Wyatt is a popular patronymic surname and given name derived from a Middle English diminutive of an Old English personal name wīg "war" + heard "hard, brave", and of the names Guy and William.

People[link]

Surname[link]

• Wyatt Family, a prominent English (later also American) family
  • Henry Wyatt, a prominent Tudor nobleman and political figure
  • Thomas Wyatt (poet), his son, a Tudor poet
  • Thomas Wyatt the younger, Henry's grandson, leader of Wyatt’s rebellion
  • George Wyatt (writer), Henry's great-grandson, writer and historian
  • Sir Francis Wyatt, Colonial Governor of Virginia, grandson of Thomas Wyatt the younger
• Arthur Wyatt, figure from the Enron scandal
• Arthur Wyatt (comics), British comics writer
• Bob Wyatt, English cricketer
• Caleb Wyatt, American motorcycle stunt performer
• Caroline Wyatt, British journalist
• Chris Wyatt, one of several people including:
  • Chris Wyatt (media executive), English-American corporate executive, primarily in film and television
  • Chris Wyatt (rugby player), Welsh rugby union footballer
  • Chris Wyatt (producer), American film producer, writer and second unit director
  • Chris Wyatt (born 1969), American television producer and internet executive, founded website Godtube
• David K. Wyatt, American historian
• Derek Wyatt, British politician
• Ed Wyatt, Australian broadcaster
• George Wyatt, probable pseudonym of Charles Spain Verral
• George Harry Wyatt, lance-corporal in British Army, awarded the Victoria Cross
• Greg Wyatt, American sculptor
• Hattie Wyatt, the American politician Hattie Caraway
• Jack Wyatt (1917-2008), American television host and Episcopalian priest
• James Wyatt (1746–1813), English architect
• James Wyatt (game designer)
• Jane Wyatt, American actress
• Jeffry Wyatt, original surname for British architect Jeffry Wyatville
• Jennifer Wyatt, Canadian golfer
• Jonathan Wyatt, New Zealand long-distance runner
• Justin Wyatt, American football player
• Keke Wyatt, American singer
• Kimberly Wyatt, American singer
• Lewis Wyatt, British architect
• Matthew Digby Wyatt, British architect
• Petronella Wyatt, British journalist
• Reg Wyatt (English footballer), English footballer
• R. E. S. Wyatt (Bob), English cricketer
• Richard Wyatt, British sculptor
• Robert Wyatt, British musician
• Robert E. Wyatt, chemistry professor
• Ron Wyatt, American self-styled archaeologist
• Samuel Wyatt, British architect
• Sharon Wyatt, American actress
• Stephen Wyatt, British writer
• Tessa Wyatt, British actress
• Thomas Wyatt, one of several people including:
  • Thomas Henry Wyatt (1807–1880), British architect
• Victoria Wyatt, ethnographer and art historian
• Walter Wyatt, American lawyer
• Will Wyatt, British television producer
• Wilma Winifred Wyatt, American actress Dixie Lee
• Wilson W. Wyatt (1905–1996), Louisville mayor and Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
• Woodrow Wyatt, British politician, journalist, and diarist
• Zoe E. Wyatt, British, interntational taxation specialist and advisor, created www.interntionaltaxnews.co.uk

Given name[link]

• Wyatt Cenac, correspondent on television satire The Daily Show
• Wyatt Earp, teamster, officer of the law and “cowboy”
• Wyatt Roy, Australian politician
• Wyatt Stewart, career fundraiser and businessman

Fictional characters[link]

• Wyatt Gwyon, one of the characters of The Recognitions, a novel by William Gaddis
• Wyatt Cain, the titular character of the Syfy TV miniseries, Tin Man
• Wyatt Halliwell, the son of Piper and Leo from Charmed
• Wyatt Williams, one of the main characters on 6teen
• Andrea Wyatt, from The West Wing TV series
• Ben Wyatt, the soul mate of Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation
• Eunice Gardner Wyatt, from Search for Tomorrow
• Leo Wyatt, from Charmed
• Thomas Wyatt, one of the main character from the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 campaign

External links[link]

Look up Wyatt in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

This page or section lists people with the surname Wyatt. If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.

Ron Wyatt

Ronald Eldon Wyatt (1933 – August 4, 1999) was an adventurer and former nurse anaesthetist noted for advocating the Durupınar site as the site of Noah's Ark, among other Bible-related pseudoarchaeology. His claims were dismissed by scientists, historians, biblical scholars, and even by leaders in his own Seventh-day Adventist Church, but his work continues to have a following among some fundamentalists and evangelicals.

Biography[link]

Wyatt was as a nurse-anesthetist^[1] when in 1960 he saw a picture in Life Magazine of the Durupınar site, a boat-like shape on a mountain near Mount Ararat. The resulting widespread speculation in evangelical Christian circles that this might be Noah's Ark started Wyatt on his career as an amateur archaeologist. From 1977 until his death in 1999 he made over one hundred trips to the Middle East, his interests widening to take in a wide variety of references from the Old and New Testaments.

