Name	Was (Not Was)
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genre	Pop rock, funk, R&B;, dance pop
Years active	1979–19922004–present
Label	ZE Records, Chrysalis Records
Associated acts	Orquestra Was
Current members	David WeissDon Fagenson"Sweet Pea" AtkinsonHarry BowensDonald Ray MitchellRandy JacobsJames GadsonDavid McMurray Jamie Muhoberac
Url	World Wide Was

Was (Not Was) is an American eclectic pop group founded by David Weiss (a.k.a. David Was) and Don Fagenson (a.k.a. Don Was). They gained popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s.

History

Weiss and Fagenson were childhood friends who grew up together in suburban Detroit. Partly due to Fagenson's poverty they decided to form Was (Not Was) in 1979. The name of the band was derived from Fagenson's son Zane, who enjoyed contradicting words such as "Blue" with "Not Blue". Their first recording was "Wheel Me Out", a 12-inch dance record for the avant-garde ZE Records.

Their first album Was (Not Was) (1981) was an amalgam of rock, disco, Weiss's beat poetry, Reagan-era political-social commentary, and jazz. On vocals they recruited Harry Bowens and "Sweet Pea" Atkinson, who proved to be distinctive, soulful front men, who frequently found themselves singing absurdist and satirical songs, alongside tender ballads. The MC5's Wayne Kramer, The Knack's Doug Fieger and Mingus trumpeter Marcus Belgrave were among the guest players.

In 1982, the group played on a rare solo album for lead singer "Sweet Pea" Atkinson called Don't Walk Away.

The eclectic Born to Laugh at Tornadoes (1983) had even more guest musicians, including Ozzy Osbourne rapping over electro, Mitch Ryder belting out a techno-rockabilly number, Mel Tormé crooning an odd ballad about asphyxiation, and an abstract funk piece called "Man vs. the Empire Brain Building". Singer Donald Ray Mitchell joined the group as third lead vocalist.

In 1988, they found their biggest hit with the album What Up, Dog?, which featured the singles "Walk the Dinosaur" and "Spy in the House of Love". Special guests included Stevie Salas, John Patitucci, Frank Sinatra, Jr., and a writing credit for Elvis Costello. Artist/animator Christoph Simon created videos to accompany some of their songs, such as "What Up Dog?", "Dad I'm in Jail", and the Tom Waits-style "Earth to Doris". These appeared on MTV's Liquid Television and in various film festivals, including the Spike & Mike festival. About this time, the Was Brothers developed separate careers as producers, film scorers, and music supervisors.

The group followed up with Are You Okay? in 1990, spearheaded by a cover of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". Guest musicians included Iggy Pop, Leonard Cohen, The Roches, and Syd Straw. After a tour with Dire Straits in 1992 and a UK Top 5 single with "Shake Your Head" (vocals from Ozzy Osbourne and Kim Basinger), Weiss and Fagenson drifted apart and nothing was heard from the band but a compilation album Hello Dad... I'm in Jail. Some members, however, did appear on Don's Orquestra Was project Forever Is a Long Long Time (1997), which re-interpreted Hank Williams in a jazz/R&B; vein.

In 1997, Steve Winwood released a tune which borrowed not just the title of Was (Not Was)'s single "Spy in the House of Love" but also the bass line and other elements. However, no lawsuits ensued (or were settled out of court).

In late 2004, Was (Not Was) reformed and were back on stage for a two-month club tour through the Northeast and East Coast of the US, as well as California, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois (including stops at the House of Blues in Cleveland and Chicago), Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania (in the Trocadero in Philadelphia). In October 2005, they played four gigs at the Jazz Café in London.

In 2008, they released their fifth studio album Boo!, featuring guest appearances from Kris Kristofferson, Wayne Kramer, Marcus Miller and Booker T. Jones, plus a song originally co-written with Bob Dylan nearly 20 years earlier.

Detroit's Metro Times described the band as "an endearing mess... ...a sausage factory of funk, rock, jazz and electronic dance music, all providing a boogie-down backdrop for a radical (and witty) political message of unbridled personal freedom and skepticism of authority." On April 22, 2008, they performed on the British show Later... with Jools Holland, and on May 2, they were the musical guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

The band kicked off its American tour on April 30, 2008, performing in theatres and clubs around the country.

Discography

Artist	Was (Not Was)
Studio	5
Compilation	4
Singles	18

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Contributions

A Christmas Record (1981, ZE Records) - "Christmas Time In The Motor City"

That's The Way I Feel Now: A Tribute to Thelonious Monk (1984, A&M; Records) - "Ba-Lue-Bolivar-Ba-Lues-Are"

Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films (1988, A&M; Records) - "Baby Mine"

See also

List of number-one dance hits (United States)

List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

References

External links

World Wide Was

Was (Not Was) Message Board

MySpace Page

Trouser Press entry

Was (Not Was) at www.musicianguide.com

Category:American rhythm and blues musical groups Category:American dance music groups Category:American funk musical groups Category:Rykodisc artists Category:Geffen Records artists Category:Musical groups from Detroit, Michigan Category:Musical groups established in 1979 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2004 Category:1980s music groups Category:1990s music groups Category:2000s music groups Category:2010s music groups Category:ZE Records artists

Name	Shaun White
Headercolor	#99bdcc
Caption	White in 2008
Fullname	Shaun Roger White
Birthdate	September 03, 1986
Birthplace	San Diego, California, U.S.
Sport	Snowboarding, Skateboarding
Country
Height
Weight

}}

Shaun Roger White (born September 3, 1986) is an American professional snowboarder and skateboarder. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He rides regular stance, twelve and negative three degrees on his board.

Personal life

White was born with a Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect for which he endured two open-heart operations before the age of one. He stands 5'8" (1.73 m) tall. He spent his formative years riding Okemo Mountain and Bear Mountain, small ski resorts found in Ludlow, Vermont, and the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California.

Addressing his perception of the nickname "The Flying Tomato", Rolling Stone wrote, "he used to embrace it, even wearing headbands with a flying-tomato logo, but he has grown tired of it." He has also been nicknamed as "animal", a reference to a character from the satirical puppet show The Muppet Show.

In February 2009, Red Bull built White a halfpipe completely out of natural snow in the back country of Colorado on the backside of Silverton Mountain, coordinates (37.838801,-107.710299).

