
• 2002 En Motion - "Getting Away With It (Instrumental Mix)" [Incentive]
• 2002 Chicane - "Saltwater 2002 (House Mix)" [Xtravaganza]
• 2002 Matt Schwartz pres. Sholan - "Can You Feel (What I'm Going Thru)" [Ministry of Sound]
• 2003 Jan Johnston - "Calling Your Name" [Platipus]
• 2003 Alizee - "A Countre Courant" [Universal]
• 2003 Alizee - "J'en Ai Marre" (as Soft Skin) [Universal]
• 2003 Hydra - "Affinity" [Discover]
• 2004 Usual Aspect - "Mr Blue" [Motion Recordings]
• 2004 Ferry Corsten - "Sweet Sorrow" [Tsunami]
• 2004 Rapid Eye - "Circa Forever" (Ambient Mix) [ATCR]
• 2004 8 Wonders - "The Morning After" [Somatic Sense]
• 2004 Witness of Wonder - "Emotions in Motion" [ATCR]
• 2004 Evolve - "Safe To Dream" [Adjusted]
• 2004 Reflekt feat Delline Bass - "Need To Feel Loved" [Positiva]
• 2005 Pulser - "Square One" [ATCR]
• 2005 Lange ft. Kirsty Hawkshaw - "Sincere for You" (re-released 2008) [Adjusted]
• 2005 Ferry Corsten vs. The Thrillseekers - "Sublime" [Tsunami]
• 2009 Solarstone ft. Elizabeth Fields - "Part of Me" [Solaris]
• 2009 Chicane - "Poppiholla" [Armada]
• 2010 Arcane Science - "Still Feel (You Here)" [Adjusted]
• 2011 John O'Callaghan ft. Audrey Gallagher - "Bring Back The Sun" [Subculture]
• 2011 Armin van Buuren - "I Don't Own You" [Armada]

As En-Motion:

• 1998 York - "Farewell To The Moon" [Positiva]
• 1998 Aurora - "Hear You Calling" [Additive]
• 1999 The Thrillseekers - "Synaesthesia" [Neo]
• 1999 Starparty "I'm In Love" [Incentive]
• 2000 Sonique - "It Feels So Good" [Serious]
• 2000 Free Radical - "Surreal" [ATCR]
• 2004 The Thrillseekers - "Synaesthesia 2004" (Re-edit) [Adjusted]

As Rapid Eye:

• 1999 Cequenza - "Cequenza [Spot On]
• 1999 Compulsive - "Movin" [Spot On]
• 2000 Timo Maas - "Der Sheiber" [Perfecto]
• 2000 Blank & Jones - "The Nightfly" [Gang Go]
• 2000 Gee Motion - "Blue Angel" [Perfecto]
• 2002 Rapid Eye - "Circa Forever" [ATCR]
• 2004 Rapid Eye - "Absolut" [ATCR]

References[link]

External links[link]

• thethrillseekers.co.uk, Helstrip's homepage
• Adjusted Music, record label owned by Helstrip
• Steve Helstrip's Twitter

Josh Groban
Josh Groban, February 6, 2009
Background information
Birth name	Joshua Winslow Groban
Born	(1981-02-27) February 27, 1981 (age 31) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Easy listening, vocal, operatic pop, pop rock
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, musician, actor, record producer
Instruments	Vocals, piano, drums, percussion
Years active	1997–present
Labels	143, Reprise
Associated acts	Tenacious D
Website	joshgroban.com

Joshua Winslow "Josh" Groban (born February 27, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and record producer. His first four solo albums have been certified multi-platinum, and in 2007, he was charted as the number-one best selling artist in the United States with over 21 million records in that country.^[1][2] To date, he has sold over 24 million albums worldwide,^[3] and is the top selling classical artist of the 2000s in the US, according to Nielsen SoundScan.^[4]