Claimed discoveries[link]

By the time of his death on August 4, 1999, his claimed discoveries included:

• Noah's Ark (the Durupınar site, located 18.25 miles south of Mount Ararat)^[2]
• Anchor stones (or drogue stones) used by Noah on the Ark^[3]
• The post-flood house, grave markers and tombs of Noah and his wife^[4]
• The location of Sodom and Gomorrah and the other Cities of the Plain: Zoar, Zeboim and Admah^[5]
• Sulfur/brimstone balls from the ashen remains of Sodom and Gomorrah.^[6]
• The Tower of Babel site (in southern Turkey)^[7]
• How the Egyptians may have built the pyramids.^[8]
• The site of the Israelites' crossing of the Red Sea (located in the Gulf of Aqaba)^[9]
• Chariot wheels and other relics of the army of Pharaoh at the bottom of the Red Sea
• The site of the biblical Mt. Sinai (in Saudi Arabia at Jabal al Lawz)^[10]
• A chamber at the end of a maze of tunnels under Jerusalem containing artifacts from Solomon's Temple^[11]
• The site of the Crucifixion of Jesus
• Christ’s blood, dripped onto the Mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant beneath the Crucifixion site.
• Burial pots off the coast of Ashkelon^[12]

Reception[link]

While Wyatt won a devoted following from the ranks of fundamentalist Christians seeking tangible evidence of the literal truth of the Bible, his credibility was disputed, often bitterly, by professional archaeologists and biblical scholars. The Garden Tomb Association of Jerusalem state in a letter they issue to visitors on request:

The Council of the Garden Tomb Association (London) totally refute the claim of Mr Wyatt to have discovered the original Ark of the Covenant or any other biblical artifacts within the boundaries of the area known as the Garden Tomb Jerusalem. Though Mr Wyatt was allowed to dig within this privately owned garden on a number of occasions (the last occasion being the summer of 1991) staff members of the Association observed his progress and entered his excavated shaft. As far as we are aware nothing was ever discovered to support his claims nor have we seen any evidence of biblical artifacts or temple treasures.

In a similar vein, archaeologist Joe Zias of Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has stated that "Ron Wyatt is neither an archaeologist nor has he ever carried out a legally licensed excavation in Israel or Jerusalem. In order to excavate one must have at least a BA in archaeology which he does not possess despite his claims to the contrary. ... [His claims] fall into the category of trash which one finds in tabloids such as the National Enquirer, Sun etc."^[13]

Wyatt's fellow evangelicals have not been any less critical: Answers in Genesis called Wyatt's claims "fraudulent,"^[14] and one Seventh-day Adventist professor of archaeology sums up Wyatt's Noah's Ark and anchor stones claims in these words: "While the Durupinar site is about the right length for Noah's ark, [it is] ... too wide to be Noah's ark. Wyatt has claimed that the "boat-shapedness" of this formation can only be explained by its being Noah's ark, but both Shea and Morris have offered other plausible explanations. Likewise, Wyatt has argued that the standing stones he has found are anchors, while Terian is aware of similar stones outside the Durupinar site area that were pagan cultic stones later converted by Christians for Christian purposes."^[15]

Dismissed by the mainstream as a pseudoarchaeologist, Wyatt's official organization, Wyatt Archaeological Research (WAR), claims that the IAA have always been aware of the excavations and issued "verbal permits" for most of them and official permits to all WAR excavations since 2002.^{[citation needed]} Nevertheless, the only evidence of WAR involvement in a legitimate excavation sanctioned by the IAA relates to WAR part-funding of a 2005 dig.^[16]

Wyatt died on August 4, 1999, aged 66, in Baptist Central Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, after having suffered from a type of cancer. His interment was in Columbia's Polk Memorial Park Cemetery.

Following his death[link]

Following Wyatt's death, a split developed between the official Wyatt Archaeological Research (WAR) organization which he founded, and the independent ministries and interested individuals which had previously cooperated with WAR. WAR currently claims to be the sole owner of all Wyatt's photographs, newsletters, and other intellectual property; other individuals who had known and worked with Wyatt established independent ministries and websites with the purpose of promoting Wyatt's discoveries outside the framework set by WAR.

See also[link]

• Searches for Noah's Ark
• David Fasold
• Mount Judi

References[link]

Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt, London, April 2006
Background information
Birth name	Robert Wyatt-Ellidge
Born	(1945-01-28) 28 January 1945 (age 67) Bristol, England
Genres	Canterbury sound, jazz fusion, progressive rock, experimental rock
Occupations	Musician, composer
Instruments	Vocals, drums, percussion, piano, keyboards, guitar, bass guitar, trumpet
Years active	1963–present
Labels	Virgin, Rough Trade, Domino
Associated acts	The Wilde Flowers, Soft Machine, Matching Mole, Kevin Ayers, Henry Cow, Brian Eno, Nick Mason, Michael Mantler

Robert Wyatt (born Robert Wyatt-Ellidge, 28 January 1945, Bristol) is an English musician, and founding member of the influential Canterbury scene band Soft Machine,^[1] with a long and distinguished solo career. He is married to English painter and songwriter Alfreda Benge.

Early life[link]

Wyatt's mother was Honor Wyatt, a journalist with the BBC; his father, George Ellidge, was an industrial psychologist who joined the family only when Wyatt was about six. This extended family also included his half brother, actor Julian Glover,^[2] Honor Wyatt's son. Wyatt attended the Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Canterbury^[3] and as a teenager lived with his parents in Lydden near Dover, where he was taught the drums by visiting American jazz drummer George Neidorf.

In 1962, Wyatt and Neidorf moved to Majorca where they stayed near the poet Robert Graves. The following year, Wyatt returned to England and joined the Daevid Allen Trio with Daevid Allen and Hugh Hopper. Allen subsequently left for France and Wyatt and Hopper formed The Wilde Flowers with Kevin Ayers, Richard Sinclair and Brian Hopper. Wyatt was initially the drummer in the Wilde Flowers, but following the departure of Ayers, he also became lead singer.