Snowboarding career

White's skateboard career took place during the same time he was rising through the snowboard ranks. White quickly drew the eyes of many in the skateboarder scene including professional skateboarder Tony Hawk. At this point Hawk befriended the nine-year-old White at a local skatepark and mentored him, helping him turn pro in skateboarding at the age of 17. White has gone on to win many titles on his skateboard, most notably winning the overall title of Action Sports Tour Champion, as well as being the first person to compete in and win both the Summer and Winter X Games in two different sports. Following in his older brother's footsteps, White switched from skiing to snowboarding at age six, and by age seven he received his first sponsorship. White has participated in two Winter Olympics in his career. At both the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics, White won gold in the snowboard halfpipe event. White has also participated in the Winter X Games, where he has won a medal every year since 2002. Including all winter X Games competitions through 2009, his medal count stands at 15 (10 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze), including the first four-peat winner by a male athlete in one discipline, the snowboard slopestyle. White's streak was snapped in 2007 when he lost to Andreas Wiig and Teddy Flandreau, with White taking the bronze. He won the Air & Style Contest in 2003 and 2004.

2006 Winter Olympics

At the 2006 Winter Olympics, White won gold in the half-pipe. After his first run in qualifications, White was almost out of competition, scoring only 37.7. On his second run, he recorded a score of 45.3. In the finals, White recorded a score of 46.8 (50 is the highest possible score) to win. Fellow American Danny Kass won the silver with a points total of 44.0.

2008

Executing a near-flawless second run, White captured his third consecutive snowboard halfpipe title at the 2008 U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships to go along with his third US Open slopestyle competition. This followed White's win at the 25th (2007) Burton US Open, where he placed third in slopestlyle and first in the halfpipe. At the 2007 Open, White was also crowned the first "Burton Global Open Champion". His take for the event was $100,000 (Global Open Champ), $20,000 (1st Place Halfpipe), $90,000 (3rd Place Slopestyle), and a new Corvette.

On November 16, 2008 White Released his first videogame "Shaun White Snowboarding" in North America (November 14, 2008 in Europe). Shaun White:Snowboarding was the 20th best-selling game of December 2008 in the United States.

2009

in 2009]] There was a lot of controversy over who won the 2009 SuperPipe at Winter X Games XIII. Kevin Pearce had 5 hits in the pipe, and all were the same tricks White did in his final run. White, on the other hand, had 6 hits and he started off his run with a big backside rodeo 540 where Pearce started his run off with a big grab. Although Pearce went bigger, he only had 5 hits, and his first hit wasn't as technical as White's first hit. Judges came to the conclusion that White deserved the better score because he started off with a more technical trick and he had 1 more hit than Pearce. With the win, White became the second competitor, after Tanner Hall, to win a gold medal in the superpipe in consecutive years at the Winter X Games. He also won a gold medal in Slopestyle, finally winning gold after 2 straight years of bronze.

On February 14, 2009, White won the FIS World Cup Men's Halfpipe event at Vancouver's Cypress Mountain. Out of the gate in his first qualifying run, he qualified immediately with the day's best score of 45.5. With a thumb sprained on an over-rotated backside 1080 in the second qualifying run, he clinched the event with the first of his two runs in the finals. His first finals run was awarded the highest score ever in FIS halfpipe, a 47.3.

2010 Winter Olympics

At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, White again won gold in the halfpipe. In the finals, White recorded a score of 46.8 on his first run, which proved a high enough score to secure the gold medal without a second run. He performed his second run anyway, as a victory lap, ending his run with a well-anticipated Double McTwist 1260 which he named The Tomahawk. This second run resulted in a record score of 48.4 (50 is the highest possible score) enlarging his margin of victory. His nearest competitor won the silver with a points total of 45.0, 3.4 behind White.

Athletic achievements

In 2003 White was the first to compete and medal in both the Summer and Winter X Games in two different sports.

White is the first snowboarder ever to land back to back double corks, at the Red Bull superpipe.

He remains the only skater to land the frontside heelflip 540 body varial. (The Armadillo).

He was the first to land a Cab 7 Melon Grab in vert skateboarding.

He is the first snowboarder to win back-to-back gold medals in the Winter X-Games Superpipe.

He is the first (and only) person to win both a Summer and Winter Dew Cup.

White was the first to "three-peat" in SuperPipe at the Winter X Games.

Shaun White holds the record for the highest score in the men's halfpipe at the Winter Olympics. In 2006, his 46.8 points bested Ross Powers' previous record of 46.1 from 2002. In 2010, during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, he improved his own record with 48.4 points in his final run.

Non-competition awards and accolades

White was named the "Chairman of the Board" on the Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards on June 13, 2007 and again on June 19, 2010. In the March 2009 issue of Snowboarder Magazine, he was named the ninth-best snowboarder in the World.

He won the Revolver Golden Gods Award for "Most Metal Athlete".

White has been named Transworld Snowboarding's Rider Of The Year twice.

Endorsements

White has had a sponsor since he was seven years old. White signed CAA Sports for representation after working with IMG for eight years. Corporate endorsement deals include or have included Burton Snowboards, Oakley, Inc., Birdhouse Skateboards, Park City Mountain Resort, Target Corporation, Red Bull, Ubisoft, Adio and Hewlett-Packard. White also has his own character on the game Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder as well as the video game Shaun White Snowboarding and the upcoming video game Shaun White Skateboarding. In 2009, Forbes magazine estimated that he had earned $9 million from his endorsements in 2008.

Media appearances

He had his first published interview in TransWorld SNOWboarding Magazine in 2003.

White starred in the 2005 snowboarding documentary First Descent.

In 2007, White appeared on the E! reality TV show "The Girls Next Door" as a snowboarding teacher for Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson. White was one of the few pro snowboarders to be a guest editor of Snowboarder Magazine (February 2008 issue).

The 2008 video game Shaun White Snowboarding is named after him, and the game was personally played and demonstrated by him at Nintendo's E3 2008 Press Conference.

A film, Don't Look Down has been released on DVD and ESPN. The film tracks his journey through the year following his Olympic success.

White was on the cover for The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics: 2010 Edition. White appeared as a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, March 2, 2010, recounting the story of how his mother had his first Olympic gold medal dry cleaned.