Groban originally studied acting, but as his voice changed, it developed into a "significant instrument". Groban attended the Los Angeles High School for the Arts, a free public school where students received a conservatory-style education. His life changed when his vocal coach, Seth Riggs, submitted a tape of Josh singing "All I Ask of You", from The Phantom of the Opera, to Riggs' friend, producer, composer and arranger David Foster.^[5][6] Foster called him to stand in for an ailing Andrea Bocelli to rehearse a duet, "The Prayer," with Celine Dion at the rehearsal for the Grammy Awards in 1998.^[7] Rosie O'Donnell immediately invited him to appear on her talk show.^[8] Foster asked him to sing at the California Governor's Gray Davis' 1999 inauguration.^[5][9] He was cast on Ally McBeal by the show's creator, David E. Kelley, performing "You're Still You" for the 2001 season finale.^[10]

Early life and education[link]

Groban was born in Los Angeles, to Lindy (née Johnston), a school teacher and full time mother, and Jack Groban, a businessman.^[11][12] He has a younger brother, Chris, who shares the same birthday, four years later.^[13] Groban's father was born Jewish, and is a descendant of Russian and Polish immigrants;^[14] he converted from Judaism to Christianity when marrying Groban's mother.^[13] Groban's mother's ancestry includes Norwegian (from Toten), German, and English; one of her own grandfathers had been Jewish.^[15][16][17] Groban's parents practiced in the Episcopal Church.^[8]

Groban debuted as a singer in the fifth grade. His music teacher chose him to sing a solo of "S'wonderful" at the school's Cabaret Night, where he sang alone on stage for the first time. At this time, he was more focused on theatrical arts.^[8] In the summers of 1997 and 1998, he also attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts Camp in Michigan,^[14] majoring in music theatre, and began taking vocal lessons. Groban went on to attend the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts as a theatre major and graduated in 1999.^[14] He was admitted to Carnegie Mellon University, intending to study drama, but he left four months into his first semester. Offered a recording contract, he decided to pursue his singing career.^[14]

Music career[link]

1998–2001: debut[link]

In late 1998, the 17-year-old Groban was introduced by his vocal coach to Grammy-winning producer/arranger David Foster and future manager Brian Avnet.^[18] At the time Groban had no recording experience and was preparing to begin studying at Carnegie Mellon University.^[18] Groban worked for David Foster as a rehearsal singer on a series of high-profile events, including the January 1999 inauguration of Gray Davis as Governor of California and the 1999 Grammy Awards where—as a stand-in for Andrea Bocelli—he rehearsed Foster's "The Prayer" with Céline Dion. According to manager Avnet, Groban was very nervous about standing in for Bocelli and had to be talked into it, but his performance prompted the show hostess, Rosie O'Donnell, to ask him to appear on her show the following week, which then led to an appearance on the Ally McBeal show.^[18] David E. Kelley, creator of the television series Ally McBeal, created a character, Malcolm Wyatt, for Groban in the season finale aired in May 2001. The character of Malcolm Wyatt was so popular, prompting 8,000 emails from viewers,^[19] that Groban was asked to return the next season to reprise his role and perform "To Where You Are." Avnet claims this sequence of events effectively got Groban's career off the ground.^[18]

Groban was offered a recording contract at Warner Bros. Records through Foster's 143 Records imprint. Avnet told HitQuarters that Warner initially proved resistant to the deal because "They were afraid they wouldn’t be able to get a voice like that on radio."^[18] Explaining his reasons for signing the artist, Foster said: "I love his natural ability in the pop and rock arena, but I love his sense of classics even more. He's a true musical force to be reckoned with."^[19] Under Foster's influence, Groban's first album focused more on classics such as "Gira Con Me Questa Notte" and "Alla Luce Del Sole."

Groban performed "There For Me" with Sarah Brightman on her 2000–01 La Luna World Tour, and was featured on her "La Luna" concert DVD. He recorded "For Always" with Lara Fabian on the movie soundtrack to A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001). Groban performed in many benefit shows, including: "The Andre Agassi Grand Slam Event For Children," singing alongside Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Don Henley, and Robin Williams; "Muhammad Ali's Fight Night Foundation" which honored Michael J. Fox and others; "The Family Celebration" (2001), which was co-hosted by President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and David E. Kelley and his wife, Michelle Pfeiffer; and Michael Milken's CapCure event, which raises funds for cancer research.