Soft Machine and Matching Mole[link]

In 1966, the Wilde Flowers disintegrated, and Wyatt along with Mike Ratledge was invited to join Soft Machine by Kevin Ayers and Daevid Allen. Here Wyatt both drummed and shared vocals with Ayers, an unusual combination for a stage rock band.^[1]

In 1970, after chaotic touring, three albums and increasing internal conflicts in Soft Machine, Wyatt released his first solo album, The End of an Ear, which combined his vocal and multi-instrumental talents with tape effects.^[1]

A year later, Wyatt left Soft Machine and, besides participating in the fusion bigband Centipede and drumming at the JazzFest Berlin's New Violin Summit, a live concert with violinists Jean-Luc Ponty, Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Michał Urbaniak and Nipso Brantner, guitarist Terje Rypdal, keyboardist Wolfgang Dauner and bassist Neville Whitehead,^[4] formed his own band Matching Mole (a pun on "machine molle", French for 'Soft Machine'), a largely instrumental outfit that recorded two albums. The band were about to embark on the recording of a third album when, on 1 June 1973, during a party for Gong's Gilli Smyth and June Campbell Cramer (also known as Lady June) at the latter's Maida Vale home, an inebriated Wyatt fell from a fourth floor window. He was paralysed from the waist down and consequently uses a wheelchair. On 4 November that year, Pink Floyd performed two benefit concerts, in one day, at London's Rainbow Theatre, supported by Soft Machine, and compered by John Peel. The concerts raised a reported £10,000 for Wyatt.

Solo career[link]

The injury led Wyatt to abandon the Matching Mole project, and his rock drumming (though he would continue to play drums and percussion in more of a "jazz" fashion, without the use of his feet). He promptly embarked on a solo career, and with musician friends (including Mike Oldfield, Ivor Cutler and Henry Cow guitarist Fred Frith) released his solo album Rock Bottom^[1] on July 26, 1974. Two months later Wyatt put out a single, a cover version of "I'm a Believer", which hit number 29 in the UK chart.^[1] Both were produced by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason. There were strong arguments with the producer of Top of the Pops surrounding Wyatt's performance of "I'm a Believer," on the grounds that his use of a wheelchair 'was not suitable for family viewing', the producer wanting Wyatt to appear on a normal chair. Wyatt won the day and 'lost his rag but not the wheel chair'. A contemporary issue of New Musical Express featured the band (a stand-in acting for Mason), all in wheelchairs, on its cover. Wyatt subsequently sang lead vocals on Mason's first solo album Fictitious Sports in 1981 (with songwriting credits going to Carla Bley).

His follow-up single, a reggae ballad remake of Chris Andrews's hit "Yesterday Man", again produced by Mason, was nearly released by Virgin, but at the last minute it was shelved, "the boss at Virgin claiming that single was 'lugubrious', robbing Wyatt of a possible follow-up hit."^[5]

Wyatt's next solo album, Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard, produced by Wyatt apart from one track produced by Mason, was more jazz-led, with free jazz influences. Guest musicians included Brian Eno on guitar, synthesizer and "direct inject anti-jazz ray gun".

Throughout the rest of the 1970s Wyatt guested with various acts, including Henry Cow (documented on their Henry Cow Concerts album), Hatfield and the North, Carla Bley, Eno, Michael Mantler, and Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera, contributing lead vocals to lead track "Frontera", from Manzanera's 1975 solo debut Diamond Head. His solo work during the early 1980s was increasingly politicised, and Wyatt became a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain. In 1983, his interpretation of Elvis Costello's Falklands War-inspired song "Shipbuilding", the last in a series of political cover-versions (collected as Nothing Can Stop Us), reached number 35 in the UK singles chart^[6] and number 2 in John Peel's Festive Fifty for tracks from that year.

In the late 1980s, after collaborations with other acts such as News from Babel as well as Japanese recording artist Ryuichi Sakamoto, he and his wife Alfreda Benge spent a sabbatical in Spain, before returning in 1991 with a comeback album Dondestan. His 1997 album Shleep was also praised.^[1]

In 1999 he collaborated with the Italian singer Cristina Donà on her second album Nido. In the summer of 2000 her first EP Goccia was released and Wyatt made an appearance in the video of the title track.^[1]

Wyatt contributed "Masters of the Field", as well as "The Highest Gander", "La Forêt Rouge" and "Hors Champ" to the soundtrack of the 2001 film Winged Migration. He can be seen in the DVD's Special Features section, and is praised by the film's composer Bruno Coulais as being a big influence in his younger days.

Influence on other artists[link]

The Tears for Fears song "I Believe" from their 1985 album Songs from the Big Chair was originally written by bandmember Roland Orzabal for Wyatt, but in the end the band decided to record the song themselves and dedicated it to him. As a further tribute to Wyatt, on the B-side of the single, Orzabal performs a cover version of "Sea Song", from the Rock Bottom album. This recording can also be found on the Tears For Fears compilation album Saturnine Martial & Lunatic as well as later remastered versions of Songs from the Big Chair.

"Sea Song" was also covered by Rachel Unthank and the Winterset on their 2007 album The Bairns, and The Guardian's David Peschek said of the cover: "That’s the best version of that I’ve ever heard".^[7] In November 2011, The Unthanks released a live album, The Songs of Robert Wyatt and Antony & The Johnsons, and Wyatt is quoted on the cover of the album as saying "I love the idea. It makes me happy just thinking about it."

Recent years[link]

In June 2001 Wyatt was curator of the Meltdown festival, and sang "Comfortably Numb" with David Gilmour at the festival. It was recorded on Gilmour's DVD David Gilmour in Concert.

In January 2003 BBC Four broadcast Free Will and Testament, a programme featuring performance footage of Wyatt with musicians Larry Stabbins, Jennifer Maidman, Liam Genockey, Annie Whitehead and Janette Mason, and interviews with John Peel, Brian Eno, Annie Whitehead, Alfie and Wyatt himself.^[8] Later in 2003, the Mercury Music Prize nominated album Cuckooland was released.