References

External links

Official Site of Shaun White

Red Bull's Secret Halfpipe — New Tricks

TTR World Snowboard Tour Rider Profile (current standings in the world ranking with contest results)

TransWorld SNOWboarding Magazine — coverage of White from age 14 on

Snowboardermag.com — interviews and videos

Shaun White's U.S. Olympic Team bio

AP Winter Games Athlete Profile: Shaun White

AP: White's showstopper caps second Olympic gold

AP: Inside the Rings: Shaun White blazes trails

Shaun White Interview: Pop Magazine

Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:People from San Diego, California Category:American snowboarders Category:American skateboarders Category:Sportspeople from California Category:Snowboarders at the 2006 Winter Olympics Category:Snowboarders at the 2010 Winter Olympics Category:Olympic snowboarders of the United States Category:Winter Olympics medalists Category:Sportspeople of multiple sports Category:X-Games athletes Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States

Name	Shammi Kapoor
Name	Shammi Kapoor
Birth date	October 21, 1931
Birth place	Mumbai, Maharashtra India
Years active	1952- present
Height
Birth name	Shamsher Raj Kapoor
Filmfareawards	Best Actor1968 Brahmachari Best Supporting Actor1982 VidhaataFilmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1995)
Spouse	Geeta Bali (1955-1965) (due to her death) Neela (1969 - Present)
Website	junglee.org.in

Shammi Kapoor (, ), born 21 October 1931 in a Punjabi Khatri family, is an Indian film actor and director. He was a prominent lead actor in Hindi cinema during the late 1950s and 1960s.

He was given the name Shamsher Raj Kapoor at his birth in Mumbai to film and theatre actor Prithviraj Kapoor. Shammi was the second of the three sons born to Prithviraj (the other two being Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor), both of whom were, like their father, successful Bollywood actors. Though he was born in Mumbai, he spent a major portion of his childhood in Kolkata, where his father was involved with New Theatres Studios, acting in films. It was in Kolkata only that he did his Montessory and Kindergarten. After coming back to Mumbai, he first went to St. Joseph's Convent (Wadala) and then, to Don Bosco School. Shammi Kapoor finished his schooling from New Era School, at Hughes Road.

Shammi Kapoor is hailed to be the one of the finest actors that Hindi cinema has ever produced. He was the leading star of Hindi cinema during the late 1950s as well as the 1960s. One of the successful sons of film and theatre actor Prithviraj Kapoor, Shammi was extremely versatile as an actor. He debuted in Bollywood in 1953, with the film Jeevan Jyoti and went on to deliver hits like Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Dil Deke Dekho, Junglee, Dil Tera Diwana, Professor, China Town, Rajkumar, Kashmir Ki Kali, Janwar, Teesri Manzil, An Evening in Paris, Bramhachari, and Andaz and Vidhaata. He received the Filmfare Best Actor Award in 1968 for his performance in Brahmachari and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for Vidhaata in 1982.

Early Life and Entry into Films

Shammi Kapoor had a short stint at the Ruia College, after which he joined his father’s theatrical company "Prithvi Theatres". He entered the world of cinema in 1948, as a junior artiste, at a salary of Rs. 50 per month. Kapoor stayed with Prithvi Theatres for the next four years and collected his last paycheck, Rs. 300, in 1952. He made his debut in Bollywood in the year 1953, when the film Jeevan Jyoti was released. It was directed by Mr. Mahesh Kaul and Chand Usmani was Kapoor’s first heroine.

Film career

Kapoor started out with serious roles but with Filmistan's Nasir Hussain directed Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) opposite Ameeta and Dil Deke Dekho (1959) with Asha Parekh, he attained the image of a light hearted stylish playboy. With Junglee (1961) his new image was cemented and subsequent films were all in this genre. He particularly chose Mohammed Rafi as his playback voice. Though in his early career he had often played second fiddle to established heroines like Madhubala in films such as Rail Ka Dibba (1953), producers now loved pairing Shammi with new heroines, but only four became huge stars: Asha Parekh, Sadhna, Saira Banu, and Sharmila Tagore. Of all his heroines, he said that Sharmila Tagore, Rajshree, and Asha Parekh were easy to work with. He and Asha Parekh were paired together in four films, the most successful being the murder mystery Teesri Manzil (1966).

In the first half of the 1960s, Kapoor was seen in successful films like Professor, Char Dil Char Rahen, Raat ke Raahi, Dil Tera Diwana, ‘Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya’, China Town, Kashmir Ki Kali, Bluff Master, Janwar and Rajkumar. Although nominated before, in 1968, he received the first Filmfare Best Actor award of his career for the film Bramhachari.

At the height of his career, Shammi Kapoor - tall, athletic, lively, fair complexioned, green-eyed and with handsome features- was a heartthrob and his good looks and physique complemented his image.

In the 1970s, Kapoor’s weight problem proved an obstacle in his path of success and ended his career as a romantic hero. One of his last hits, in which he played the lead role, was Andaz (1971). With time, he moved to carecter roles and acted in films like Zameer, Hero and Vidhaata. In 1974, he donned the hat of a director and made Manoranjan, a film based on Irma La Douce. Two years later, he made Bandalbaaz (1976). However, both the films failed to create magic at the box office. His last appearance, as a character actor, was in the delayed 2006 film, Sandwich.Recently he has decided to act with Ranbir Kapoor, the grandson/great-nephew of his brother Raj Kapoor, in Imitiaz Ali's next movie.

Personal life

Shammi Kapoor met Geeta Bali in the year 1955, during the shooting of the film ‘Rangeen Raaten’, in which he was the main lead and she played a cameo. They fell in love, but since she was a year older to him and had acted with his elder brother and father, they were skeptical. Four months after they first met, they decided to get married. Shammi and Geeta went to Banganga Temples, near Napean Sea Road of Mumbai, and got married, with Hari Walia as the sole witness. It was only after the marriage that they informed their parents.

The couple lived a life of bliss in the coming years and had a son the following year. Aditya Raj Kapoor was born on 1 July 1956, at Shirodkar's Hospital, Mumbai. Five years later, in 1961, they had another child. This time, it was a daughter, Kanchan. Tragedy struck the Kapoor family during the filming of Teesri Manzil (1966) and Geeta died of small pox leaving him with two small children. It led to a failed romance with Mumtaz, his co-star from Brahmchari (1968).

In 1969, he married his second wife Neela Devi Gohil from the Royal Family of Bhavnagar in Gujarat, and his significant weight gain ended his career as a romantic hero in the early 1970s, with Andaz (1971) being one of his last hits. He turned into a successful supporting actor in the 70's, playing Saira Banu's father in Zameer (1975), when he had been her leading man a decade earlier in Junglee (1961) and Bluff Master (1964) and playing Amitabh Bachchan's foster father in Parvarish. He also directed Manoranjan (1974) a copy of Irma La Douce and in which he played a supporting role himself and Bandalbaaz (1976), but neither were successful. In the 1980s and 1990s, he continued to play supporting roles in many films and won a Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance in Vidhaata (1982). He eventually cut down on film appearances by the late 1990s and early 2000s and made his last appearance in the delayed 2006 release Sandwich.