The singer's self-titled debut album Josh Groban was released on November 20, 2001. Over the next year, it went from gold to double-platinum.^[20]

[edit] 2002–05: Closer

On February 24, 2002, Groban performed "The Prayer" with Charlotte Church at the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and by November, he had his own PBS special, "Josh Groban In Concert" (2002). In December 2002, he performed "To Where You Are" and sang "The Prayer" in a duet with Sissel Kyrkjebø at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway. He joined The Corrs, Ronan Keating, Sting, Lionel Richie, and others for a Christmas performance at the Vatican in Rome, Italy. In 2003, Groban performed at the David Foster concert for World Children's Day, singing "The Prayer" with Celine Dion and the finale song, "Aren't They All Our Children?" with artists including Yolanda Adams, Nick Carter, Enrique Iglesias, and Celine Dion.

Groban in concert at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, NH

Groban's second album Closer, produced and written by Foster, was released on November 11, 2003. Groban said that he believed that this second album was a better reflection of him, and that his audience would be able to get a better idea of his personality from listening to it. "What most people know about me, they know through my music. This time, I've tried to open that door as wide as possible. These songs are a giant step closer to who I really am and what my music is all about. Hence the title."^[19]

Two months after Closer was released, it rose on the Billboard charts from number 11 to number one.^[6] His cover of "You Raise Me Up" became very popular on the adult contemporary charts. Groban also performed the song "Remember" (with Tanja Tzarovska) on the Troy soundtrack, "Believe" on the soundtrack to the 2004 animated film The Polar Express, and a cover of Linkin Park's "My December".

In the summer of 2004, Groban returned to Interlochen, performing and discussing his earlier experiences with local residents and campers. On November 30, 2004, his second live DVD, Live At The Greek, was released; it was also shown as a Great Performances special on PBS. Also in 2004, Groban performed "Remember When It Rained," backed by a full orchestra, at the American Music Awards, where he was nominated for Favorite Male Artist in the pop category; he was also nominated for a People's Choice Award in that year. His recording of "Believe" secured a 2005 Academy Award nomination for the song's two writers, Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri,^[21] and earned them a Grammy in the category Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media at the ceremony held in February 2006.^[22]

[edit] 2005–10: Awake

Groban earned his first Grammy nomination in 2005 for his single "You Raise Me Up", in the category of "Best Male Vocal Performance". During the first week of September 2006, Groban's single entitled "You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)" was released exclusively on AOL's First Listen. His third studio album Awake was officially released on November 7, 2006. Groban performed "You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)" as well as two other tracks from Awake at his recording session for Live from Abbey Road at Abbey Road Studios on 26 October 2006. On that album, Groban also collaborated with British musician and songwriter Imogen Heap, on the single "Now or Never". He performed two tracks with the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, "Lullaby" and "Weeping." Groban's "Awake" world tour visited 71 cities between February and August 2007, and travelled further to Australia and the Philippines with Lani Misalucha as his special guest in October 2007. He performed a duet with Barbra Streisand ("All I Know of Love") and with Mireille Mathieu ("Over the Rainbow"). As to his future, Groban is open to a plethora of possibilities. He said, "I am fortunate enough to have had many really big moments in my career. I think the mistake a lot of people in my position make is to always search for the next big thing. I am looking forward to playing some small theaters. I'm looking forward to writing more. I want to delve further into my acting career and explore some of the film and TV opportunities that I haven't had time for. My outlook is to expect the unexpected. And when the next step comes, I'm prepared to take it."^[10] Groban has also expressed an interest in performing on Broadway.^[23]

2010–present[link]