In 2004 Wyatt collaborated with Björk on the song "Submarine" which was released on her fifth album Medúlla.

He lives in Louth, Lincolnshire and he has equipment in his bedroom where he records himself and his albums. We brought a G4 and Pro Tools and recorded it in one afternoon. He's such an extraordinary singer. Before he left, he insisted to give us a scale of his voice, where he sings all the tones – and he has the most amazing range, like 5 or 6 octaves. What's really interesting about his range is that each octave is of a totally different character. We actually ended up using that later for "Oceania", we used what he calls the 'Wyattron'. — Björk, Xfm, 25 August 2004

In 2006 Wyatt played with David Gilmour on Gilmour's new release On an Island, singing and playing cornet and percussion on "Then I Close My Eyes". Wyatt performed as a guest at Gilmour's series of Royal Albert Hall concerts, playing his cornet solo for this song. This is documented on the Remember That Night DVD and Blu-ray, released in 2007. Wyatt also read passages from the novels of Haruki Murakami for Max Richter's album Songs from Before.

In 2006 Wyatt collaborated with Steve Nieve and Muriel Teodori on the opera Welcome to the Voice. Wyatt interprets the character 'the Friend', both singing and playing pocket trumpet. Welcome to the Voice is an opera in one unique scene, on the street in front of an opera house. Wyatt's contribution to the recording was recorded at Phil Manzanera's home studio in North London. Welcome to the Voice was released in May 2007 on Deutsche Grammophon, and the recording features Robert Wyatt, Barbara Bonney, Sting, Amanda Roocroft, Elvis Costello, Nathalie Manfrino, Brodsky Quartet, Sara Fulgoni, Ned Rothenberg, Antoine Quessada, Marc Ribot, Steve Nieve and Muriel Teodori.

In March 2007 it was announced that Wyatt was working on a new solo album entitled Comicopera. It was released in October 2007 on the Domino Records label, a large independent label housing such big indie stars as Arctic Monkeys, Pavement, Neutral Milk Hotel and Elliott Smith.

In 2008 Domino re-released Wyatt's Drury Lane, Rock Bottom, Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard, Nothing Can Stop Us, Old Rottenhat, Dondestan, Shleep, EPs and Cuckooland on CD and vinyl.

In May 2009 Wyatt appeared on the album Around Robert Wyatt by the French Orchestre National de Jazz.^[9]

Wyatt was one of the guest editors of BBC Radio 4's Today programme, working on the 1 January 2010 programme.^[10] Among other things he advocated greater prominence for amateur choirs, and admitted to a preference for them over professional choirs "because there's a greater sense of commitment and meaning in their singing."^[11][12]

In December 2010 Wyatt was asked by The Guardian to choose his top ten favourite pop songs for its audio Advent calendar.^[13]

"Wyatting"[link]

The verb "Wyatting" appeared in some blogs and music magazines to describe the practice of playing weird tracks on a pub jukebox to annoy the other pub goers. Wyatt was quoted in The Guardian as saying "I think it's really funny" and "I'm very honoured at the idea of becoming a verb."^[14] However, when asked if he would ever try it himself, he said "Oh no. I don't really like disconcerting people. Although often when I try to be normal I disconcert anyway."^[15]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• The End of an Ear (1970)
• Rock Bottom (1974)
• Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard (1975)
• The Animals Film (1982, Soundtrack)
• Old Rottenhat (1985)
• Dondestan (1991)
• Shleep (1997)
• Dondestan (Revisited) (1998)
• Cuckooland (2003)
• Theatre Royal Drury Lane 8 September 1974 (2005)
• Comicopera (2007)
• Radio Experiment Rome, February 1981 (2009)
• Orchestre National de Jazz Daniel Yvinec / Around Robert Wyatt (2009)
• For the Ghosts Within with Gilad Atzmon and Ros Stephen (2010)

Compilations[link]

• Nothing Can Stop Us (1982, singles compilation; 1983 Australian edition includes "Shipbuilding")
• Mid-Eighties (1993; includes the whole of Old Rottenhat)
• Flotsam Jetsam (1994)
• Going Back a Bit: A Little History of Robert Wyatt (1994)
• Eps (1999)
• Solar Flares Burn for You (2003)
• His Greatest Misses (2004, compilation)

EPs[link]

• The Peel Sessions (1974, "Alifib"/"Soup Song"/"Sea Song"/"I'm a Believer")
• Work In Progress (1984, "Biko"/"Amber and the Amberines"/"Yolanda"/"Te Recuerdo Amanda")
• 4 Tracks EP (1984, "I'm a Believer"/"Yesterday Man"/"Team Spirit"/"Memories")
• A Short Break (1996, EP)
• Airplay (2002, "Fridge"/"When Access Was a Noun "/"Salt-Ivy"/"Signed Curtain")

Singles[link]

• "I'm a Believer"/"Memories" (1974)
• "Yesterday Man"/"I'm a Believer" (1974)
• "Yesterday Man"/"Sonia" (1977)
• "Arauco"/"Caimanera" (1980)
• "At Last I'm Free"/"Strange Fruit" (1980)
• "Stalin Wasn't Stallin'"/"Stalingrad" (1981)
• "Grass"/"Trade Union" (1981)
• "Shipbuilding"/"Memories of You"/"'Round Midnight" (1982)
• "The Wind of Change"/"Namibia"(1984) (as "Robert Wyatt with the SWAPO Singers")
• "The Age of Self"/"Raise Your Banners High" (1984)
• "Chairman Mao" (1987)
• "Free Will and Testament"/"The Sight of the Wind" (1997)
• "Heaps of Sheeps"/"A Sunday in Madrid" (1997)