Shammi Kapoor is one of the leading internet users in India. He is the founder and chairman of Internet Users Community of India (IUCI). Apart from that, he has also played a major role in setting up internet organizations like the Ethical Hackers Association. Kapoor also maintains a website dedicated to the ‘Kapoor family’. In 2006, he told interviewers that he goes to dialysis three times a week. Even that has failed to depress him. Rather, he is thankful to God for giving him so much.

Awards, nominations and other recognition

1962 - Filmfare Nomination as Best Actor--Professor 1968 - Filmfare Best Actor Award, Brahmachari 1982 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award, Vidhata 1995 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award 1998 - Kalakar Awards - Special Award for "contribution in Indian Cinema"

1999 - Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement

2001 - Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award

2001 - Anandalok Awards Lifetime Achievement Award

2002 - Invaluable Contribution To Indian Cinema at the IIFA. 2005 - Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bollywood Movie Awards 2008 - Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian cinema at the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF).

2009 - Phalke Legend Actor Award by the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy

Recipient of the prestigious Living Legend Award by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Indian entertainment industry. Rashtriya Gaurav Award

Partial filmography

Jeevan Jyoti (1953)

Rail Ka Dibba (1953)

Thokar (1953)

Laila Majnu (1953) Nutan

Ladki (1953)

Gul Sanobar (1953)

Khoj (1953)

Shama Parwana (1954)

Mehbooba (1954)

Ehsan (1954)

Chor Bazar (1954)

Tangewali (1955)

Naqab (1955)

Miss Coca Cola (1955)

Daku (1955)

Sipahsalar (1956)

Rangeen Raatein (1956) Mala Sinha

Memsahib (1956)

Hum Sab Chor Hain (1956)

Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957 film) Ameeta

Maharani (1957)

Coffee House (1957)

Mirza Sahiban (1957)

Mujrim (1958)

Dil Deke Dekho (1958) Asha Parekh

Ujala (1959) Mala Sinha

Raat ke Raahi (1959)

Mohar (1959)

Basant (1960)

College Girl (1960)

Singapore (1960)

Boyfriend (1961)

Junglee (1961) Saira Banu

Dil Tera Diwana (1962) Mala Sinha

Professor (1962) Kalpana

China Town (1962) Shakeela/Helen

Bluff Master (1963)

Shahid Bhagat Singh (1963)

Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai (1963)

Pyar Kiya To Darna kya (1963)

Rajkumar (1964) Sadhana

Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) Sharmila Tagore

Janwar (1965) Rajashri

Teesri Manzil (1966) Anil Kumar

Preet Na Jaane Reet (1966)

Budtameez (1966)

An Evening in Paris (1967) Sharmila Tagore

Laat Saheb (1967) Nutan

Brahmachari (1968) Rajashri

Prince (1969) Vyjayanthimala

Tum se Acchaa Kaun Hai (1969) Babita

Sachchai (1969) Sadhana

Pagla Kahin Ka (1970) Asha Parekh/Helen

Andaz (1971) Hema Malini/Simi

Jawan Mohabbat (1971) Asha Parekh

Jaane Anjane (1971) Leena Chandavarkar

Parvarish (1973)

Zameer (1973)

Manoranjan (1974) Zeenat Aman

Chhote Sarkar (1974) Sadhana

Shalimar (1978)

Professor Pyarelal (1981)

Rocky (1981)

Naseeb (1981)

Prem Rog (1982) Sushma Seth

Vidhaata (1982)

Desh Premee (1982)

Hero (1983) Urmila Bhat

Betaab (1983)

Sohni Mahiwal (1984)

Ijaazat (1988)

Ajooba (1991)

Chamatkar (1992)

Sukham Sukhakaram (1994) (Malayalam)

Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1996) Shammi

Kareeb (1998)

Jaanam Samjha Karo (1999)

East Is East (1999)

Yeh Hay Jalwa

Waah! Tera Kya Kehna (2002)

Bhola in Bollywood (2005)

Sandwich (2006)

Complete Filmography

Further reading

The Kapoors: the first family of Indian cinema, by Madhu Jain. Penguin, Viking, 2005. ISBN 0670058378.

References

External links

Shammi Kapoor Unplugged - Shammi Kapoor's Official Video Blog

Official Shammi Kapoor Fanclub

Shammi Kapoor's site

Podcast: Shammi Kapoor Podcast : Happy Birthday शम्मी याहू साहब on Tarakash.com

Category:1931 births Category:Indian Hindus Category:Living people Category:Indian film actors Category:Hindi film actors Category:Filmfare Awards winners Category:People from Mumbai Category:Punjabi people

Name	Richie Sambora
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Richard Stephen Sambora
Born	July 11, 1959Perth Amboy, New Jersey, United States
Instrument	Guitar, vocals, mandolin, bass, keyboards
Genre	Hard rock, Country Rock| Occupation = Musician, songwriter
Years active	1980–present
Label	Mercury
Associated acts	Bon Jovi, Message, Dean Fasano
Notable instruments	Kramer RS Signature ModelESP SA-2 Lennox Sambora signature modelMartin signature acoustic}}

Richard Stephen "Richie" Sambora (born July 11, 1959) is an American rock guitarist, producer, musician, singer/songwriter who is the longtime lead guitarist of the popular rock band Bon Jovi. He and frontman Jon Bon Jovi form the primary songwriting unit of the band. He is also a solo artist, having released two solo albums; Stranger in This Town in 1991, and Undiscovered Soul in 1998.

Early life

Sambora was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey the son of Joan, a secretary, and Adam Samborski, a factory foreman (Richie later changed his named to Sambora). Sambora is of Polish and Italian descent and was raised Catholic. He grew up in Woodbridge, New Jersey and attended Woodbridge High School there, graduating in 1977. He began playing the guitar at the age of 12 following the death of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix in 1970. From his early days Sambora was strongly influenced by blues and 60s rock 'n' roll. His most important influences were Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry and George Harrison. He was also influenced by Spanish classical music and began a life long love of the Spanish guitar. Classical music directly inspired several of his songs, such as The Answer which was originally written on piano.