Groban finished his fifth studio album, entitled Illuminations, and the album was released on November 15, 2010.^[24] Most of the songs on the album are about "specific situations that I've had where love has existed and ultimately failed," Groban told The New York Times, adding: "And other songs are about the quest, and it just not working out." Groban wrote 11 of the 13 songs on the album.^[25] The first single from the album, "Hidden Away," was made available for free download via Facebook on September 8.^[26] “For me to sit in a room with a piano in one take with some of Johnny Cash’s musicians — that was totally new for me.” Josh added. “and I think that excitement is on the record.”^[25] On October 12, a second single from the upcoming album, "Você Existe Em Mim", was made available on iTunes.^[27] This song is sung in Brazilian Portuguese and was written by Brazilian artist Carlinhos Brown. The Washington Post said: "Illuminations" is not a revelation, but it offers a perfectly fine, and often quite lovely, glimpse at a pop-classical crossover artist in the middle of crossing over."^[28] Josh plans on making one more record with Rick Rubin.^[29] Beginning May 12, 2011 and continuing through December of that year, Groban undertook the 81-city Straight to You Tour to promote Illuminations, encompassing appearances in North America, Europe, and South Africa.^[30]

Notable performances[link]

Groban at the ET Post-Emmys Party, Walt Disney Concert Hall, September 21, 2008

On April 14, 2008, Groban joined Idina Menzel for a PBS Soundstage taping. The next day, he held his own taping for the same PBS TV series at Lincoln Center's Rose Hall at Jazz in New York City.

In June 2007, Groban recorded a Christmas album in London with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Magdalen College Choir, which he discussed on the DVD from "The Making of Noël". It was released on October 9, 2007, and is titled Noël.^[31] The album has been highly successful in the US, breaking numerous records for a Christmas album, as well as becoming the best selling album of 2007 in only its tenth week of release, at sales of 3.6 million.^[32]

On July 1, 2007, Groban performed with Sarah Brightman at the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium; it was broadcast to over 500 million homes in 140 countries.

On February 10, 2008, Groban performed at the 2008 Grammy Awards with Andrea Bocelli in a tribute to Luciano Pavarotti.

On May 12 and 13, 2008 At Royal Albert Hall, London, Groban performed as "The Russian" Anatoly Sergievsky; joining with Broadway stars Idina Menzel and Adam Pascal in "Chess in Concert" a live concert version of the musical Chess composed by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA fame. This performance has since been made into a DVD and CD recording.^[33]

On September 21, 2008, Groban performed a comical medley of well-known TV theme songs at the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

In December 2008, Groban appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks. He performed a duet with Only Men Aloud! at the Royal Variety Show at the London Palladium for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.^[34]

On January 18, 2009, Groban performed as part of the Presidential Inauguration ceremonies, performing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" in duet with Heather Headley.^[35]

On January, 19. 2009, Groban performed with Herbie Hancock as part of Feeding America's Rally Against Hunger in Washington DC. The event was also attended by Martin Luther King III and actor Ben Affleck.

At the 2010 BCS National Championship Game, he performed the Star Spangled Banner on Jan. 7, 2010, with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California.

Film and television appearances[link]

Groban has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show six times,^[10] as well as on The Ellen Degeneres Show, Larry King Live, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,^[36] 20/20, Today, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Super Bowl XXXVIII, and the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade, the Rockefeller Tree Lighting. He has also been a guest co-host on Live with Regis and Kelly many times from 2006 to 2012.

Groban played Malcolm Wyatt, a preacher's son, on Ally McBeal, episodes "The Wedding" and "Nine One One" (2001).

Groban has made two guest appearances on the series Glee as himself.^[37]

Groban appeared on BBC Two's hit British music quiz Never Mind the Buzzcocks. His first appearance was as a guest on Omid Djalili's team. On December 21, 2010, he returned to Never Mind the Buzzcocks, this time as guest host/quiz master and ending the show duetting with Michael Ball in a version of "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables.

Groban appeared in The Office as Andy Bernard's brother in the episode "Garden Party" (2011).^[38]

On Tuesday, May 24, 2011, Groban appeared as a mystery guest star on the season 12 finale of Dancing With the Stars to surprise Petra Nemcova by singing "You Raise Me Up" to her dance. When she saw that it was he who was actually singing the song and not one of the usual performers, she momentarily was too stunned to continue dancing.