Other contributions[link]

• Drums on most of Kevin Ayers's Joy of a Toy (1969)
• Drums on two tracks of Syd Barrett's The Madcap Laughs (1970)
• Harmony vocals on "Whatevershebringswesing" on Kevin Ayers's Whatevershebringswesing (1971)
• Drums and vocals on Daevid Allen's Banana Moon (1971)
• Drums on Keith Tippett's Septober Energy (1971)
• Harmony vocals on "Hymn" on Kevin Ayers's Bananamour (1973)
• Percussion on Kevin Ayers's June 1, 1974 (1974)
• Percussion and backing vocals on Brian Eno's Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) (1974)
• 2nd lead vocals on "Calyx" on Hatfield and the North's Hatfield and the North (1974)
• Vocals on Michael Mantler's The Hapless Child (1975/76)
• Vocals on John Cage's "Experiences No. 2" on Jan Steele/John Cage's Voices and Instruments (1976)
• Vocals on Michael Mantler's Silence (1976)
• Vocals on two tracks on Henry Cow's Concerts (1976)
• Piano on "1/1" on Brian Eno's Ambient 1: Music for Airports (1978)
• Drums on Kevin Coyne's Sanity Stomp (1980)
• Vocals on Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports (1981)
• Keyboards on Scritti Politti's Songs to Remember (1982)
• Wyatt released an EP entitled Summer Into Winter in collaboration with Ben Watt (1982)
• Vocals on two tracks on The Last Nightingale (1984)
• Vocals on four tracks on News from Babel's Letters Home (1986)
• Vocals on three tracks on Michael Mantler's Many Have No Speech (1987)
• Vocals on Ultramarine's United Kingdoms (1993)
• Vocals on one track on Michael Mantler's The School of Understanding (1996)
• Vocals on three tracks on John Greaves's Songs (1996)
• Vocals on Michael Mantler's Hide and Seek (2000)
• Vocals on Pascal Comelade's September Song EP (2000)
• Vocals on one track on Anja Garbarek's Smiling & Waving (2001)
• Vocals on two tracks on Bruno Coulais's motion picture soundtrack Travelling Birds (2001)
• Cover version of "Love" on Uncut Presents: Instant Karma 2002; a Tribute to John Lennon (2002)^[16]
• Vocals on "Submarine" on Björk's Medúlla (2004)
• Vocals on six tracks on Michael Mantler's Review (compilation - 2006)
• Cornet on the song "Then I Close My Eyes" on David Gilmour's On an Island (2006)
• Wyattron on "Cold Shoulder" on Kevin Ayers's The Unfairground (2007)
• Vocals on "This Summer Night" on Bertrand Burgalat's Chéri B.B (2007) - released in 2008 as a limited edition 12" vinyl single (500 copies only)
• Backing vocals on "I Keep Faith" on Billy Bragg's Mr. Love & Justice (2008)
• Drums on 2 songs on Everything That Happens Will Happen Today by David Byrne and Brian Eno (2008)
• "Camouflage" in collaboration with Barbara Morgenstern on her album BM (2008)
• Vocals on Hot Chip (featuring Geese) EP (not the LP of the same name) Made in the Dark (2009)
• Vocals (partly lead, partly backing) and trumpet on some tracks on Jeanette Lindström's Attitude and Orbit Control (2009)

Bibliography[link]

Text by Robert Wyatt and illustrations by Jean-Michel Marchetti 

• 1997 MW, Æncrages & Co publishing
• 1998 M2W, Æncrages & Co publishing
• 2000 MW3, Æncrages & Co publishing
• 2003 M4W, Æncrages & Co publishing
• 2008 MBW (with Alfreda Benge), Æncrages & Co publishing

Books about Robert Wyatt

• 1994 Robert Wyatt : Wrong Movements, by Michael King, SAF Publishing (Canada) ISBN 0-946719-10-1 ISBN 978-0-946719-10-5

References[link]

External links[link]

• Robert Wyatt at myspace.com
• Srongcomet.com

Sheryl Crow
Background information
Birth name	Sheryl Suzanne Crow
Born	(1962-02-11) February 11, 1962 (age 50) Kennett, Missouri, U.S.
Genres	Rock, pop rock, roots rock, country rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, actress, activist
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, harmonica, autoharp, wurlitzer, mandolin, mandola
Years active	1986–present
Labels	A&M
Associated acts	Jerry Lee Lewis, Mick Jagger, Fleetwood Mac, Michael Jackson, Sarah McLachlan, Don Henley, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Dixie Chicks, Johnny Cash, Stevie Nicks, Kevin Gilbert, Vince Gill, Loretta Lynn, Counting Crows, Bill Bottrell, Kid Rock, Sting, Liz Phair, Citizen Cope, Justin Timberlake, Miranda Lambert
Website	www.sherylcrow.com

Sheryl Suzanne Crow (born February 11, 1962) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop. She has won nine Grammy Awards from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

She has performed with The Rolling Stones and has sung duets with Mick Jagger,^[1] Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Luciano Pavarotti, John Mellencamp, Kid Rock, Michelle Branch, and Sting among others. She has performed backing vocals for Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Don Henley and Belinda Carlisle. She also sang as part of the back up vocals for the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary celebrating Dylan's 30 years as a recording artist. Crow has released seven studio albums, two compilations, and a live album, and has contributed to film soundtracks. She has sold 16 million albums in the United States and 35 million albums worldwide and her newest album, 100 Miles from Memphis, was released on July 20, 2010.^[2] Recently she appeared on NBC's 30 Rock, ABC's GCB and Cougar Town, Disney Channel's Hannah Montana Forever, and Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.^[3]

Early life[link]

Sheryl Suzanne Crow was born in Kennett, Missouri, on February 11, 1962. Her father Wendell Crow is a lawyer and trumpet player, and her mother Bernice, a piano teacher.^[4] She has older sisters Kathy and Karen, and a younger brother Steven.