Career

Sambora played guitar for Joe Cocker and auditioned for Kiss and Poison then named Paris. He was also a guitarist for the band Message, and with that band he gave out a record, which was re-released in 1995 under the name "Message", and in 2000 under the name "Lessons". Bon Jovi added Sambora to replace original lead guitarist Dave Sabo.

Sambora has occasionally taken over as lead vocalist on some Bon Jovi songs, most notably "I'll Be There for You" and "These Days" when played live on the Bounce, Have a Nice Day and Lost Highway tours, while recently, on The Circle Tour, he has been performing Lay Your Hands On Me and Homebound Train. He has also performed "Stranger In This Town". One of the live performances of "Stranger In This Town", recorded during the Keep the Faith tour, was released on Bon Jovi's CD single "Dry County" in 1994.

Recent ventures have seen him compose television theme songs for both Entertainment Tonight and The Insider. He (along with Jon Bon Jovi) is part of the Ownership Group of the Philadelphia Soul, an Arena Football League football team.

Sambora made a cameo appearance in The Sims Superstar.

Sambora is featured on the track "Baby Rock Remix", from LL Cool J's upcoming album "Exit 13".

His first solo outing was Stranger in This Town in 1991, a blues-influenced album that was received well by many critics although commercially a relative flop partially due to the more adult tone of the record that was not instantly appealing to Bon Jovi fans. Eric Clapton played the lead guitar track on the song Mr Bluesman, backed by Sambora on acoustic guitars. He did a short US tour in support of the album, featuring Tony Levin (bass), Dave Amato (guitar), Crystal Taliefero (percussion) and Bon Jovi bandmates Tico Torres (drums) and Dave Bryan (keyboards). Ballad of Youth was released in the UK in summer 1991 and despite plugs from The Friday Rock Show on BBC Radio 1 the song barely skimmed the top 75.

Undiscovered Soul was Sambora's second solo album, released in 1998. The album was produced by Don Was. In support of Undiscovered Soul, Sambora toured Japan, Australia and Europe in the summer of 1998. The band featured Richie Supa (guitar), Ron Wikso (drums), Kasim Sulton (bass), Tommy Mandel (keyboards), Everett Bradley (percussion - Japan only), Gioia Bruno (percussion - Australia only) and Crystal Taliefero (percussion - Europe only).

He made a special guest appearance on Bo Diddley's 1996 album A Man Amongst Men, playing guitar on the tracks "Can I Walk You Home" and "Oops! Bo Diddley".

In 1999, Sambora appeared as a guest vocalist on the Stuart Smith album Stuart Smith's Heaven & Earth, performing a cover of the Deep Purple song "When a Blind Man Cries".

Sambora played on a recently released album called Lessons from a band called Message. The album was recorded in the early 1980s.

Sambora sings "Long Way Around" (background audio) during the final scene in the 1997 Steven Seagal action movie Fire Down Below and is featured on the movie's soundtrack.

Sambora also recorded the song "One Last Goodbye" on the soundtrack for the movie The Banger Sisters. He also covered Jimi Hendrix's "The Wind Cries Mary" for the soundtrack of The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, released in 1990.

His guitar work is also featured on the track "Misery" on Pink's 2001 album Missundaztood with Steven Tyler.

In 2004, Sanctuary Records released a self-titled album which had been recorded in 1978 by Shark Frenzy, documenting Sambora's first recorded material. The mix tapes had been damaged in a flood and it had taken band member Bruce Foster to remaster them for them to be released so many years later.

Sambora co-wrote several tracks and played guitar on Australian rock/pop artist Shannon Noll's third album, called Turn It Up. It was released in Australia September 15, 2007.

Instruments and equipment

Sambora has been known to use a wide variety of equipment throughout his career. He has an extensive guitar collection, featuring more than 120 instruments.

In the 80s, Sambora mostly played Kramer, Jackson, Charvel and Hamer superstrats as well as modified and custom Les Paul models, such as his Rod Schoepfer model. In early-mid 1987, Kramer put out a Richie Sambora signature model with three humbuckers, pointy drooped headstock, gold hardware, star-shaped fingerboard inlays and a Floyd Rose Original locking tremolo, which quit production in 1989. Today it has been reissued by MusicYo, and is named "Jersey Star", no longer carrying Sambora's actual name. He had also used several other Kramer models, including a variety of custom ones ("one-offs"). His two most notable guitars from the Slippery When Wet album/tour were his Kramer Richie Sambora signature and a custom white Jackson with gold hardware and a Floyd Rose tremolo, HSS pickup configuration and a reversed Strat-like headstock and a star on the body and headstock. There is also another of his very famous guitars from Kramer, which is a Jersey Star signature double neck used on "Lay Your Hands On Me".

During the following years Sambora played various guitars, most notably a custom black Jackson, which featured only a humbucking pickup in the bridge position, Floyd Rose tremolo system and a maple neck and fretboard with a reversed Strat-like headstock, along with vintage Fenders and Gibsons.

In 1991, Fender issued a Richie Sambora signature Stratocaster model which featured an original Floyd Rose tremolo system and an HSS combination of DiMarzio PAF Pro humbucking and 2 Fender Texas Special single-coil pickups.

This guitar came in two versions; American and later in 1996, Japanese. US-made Sambora model featured an alder body with ash veneers and was available in Cherry Sunburst and Olympic White, while the Japanese version had an alder body with black paisley graphics (ltd) and a Snow White Finish. Other features included a one-piece maple neck/fingerboard with 22 frets and star-shaped position markers, as well as a 25dB active mid-boost circuit (US version only) with TBX (US & Japanese) tone controls and an active/passive push-button switch.

In the 1995 video 'Live in London', Sambora uses a custom orange burst double neck Fender Stratocaster with traditional maple neck with star inlays, locking tremolo (on the lower neck).He uses this guitar on the song 'Lay Your Hands On Me' on the London DVD.

In 1998 the model has been updated with a vintage-style tremolo, a set of Fender Hot Noiseless single-coils, no-load tone circuit and a 12dB active mid-boost with a push-button bypass selector.