In the comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love., a film starring Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling, released on July 29, 2011, Groban played a character named Richard, a caddish and nerdy attorney.^[39][40]

In 2012, he appeared in episode 5 of series 12 of the revived British comedy panel show Room 101.

Voice type[link]

Various music critics have described Groban's voice in different ways, with some referring to him as a tenor^[41][42] and others as a baritone.^[43][44] In performance, Groban's music goes as low as G₂ (as in the songs "To Where You Are" and "Higher Window") and extends up to at least B♭₄^[45] (as heard in "You Raise Me Up" or in "February Song").^[46] This places his voice lower than the tenor range on the low end, and just short of Tenor C, and therefore above the baritone range, on the high end.^[47][48] There is currently no authoritative system of voice classification in non-classical music. The problem lies in the fact that classical terms are used to describe not merely various vocal ranges, but specific vocal timbres each unique to those respective ranges, and produced by the classical training techniques with which most popular singers are not intimately familiar and which are not universally employed by the few that are. In a 2002 New York Times article, Groban described himself as a "tenor in training".^[49]

Charity[link]

Josh Groban in concert at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall

Under the guidance of his mentor David Foster, Groban performed for many charity events that included VH1 Save the Music (2005), Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope (2005), Fifth Annual Adopt-A-Minefield concert (2005), 2nd Annual Grammy Jam (2005), Live 8 (2005), The Heart Foundation Gala (2005), and David Foster and Friends Charity Gala (2006). He also sang a solo on the recording of We Are The World 25 for Haiti (2010). Inspired by a visit with Nelson Mandela during a 2004 trip to South Africa, he established the Josh Groban Foundation to help children in need through education, healthcare and the arts. Mandela appointed Groban as an Official Ambassador for Mandela's Project 46664, a campaign to help raise Global awareness of HIV/AIDS in Africa. On April 25, 2007, Josh Groban performed with the African Children's Choir on American Idol's "Idol Gives Back" episode. Also on September 2, 2007, Groban donated $150,000 to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to fund music education.^[50] On February 28, 2008, he appeared in One Night Live at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada with Bryan Adams, Sarah McLachlan, Jann Arden and RyanDan in aid of the Sunnybrook Hospital Women and Babies Program. In honor of his 27th birthday, his fans set out to raise $27,000 in a project called "Raise 27". They ended up raising a total of $44,227 for the Josh Groban Foundation, to benefit the Noah's Ark children's orphanage called Siyawela in South Africa. Groban has since referred to this donation as "the best birthday present ever".^[51] For those who could afford the $1500 ticket, Josh Groban performed at the The Angel Ball on October 21, 2010. Proceeds went to the Gabrielles Angel Foundation for cancer research.^[52]

Impact[link]

Some of Groban's musical influences have been Radiohead, Steve Perry, Paul Simon, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Freddie Mercury^[53] and Björk. He cites as vocal influences "anyone who told a story with their songs," including Mandy Patinkin, Klaus Nomi, George Hearn, and Luciano Pavarotti.^[54]

He was named the #1 Best Selling Artist of All Time on Barnes & Noble in 2007. Groban has sold more than 20 million albums in less than ten years.

In 2002, Groban was listed as "100 Sexiest Newcomer" and in 2008, he became one of People's "100 Most Beautiful People".

Personal life[link]

Groban dated actress January Jones from 2003–06.^[55] Although maintaining a home in Los Angeles, he recently moved his primary residence to New York City, where he indicates that "dating can be very easy or very tough."^[56][57]

Discography[link]

• 2001: Josh Groban
• 2003: Closer
• 2006: Awake
• 2007: Noël
• 2010: Illuminations

Concert tours[link]

• Closer Tour (2004–2005)
• Awake Tour (2007)
• Before We Begin (2010)
• Straight to You Tour (2011)

References[link]