While studying at Kennett High School, Crow was a majorette and an All-State track athlete, winning medals in the 75-meter low hurdles. She also joined the Pep Club, the National Honor Society, National FFA Organization and Paperdoll Queen. She then enrolled at the University of Missouri, in Columbia, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Composition, Performance, and Education. While in college, Crow sang in a local band, Cashmere. She was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta social sorority, Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity for Women, and the Omicron Delta Kappa Society.^[5] Later, Crow was awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Missouri and Southeast Missouri State University, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.^[6]

Crow has stated that her musical inspirations are not restricted to one genre, as she likes absolutely anything with a drum beat. In 2008, she told Ellen DeGeneres that "If it didn't have a drum beat, you can just forget about it!"^[7][8]

Early career[link]

	The First Cut Is the Deepest noicon If It Makes You Happy noicon Strong Enough noicon
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After graduating from college, Crow worked as a music teacher at the Kellison elementary school, in Fenton, Missouri.^[9] Teaching during the day allowed her the opportunity to sing in bands on weekends. Later, she was introduced to local musician and producer Jay Oliver. He had a thriving studio in the basement of his parents' home, in St. Louis, and helped her by using her in advertising jingles. Her first jingle was a back-to-school spot for the St. Louis department store Famous-Barr. McDonald's and Toyota commercial jingles soon followed. She was quoted in a 60 Minutes segment as saying she made $40,000 on her McDonald's commercial alone.^[10]

Crow toured with Michael Jackson as a backup vocalist during his Bad World Tour from 1987–1989, and often performed with Jackson on "I Just Can't Stop Loving You."^[11] She also recorded background vocals for performances from various established artists including Stevie Wonder, Belinda Carlisle and Don Henley.

Crow also sang in the short-lived Steven Bochco drama, Cop Rock, in 1990. The same year, her song "Heal Somebody" appeared in the film Bright Angel. The following year, she performed "Hundreds of Tears," which was included in the Point Break soundtrack, and sang a duet with Kenny Loggins on the track "I Would Do Anything", from his album Leap of Faith.

1990s[link]

Scrapped debut album (1992)[link]

In 1992, Crow recorded her first attempt at her debut album with Phil Collins' producer Hugh Padgham. The self-titled debut album was due to be released on September 22, 1992, but was ultimately rejected by her label.^[12] However, a handful of cassette copies of the album were leaked along with press folders to be used for album publicity. This album has been widely dispersed via file sharing networks and fan trading. In the meantime, Crow's songs were recorded by major artists such as Celine Dion, Tina Turner and Wynonna Judd.

[edit] International success (1993–1997)

She then began dating Kevin Gilbert and joined him in an ad hoc group of musicians known to everyone in the group as the "Tuesday Music Club."^[13] Group members, Gilbert, David Baerwald and David Ricketts (both formerly of David & David), Bill Bottrell, Brian MacLeod, and Dan Schwartz^[14] share songwriting credits with Crow on her debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club.^[11]

The group existed as a casual songwriting collective prior to its association with Crow, but rapidly developed into a vehicle for her debut album after her arrival. Her relationship with Gilbert became acrimonious soon after the album was released, and disputes arose about songwriting credits.^[11]

Crow at The Grove of Los Angeles, California in 2002, with co-guitarist Peter Stroud

Crow appeared in the "New Faces" section of Rolling Stone in 1993. Tuesday Night Music Club featured many of the songs written by Crow's friends, including the second single, "Leaving Las Vegas." The album was slow to garner attention, until "All I Wanna Do" became an unexpected smash hit in the spring of 1994. As she later stated in People, she found an old poetry book in a used book store in the L.A. area and used a poem as lyrics in the song.^[15] The singles "Strong Enough" and "Can't Cry Anymore" were also released, with the first song ("Strong Enough") charting at #5 on Billboard and "Can't Cry Anymore" hitting the Top 40.^[16] Tuesday Night Music Club went on to sell more than 7 million copies in the US and UK during the 1990s. The album also won Crow three Grammy Awards, in 1995: Record of the Year, Best New Artist and Best Female Vocal Performance.^[11] She performed at the 1994 and 1999 Woodstock Festivals, as well as the Another Roadside Attraction in 1997.^[17]

Crow supplied background vocals to the song "The Garden of Allah" from Don Henley's 1995 album Actual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits.

In 1996, Crow released her self titled second album.^[18] The album had songs about abortion, homelessness and nuclear war. The debut single, "If It Makes You Happy," became a radio success and netted her two Grammy awards for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and Best Rock Album.^[19] Other singles included "A Change Would Do You Good," "Home" and "Everyday Is A Winding Road." Crow produced the album herself. The album was banned from sale at Wal-Mart, as in the "Love Is A Good Thing" lyric Wal-Mart is implicated (by name) of supplying guns to which children later gain access.^[20] In 1997, Crow contributed the theme song to the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies. Her song "Tomorrow Never Dies" was nominated for a Grammy Award and Best Original Song Golden Globe.^[21][22] Crow collaborated on Scott Weiland's 1998 album, 12 Bar Blues.^[23]

[edit] The Globe Sessions and Live (1998–1999)