There was also a Mexican-made standard version of the instrument, featuring a DiMarzio PAF humbucking pickup in the bridge position and two standard single-coils in the neck and middle positions. The guitar also sported a rosewood fingerboard with 21 frets and white dot inlays, as well as a Floyd Rose II locking bridge. Both the US and Mexican-made Sambora models were discontinued in 2002, though now there is a Fender Standard Series Stratocaster HSS Locking Tremolo with about the same specs as Sambora's own guitar, but its only available through Guitar Center. He still plays a variety of Fenders, apparently over 40 Stratocasters (mostly vintage, American Deluxe and Custom Shop models), such as the Telecaster doubleneck used on "Have a Nice Day." Sambora also has a '59 ash-body Telecaster used for these days on the current Lost Highway tour. in Ireland in 2006.]] In the period of 2003-2006, he played a wide variety guitars on stage, including custom "Sambora" guitars built by his guitar tech Chris "Lumpy" Hofschneider, Zemaitis Guitars, Floyd Rose guitars, Ovation, Taylor and Martin guitars, vintage and Custom Shop Gibson and Fender models, as well as guitars from his collection. One of the guitars built by his guitar tech features a fretboard made of both maple and rosewood, on an ash body with neck-through-body construction and a custom humbucking/single/single pickup layout. Currently, he mostly plays the custom black "Sambora" guitar (which is now a custom model called Sambora SA-2 for ESP), different models of Gibson Les Pauls and Fender Telecasters and Stratocasters (American Vintage, American Deluxe, Custom Shop and other models).

Sambora has used Ovation acoustic-electric guitars from the early 1980s until today. He played a custom-made doubleneck designed by his longtime guitar technician Gary "Gaz" Douglas which is featured on many "unplugged" versions of Bon Jovi songs such as "Wanted Dead Or Alive" and a variety of other Ovations, such as the Adamas hybrid wood/graphite model.

In 2000, Taylor started the production of a Richie Sambora signature model, a 6-string acoustic made of koa wood, called the RSSM. Only 100 were made all in the year of 2000. All of his double neck acoustics feature a 6 string neck on top and a 12 string neck on bottom, opposite of the normal manufacturing standard. Since Sambora has been known to use his favourite Martin acoustic, among others, on a lot of recordings, Martin guitars put out two of Sambora's signature models in 2006, a 6-string and a 12-strings, based on his mentioned favourite 1930 Martin OM-45. He has also been seen using a Yamaha double neck acoustic at specific live shows.

Sambora also used Gibson and Guild acoustics, particularly a Guild F-50 12-string, which he used on the song "Wanted Dead or Alive". He acquired this guitar directly from the Guild factory due to it having a finish flaw.

For most of the 80s and early-mid 90s, he used Marshall amplifiers, particularly the JCM800 models with 4x12" speaker cabinets and a variety of rack and pedal units (including effects). During his Stranger in This Town tour, Sambora used 2 Marshall JCM800 2203 heads and a Fender amp head (model not specified), with 3 4x12" Marshall cabinets. In 1995, Sambora started using Fender ToneMasters with Fender ToneMaster 4x12" speaker cabinets, following the These Days Tour. On tour, he used up to 12 cabinets on stage. For the studio sessions of his second solo album, Undiscovered Soul, he also used a Fender Bassman 4x10" combo and a Vox AC30. On the tour, he used Fender ToneMasters, a Marshall amp head, a Vox amp head and a VHT Pitbull in combination with Fender ToneMaster 4x12" and 2x12" speaker cabinets. In 2000, Sambora started using the Marshall JCM2000 DSL series (both on the tour and recording sessions of Crush). The song "It's My Life" was also recorded with a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier. He has also used the Marshall DSL series on the Bounce tour, as well as a Hughes & Kettner amp, occasionally. During their Have a Nice Day tour, Sambora used Diezel and Divided by 13 amplification and custom made 4x12" speaker cabinets. During the studio recording sessions of the Lost Highway album, he used Matchless, Bogner Ecstasy and Diezel Herbert amps. In 2007, he started appearing on stage with 2 halfstacks, again featuring Marshall JCM2000 DSL amplifiers and custom made 4x12" cabinets.

In late 2007, Sambora became an endorsee of The ESP Guitar Company, and a new Richie Sambora signature model, the LTD SA-2, is being debuted at the 2008 Winter NAMM show.

In 2008, Sambora began to use a Matthias Jabs Mastercaster, along with vintage guitars, such as a 1958 Gibson ES-335, and a 1954 Gibson Les Paul Junior.

According to "Young Guitar" (Japanese magazine), Richie Sambora use (during the Tokyo show in 2008) an A/B box, Frampton Talkbox, Jimi Hendrix Dunlop Wah, Keeley Sd-1, Stock SD-1, Roger Mayer Octavia (butane paintjob), Boss CH-1, EHX Electric Mistress Deluxe. He also uses a MIDI rig.

Sambora is also a self taught musician of other instruments including: mandolin, sitar, ukulele, bass, banjo, piano, keyboards, drums, flute, trumpet, saxophone, french horn, accordion, bouzouki, mandocello, and others.

Fashion Designer

In 2010, Sambora launched a clothing line with Nikki Lund called White Trash Beautiful. Lund and Sambora were introduced by a mutual friend after the musician decided that a song that he had been writing for Bon Jovi sounded too misogynistic and wouldn't work - but it did sound like a good name for a fashion brand.Vogue.com UK

Public service and recognition

Over the years, Sambora has been an ardent fundraiser for many charities, such as Dream Street, the Steve Young Forever Young Foundation and Michael J Fox's Parkinson's disease charity. He has donated money privately to various cancer charities since the death of his father, including both hospitals where his father was treated, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and M D Anderson. Sambora's fundraising with the charity Stand Up For a Cure allowed for three mobile full service hospital units to be brought to the streets of New York, two of which were named after his parents, respectively.

In May 2004, Sambora was bestowed with an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Kean University where he attended the awards ceremony and gave a speech of acceptance. He attended Kean University as a freshman, but then dropped out to pursue a career as a professional guitarist and session musician.

Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 18, 2009.

On November 24, 2009, Sambora launched the charitable effort You Can Go Home in his home town of Woodbridge, New Jersey, which unveiled a street renamed Richie Sambora Way. He also donated funds to renovate part of his alma mater Woodbridge High School, which opened a new weight room, the Adam Sambora Fitness Center, dedicated to Sambora's father.

Personal life

Sambora married actress Heather Locklear in Paris on December 17, 1994. Daughter Ava Elizabeth Sambora was born October 4, 1997, who also speak a lot of spanish. Locklear filed for divorce in February 2006 citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized on April 11, 2007. Just a few days later, on April 20, Sambora's father Adam died of lung cancer. Sambora resides in Los Angeles and owns a beach house in Laguna Beach as well as other properties

On June 7, 2007, it was announced that Sambora was entering an "undisclosed rehab facility in Los Angeles" for treatment related to alcoholism. Following his release, he told an interviewer, "I was just drinking too much and I needed to get my life together. I'm still in therapy and stuff like that, but it's good. I'm great. I feel fine." In the Bon Jovi documentary When We Were Beautiful, Sambora talks candidly about his addiction to painkillers following a slip in his bathroom. He credited his bandmates and mother with helping him through the difficult time.