In 1998 Crow released The Globe Sessions. During this period, she discussed in interviews having gone through a deep depression, and there was speculation about a brief affair with Eric Clapton. The debut single from this album, "My Favorite Mistake," was rumored to be about him, although Crow claims otherwise about a philandering ex-boyfriend.^[24][25] Crow has refused to say who the song was about telling Billboard Magazine on the release of her album. "Oh, there will be just so much speculation, and because of that there's great safety and protection in the fact that people will be guessing so many different people and I'm the only person who will ever really know. I'm really private about who I've had relationships with, and I don't talk about them in the press. I don't even really talk about them with the people around me."^[26] Despite the difficulties in recording the album, Crow told the BBC in 2005 that: "My favorite single is 'My Favorite Mistake,' it was a lot of fun to record and it's still a lot of fun to play."^[27] The album won Best Rock Album at the 1999 Grammy Awards. It was re-released in 1999, with a bonus track, Crow's cover of the Guns N' Roses song "Sweet Child o' Mine," which was included on the soundtrack of the film Big Daddy. The song won the 1999 Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.^[28] Other singles included "There Goes the Neighborhood," "Anything But Down," and "The Difficult Kind." Crow won Grammy best female rock vocal performance for "There Goes the Neighborhood" in 2001.^[29] The Globe Sessions peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 chart, achieving US sales of 2 million as of January 2008.^[30]

Later in 1998, Crow took part in a live concert in tribute to Burt Bacharach, in which she contributed vocals on One Less Bell to Answer.^[31]

In 1999, Crow also made her acting debut as an ill-fated drifter in the suspense/drama The Minus Man, which starred her then-boyfriend Owen Wilson as a serial killer.

She also released a live album called Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live From Central Park. The record featured Crow singing many of her hit singles with new musical spins and guest appearances by many other musicians including Sarah McLachlan, Stevie Nicks, the Dixie Chicks, Keith Richards, and Eric Clapton. "There Goes the Neighborhood" was included in the album, eventually winning the Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

2000s[link]

[edit] C'mon, C'mon and The Very Best of (2002–2004)

Crow at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Crow had been involved with the Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF) since the late 1990s, performing at fund-raisers and befriending Sharon Monsky. In 2002, as a result of her friend Kent Sexton dying from scleroderma, she interrupted work on her new album C'mon C'mon to record the traditional hymn "Be Still, My Soul," to be played at his funeral. In November of that year it was released as a single, with the proceeds going to SRF.^[32]

Crow's fourth studio album, C'mon, C'mon was released in 2002, spawning the hit single "Soak Up the Sun." Second single "Steve McQueen" won the Female Rock Vocal Performance Grammy.^[33]

Crow opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, wearing a shirt that read "I don't believe in your war, Mr. Bush!" during a performance on Good Morning America and posting an open letter explaining her opposition on her website.^[34] Crow, performing with Kid Rock at the 45th annual Grammy Awards, wore a large peace sign and a guitar strap with the words "No War."^[35]

Crow recorded the song "Kiss That Girl" for the film Bridget Jones's Diary. She also recorded a cover version of the Beatles' song "Mother Nature's Son" for the film I Am Sam. Crow duetted with rapper Kid Rock on the crossover hit single "Picture." She also assisted Rock on the track "Run Off to L.A."

Crow collaborated with Michelle Branch on the song "Love Me Like That" for Branch's second album, Hotel Paper, released in 2003.^[36] Crow was featured on the Johnny Cash album American III: Solitary Man in the song "Field of Diamonds" as a background vocalist, and also played the accordion for the songs "Wayfaring Stranger" and "Mary of the Wild Moor."^[37]

In 2003, Crow released a greatest hits compilation called The Very Best of Sheryl Crow. It featured many of her hit singles, as well as some new tracks. Among them was the ballad "The First Cut is the Deepest" (originally a Cat Stevens song), which became her biggest radio hit since "All I Wanna Do." She also released the single "Light In Your Eyes," which received limited airplay. "The First Cut is the Deepest" earned her two American Music Awards for Best Pop/Rock Artist and Adult Contemporary Artist of the Year, respectively.

In 2004, Crow appeared as a musical theater performer in the Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely.

Crow at Crossroads 2007

[edit] Wildflower (2005–2007)

Her fifth studio album Wildflower was released in September 2005. Although the album debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts, it received mixed reviews and was not as commercially successful as her previous albums. In December 2005, the album was nominated for a Best Pop Vocal Album Grammy, while Crow was nominated for a Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy for the first single "Good Is Good." However, she ultimately lost in both categories to Kelly Clarkson. The album got a new boost in 2006 when the second single was announced as "Always on Your Side," re-recorded with British musician Sting and sent off to radio, where it was quickly embraced at Adult Top 40. The collaboration with Sting resulted in a Grammy-nomination for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals. As of January 2008, Wildflower has sold 949,000 units in the U.S.^[30]

In 2006, Crow contributed the opening track, "Real Gone," to the soundtrack for Disney/Pixar's animated film Cars.^[38] Crow was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in mid-February 2006, her doctors stating that "prognosis for a full recovery is excellent."^[39]

Crow's first concert after her cancer diagnosis was on May 18 in Orlando, Florida where she played to over 10,000 information technology professionals at the SAP Sapphire Convention. Her first public appearance was on June 12, when she performed at the Murat Theater in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The singer also appeared on Larry King Live on CNN on August 23, 2006. In this show she talked about her comeback, her breakup with Lance Armstrong, her past job as Michael Jackson's backup singer, and her experience as a breast cancer survivor.

In late 2006, Crow was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for the song "Try Not To Remember" (Best Original Song category) from the film Home of the Brave.

Crow wrote a foreword for the book Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips, author Kris Carr's book that was based on her 2007 documentary film Crazy Sexy Cancer. Crow contributed her cover of the Beatles's "Here Comes the Sun" on the Bee Movie soundtrack in November 2007.^[40] She contributed background vocals to the Ryan Adams song "Two" from the album Easy Tiger.