On March 26, 2008, Sambora was arrested for drunk driving in Laguna Beach, California. At the time, his girlfriend and ten-year-old daughter were both in his Hummer.

Discography

Studio albums

Solo singles

Other album appearances

with Shark Frenzy

Shark Frenzy - 2004, Sanctuary

with Message

Message - 1980, unknown label

Message - 1995, Long Island Records

Lessons - 2000, Escape Music

Message Live - 2006, Two Sun Songs

With Bon Jovi

;Studio albums

Bon Jovi (1984)

7800° Fahrenheit (1985)

Slippery When Wet (1986)

New Jersey (1988)

Keep the Faith (1992)

These Days (1995)

Crush (2000)

Bounce (2002)

Have a Nice Day (2005)

Lost Highway (2007)

The Circle (2009)

;Compilation albums

Cross Road (1994)

'' (2001)

This Left Feels Right (2003)

Greatest Hits (2010)

;Live albums

One Wild Night Live 1985-2001 (2001)

;Box Sets

100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong (2004)

References

Category:1959 births Category:1980s singers Category:1990s singers Category:2000s singers Category:2010s singers Category:American heavy metal guitarists Category:American people of Italian descent Category:American musicians of Italian descent Category:American musicians of Polish descent Category:American people of Polish descent Category:American singer-songwriters Category:Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees Category:Arena Football League executives Category:Bon Jovi members Category:Jersey Shore musicians Category:Lead guitarists Category:Living people Category:Mercury Records artists Category:Musicians from New Jersey Category:People from Middlesex County, New Jersey Category:People from Tarzana, Los Angeles

Name	Larry David
Caption	David at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival
Birth name	Lawrence Eugene David
Birth date	July 02, 1947
Birth place	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Medium	Stand-up, television, film
Nationality	American
Active	1975–present
Genre	Improvisational comedy, observational comedy, sketch comedy
Influences	Phil Silvers, Mel Brooks, Woody Allen
Influenced	Jerry Seinfeld, Ricky Gervais, Jack Dee, Sarah Silverman, Jeff Garlin, Casper Christensen
Subject	Self-deprecation, everyday life, manners, sex, social norms
Spouse	Laurie Lennard (1993–2007)
Notable work	Writer & cast member, FridaysCo-creator & head writer, SeinfeldCreator, writer, & actor, Curb Your Enthusiasm

}} Lawrence Eugene "Larry" David (born July 2, 1947) is an American actor, writer, comedian, and producer. In 1989, he teamed up with Jerry Seinfeld to co-create the television series Seinfeld, where he also acted as head writer and executive producer. David's work won him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1993. In 1999, he created the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, a partially improvised sitcom in which he stars as a fictionalized version of himself. Formerly a standup comedian, David went into television comedy, writing and starring in ABC's Fridays, as well as writing briefly for Saturday Night Live. He was voted by other comedians the 23rd-greatest comedian of all time in British Channel 4's poll The Comedians' Comedian.

Personal life

David was born to a Jewish family in the neighborhood of Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Sheepshead Bay High School and then the University of Maryland, with a bachelor's degree in history (1969), and then in business (1970). After college, David enlisted in the US Army Reserve and served for three years.

David married Laurie Lennard on March 31, 1993. They have two daughters, Cazzie and Romy, and lived in Pacific Palisades, California. From May 2005, both Larry and Laurie were contributing bloggers at The Huffington Post. On June 5, 2007, the couple announced their intention to amicably separate. Laurie David filed for divorce on July 13, 2007, citing irreconcilable differences and seeking joint custody of the couple's two daughters.

The results of a DNA test shown live on the Lopez Tonight show in 2009 revealed that 37% of David's ethnic lineage is Native American. However, due to the test methods used, this may be inaccurate.

His father passed away in 2006.

Career

Early work

While a stand-up comedian, David also worked as a store clerk, limousine driver, and television repairman to pay his bills. He lived in Manhattan Plaza, a federally-subsidized housing complex in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, across the hall from Kenny Kramer, the inspiration for the Cosmo Kramer character in Seinfeld. David then became a writer for and cast member of ABC's Fridays from 1980 to 1982, and a writer for NBC's Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 1984 to 1985. During his time at SNL, he was able to get only one sketch on the show, which aired at 12:50 AM, the last time slot on the show. David quit his writing job at SNL midseason, only to show up to work a few days later acting as though nothing had happened. That plot inspired a second-season episode of Seinfeld entitled "The Revenge". David met his future Seinfeld stars during that early stage of his career: He worked with Michael Richards (Kramer) on Fridays He can be heard heckling Michael McKean when McKean hosted SNL in 1984, and he can be seen in the sketch "The Run, Throw, and Catch Like a Girl Olympics" when Howard Cosell hosted the season finale in 1985.

Seinfeld

In 1989, David teamed up with comedian Jerry Seinfeld to create a pilot for NBC called The Seinfeld Chronicles, which became the basis for Seinfeld, the most successful show in United States television history, reaching the top on TV Guide's list of the 50 greatest TV shows of all time. Entertainment Weekly ranked it the third-best TV show of all time. David occasionally appeared (uncredited) on the show, playing such roles as Frank Costanza's cape-wearing lawyer and the voice of George Steinbrenner. He was also the primary inspiration for the show's character George Costanza. David left Seinfeld on amicable terms after the seventh season but returned to write the series finale in 1998, two years later. He also continued to provide the voice for the character of Steinbrenner.

David wrote 62 of the episodes of Seinfeld, including 1992's "The Contest", for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award and which TV Guide ranked the episode #1 on its list of "TV's Top 100 Episodes of All Time".

Syndication of Seinfeld earned David an estimated US$250 million in 1998 alone. This amount has been steadily decreasing each year, but payments will continue until the full $1.7 billion from the original deal has been paid. In 2008 David made $55 million from Seinfeld syndication, DVD sales, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He was nominated for an Emmy award 19 times for Seinfeld, winning twice—once for best comedy and once for writing.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

The HBO cable television channel aired David's 1-hour special, , on October 17, 1999. and is improvised; the actors receive only a synopsis of each scene they act out. David has said that his character in the show, a fictionalized version of himself, is what he would be like in real life if he lacked social awareness and sensitivity. The character's numerous and frequent social faux pas and misunderstandings are the basis of much of the show's comedy and have led to the entry into the American pop culture lexicon of the expression "Larry David moment", meaning an inadvertently created socially awkward situation.

The basis of the show is David's life now that he has earned a fortune and has very little to do in semi-retirement.

The show is critically acclaimed and has been nominated for 30 Primetime Emmy Awards, with one win, as well as one Golden Globe win.

In the first six seasons, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jason Alexander appeared in several episodes, and Jerry Seinfeld made a cameo. In season 7, the cast of Seinfeld, including Michael Richards, returned in a story arc involving David's attempt to organize a Seinfeld reunion special.

In October 2009, the episode "The Bare Midriff", in which David's character inadvertently splatters urine on a picture of Jesus causing a woman to believe the picture had miraculously shed a tear, was the focus of some criticism when Fox News reported that Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, had criticized it. HBO responded to the criticism, stating, "The humor is always playful and certainly never malicious."

On Wednesday, June 2, 2010, the series premiered on the TV Guide Network, making its network television debut. TV Guide Network also produced a series of related discussions with high-profile guest stars, media pundits, and prominent social figures called "Curb: The Discussion" debating the moral implications depicted in each episode. David is quoted as saying "Finally, thanks to the TV Guide Network, I'll get a chance to watch actual, intelligent people discuss and debate the issues addressed on 'Curb'. Now if only someone could tell me where this alleged 'Network' is, I might even watch it."

Other projects

Apart from David's major roles in creating Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, he has also been involved in other films and television series. David wrote and directed the 1998 film Sour Grapes, about two cousins who feud over a casino jackpot. It was neither a commercial nor a critical success. He has appeared in minor parts in two Woody Allen films – Radio Days and New York Stories – more recently taking the leading role in Allen's New York-based comedy film Whatever Works. Because his daughters are Hannah Montana fans, David, along with them, guest-starred in the episode "My Best Friend's Boyfriend" as themselves. In this episode, they are waiting to get a table at a fancy restaurant.

Awards

Nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing - Comedy Series for various episodes of Seinfeld from 1991–1994.

Won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing - Comedy Series for the Seinfeld episode, The Contest, in 1993.

Shared a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series for Seinfeld with co-creator, Jerry Seinfeld.

Nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy for his role in Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2002, 2004, & 2005.

Voted by fellow comedians and comedy insiders as number 23 of the greatest comedy stars ever in a poll to select The Comedian's Comedian.

Nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor - Comedy Series for his role in Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2010.

Books About

The Larry David Story: A Parallel Universe Biography

Hitchhiking with Larry David: A True Story From Martha's Vineyard

References

External links

Larry David at HBO

Top 100 Shows at Entertainment Weekly

Category:1947 births Category:American film actors Category:American screenwriters Category:American stand-up comedians Category:American television actors Category:American television producers Category:American television writers Category:People from Brooklyn Category:American Jews Category:Jewish comedians Category:Jewish actors Category:Jewish comedy and humor Category:Living people Category:People from Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan Category:People from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn Category:Writers Guild of America Award winners Category:University of Maryland, College Park alumni

Name	Don Was
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Don Fagenson
Born	September 13, 1952
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genre	RockNew Wave
Occupation	Musician, record producer
Instrument	Bass guitar, vocals, piano
Years active	1979–present
Associated acts	Was (Not Was)Orquestra Was

Don Was (born Don Fagenson; September 13, 1952) is an American musician, bassist and record producer.

Was was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Oak Park High School (Michigan) in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park, then attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor but dropped out after the first year. A journeyman musician, he grew up listening to the Detroit blues sound and the jazz music of John Coltrane and Miles Davis.

Using the stage name "Don Was", he formed the group Was (Not Was) with school friend David Weiss (David Was). The group found commercial success in the 1980s - releasing four albums and logging several hit records. A jazz/R&B; album of Hank Williams covers, "Forever's A Long, Long Time" was released in 1996, under the name Orquestra Was. In 2008, Was (Not Was) reunited for a highly acclaimed new album and tour.

Don Was has earned his greatest recognition as a highly successful record producer and has recorded with an eclectic array of gifted artists, ranging from The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Ziggy Marley, Bob Seger, Al Green, Garth Brooks, Ringo Starr, Iggy Pop, Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, Joe Cocker, Hootie and The Blowfish, Amos Lee and Willie Nelson to Elton John, Stevie Nicks, George Clinton, Randy Newman, The Black Crowes, Carly Simon, Travis Tritt, Brian Wilson, Jackson Browne, The Barenaked Ladies, Old Crow Medicine Show, Roy Orbison, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, Richie Sambora, The Presidents of the United States of America, B.B. King, Paul Westerberg, Poison, Cheb Khaled, The B-52’s, Zucchero, Todd Snider, Elizabeth Cook, Jill Sobule and Solomon Burke. He has received multiple Grammy Awards including Producer of the Year in 1995. He produced several albums for Bonnie Raitt including her Nick of Time album that won the 1990 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

He served as music director and/or consultant for several motion pictures such as Thelma and Louise, The Rainmaker, Hope Floats, Phenomenon, Tin Cup, Honeymoon in Vegas, 8 Seconds, Switch, The Freshman, Days of Thunder, Michael, Prêt-à-Porter, Boys on the Side, Toy Story and The Paper.

In 1995, Don Was earned a Grammy Award for Producer of the Year. In 1997, he directed and produced a documentary, I Just Wasn't Made For These Times, about former-Beach Boy Brian Wilson. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and won the San Francisco Film Festival's Golden Gate Award. He also received the British Academy Award (BAFTA) for Best Original Score in recognition of his compositions for the film Backbeat.

Was, who is a fan of the Rolling Stones and saw them in concert when he was age 12 in 1964, worked on the remastered Rolling Stones's album Exile on Main Street that was released in May 2010. Was scoured old master recordings of the album for lost gems, remixing some songs while adding entirely new lyrics and tracks on songs.

Since August, 2009, he has hosted a weekly radio show on Sirius XM satellite radio's Outlaw Country channel called "The Motor City Hayride".

Personal life

Don is the father of Eve 6 drummer Tony Fagenson. He later became the father of Henry and Solomon Fagenson. He is also the brother of public official Dr. Nancy Fagenson Potok, former Principal Associate Director and Chief Financial Officer of the US Census Bureau and currently Deputy Undersecretary for Economic Affairs in the Obama Administration.

References

}}

Category:1952 births Category:American male singers Category:American record producers Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Michigan