[edit] Detours (2008–2009)

Crow at Memphis, TN (August 18, 2007)

Crow returned with her sixth studio album Detours, which was released on February 5, 2008. Detours debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling about 92,000 copies in its first week and an additional 52,000 copies in its second week.^[41]

Detours was recorded at Crow's Nashville farm. Her son, Wyatt, makes an appearance on the song "Lullaby for Wyatt," which is featured in the movie Grace Is Gone. "The songs are very inspired by the last three years of events in my life," Crow said of a time that found her battling breast cancer and splitting with partner Lance Armstrong.

"Shine Over Babylon" was the first promotional single from the album (download only). The first 'official' single to be released from the album was "Love Is Free," followed by "Out of Our Heads."

Crow performs during the final day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

A liberal political activist, she endorsed Barack Obama for the United States Presidential Election and later performed on the 4th and last day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Crow has also recorded a studio version of "So Glad We Made It" for the "Team USA Olympic Soundtrack" in conjunction with the 2008 U.S. Olympic team sponsors AT&T. Crow also stated that $1 of each ticket purchased for her 2008 tour would be donated to the United Nations World Food Programme.

A&M Records re-released Sheryl's debut album, "Tuesday Night Music Club" as a deluxe version 2CD/DVD set on November 17, 2009. The bonus CD contains unreleased songs and B-sides, and a new mix of "I Shall Believe." The DVD features music videos for each of the album's singles.

2010s[link]

[edit] 100 Miles from Memphis (2010–present)

Crow with Stevie Wonder at the October 16, 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial dedication concert

In 2010, Crow contributed the original spoken-word track "My Name is Mwamaroyi" to the Enough Project and Downtown Records' Raise Hope for Congo compilation. Proceeds from the compilation fund efforts to make the protection and empowerment of Congo’s women a priority, as well as inspire individuals around the world to raise their voice for peace in Congo.

A&M Records released Crow's seventh studio album, 100 Miles from Memphis, on July 20, 2010. The album has a classic soul vibe and features lead single "Summer Day."^[42] 100 Miles from Memphis (released July 20 on A&M Records), the distance from her hometown to the music mecca, is an ode to her formative memories of music - and one that the label hopes can inspire young music fans to investigate the landscape beyond processed pop and Auto-Tune.^[43]

Later that year, she joined Loretta Lynn and country singer Miranda Lambert on an update of Lynn's song "Coal Miner's Daughter" for the 2010 album Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn. The song was later performed on the 44th Annual Country Music Awards in November.^[44]

Crow's eighth studio album is in the works and is said to have more country flavor. Crow explained the album will be out early 2012.

On September 20, 2011 it was announced that Crow will write the music and lyrics for DINER, a new musical inspired by the critically acclaimed 1982 film. The show will come to Broadway in the fall of 2012, and will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall.^[45]

Personal life[link]

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Crow at the Revlon Run Walk 2007

The 2002 release of the album C'mon C'mon by Sheryl Crow features the song "Safe and Sound" which is dedicated to Owen Wilson (boyfriend at that time) in the liner notes and said to be an autobiographical account of their relationship.

Crow began dating cyclist Lance Armstrong in 2003. The couple announced their engagement in September 2005 and their split in February 2006.^{[citation needed]} Immediately following her split from Lance Armstrong, Crow was treated for breast cancer at a Los Angeles-based facility by breast cancer surgeon Kristi Funk. Crow had "minimally invasive" surgery in late February 2006, followed by radiation therapy.^[46][47]

On May 11, 2007, Crow announced on her official website that she had adopted a two-week-old boy named Wyatt Steven Crow. The child was born on April 29, 2007.^[48] She and Wyatt live on a 154-acre (0.62 km²) farm outside Nashville, Tennessee.^[49]

On June 4, 2010, Crow announced that she adopted another boy named Levi James Crow, born on April 30, 2010.^[50]

In May 2011, it was reported that Crow and longtime acquaintance Doyle Bramhall II (musician, Sheryl Crow touring band member, and "100 Miles From Memphis" producer) began dating.^[51]

Crow performed at the opening night of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo,^[52] despite animal welfare experts urging her not to on account of alleged animal cruelty at the event. Almost 13,000 people signed a petition calling on Crow not to perform.^[53]

She is the great-granddaughter of former congressman Charles A. Crow (1873–1938), who was of Irish descent.^[54]

Discography[link]

• Tuesday Night Music Club (1993)
• Sheryl Crow (1996)
• The Globe Sessions (1998)
• C'mon C'mon (2002)
• Wildflower (2005)
• Detours (2008)
• 100 Miles from Memphis (2010)

Filmography[link]

• Live from London (1996)
• The Minus Man (1998)
• Rockin' the Globe Live (1999)
• C'mon America 2003 (2003)
• One Tree Hill (2003) Episode "The first cut is the deepest"
• The Very Best of Sheryl Crow: The Videos (2003)
• Wildlower Tour: Live from New York (2006)
• Sheryl Crow – Live (2008)
• 30 Rock 3x22 – Kidney Now! (2009)
• Cougar Town 1x18; 1x19; 1x20 (2010)
• Hannah Montana 4x5 (2010)
• Miles From Memphis – Live at The Pantages Theatre (2011)
• GCB S1E5 - "Forbidden Fruit" (2012)

Books[link]

• If It Makes You Healthy with Chuck White (2011)

See also[link]

• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart

References[link]

External links[link]

This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. Please improve this article by removing excessive or inappropriate external links, and converting useful links where appropriate into footnote references. (June 2011)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sheryl Crow

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