Profile | |
Born | Richard Paul Astley 6 February 1966, England |
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Profession |
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Status |
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Spouse(s) | Lene Bausager (m. 2003) |
Children | 1 |
Musical career | |
Genres |
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Instruments | Vocals |
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Biography
Rick Astley is one of the most legendary English singer-songwriters ever. In a career spanning more than three decades, the singer is one of the select few who have sold more than 40 million records worldwide.
During this time, he has had several number-one hits, including “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
The song has been included in the viral meme “rickrolling,” making it a part of internet history. Growing up, he acknowledged being influenced by bands such as Genesis and the Beatles.
“Whenever You Need Somebody” and “Together Forever” are among his most popular songs. He is skilled with multiple instruments, including the drums, piano, guitar, and saxophone.
Rick is just as well-known for his modesty as he is for his involvement with charitable organizations. Despite his immense success, Astley chooses to live outside the constant glare of the media.
Although he frequently plays live, the singer lives a more sedate existence with his wife and kid.
Childhood
On February 6, 1966, Richard Paul “Rick” Astley was born to Horace and Cynthia Astley in Newton-le-Willows, England. He has two brothers and one sister who are older than him.
Rick was raised by his father following the dissolution of his parents’ marriage when he was five years old. Rick grew up in the local church choir, as his father was a devout man. In addition, he founded the band FBI.
Astley worked as a driver for his father’s landscaping business when he quit school at age sixteen. In addition, he focused on music and played drums for the Beatles tribute band Give Way.
Career
When Rick Astley played drums for the band FBI, the lead singer quit, and the guitarist went to pursue a career in hairdressing. Astley’s career was significantly affected by his promotion as lead singer.
Pete Waterman recruited Rick to join the “Pete Waterman Limited” (PWL) recording studio. Pete Waterman made an offer to recruit the majority of the band, including guitarist David Morris, but he was rejected.
RCA Records agreed to release his albums. Astley began studying the recording industry from ‘Stock Aitken Waterman’ producers Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman, also known as “SAW”.
Rick began working for “SAW” as the “tea boy” to overcome his timidity. However, he frequently forgot people’s requests and spilt tea on the recording console, he subsequently revealed.
Astley and Lisa Carter collaborated on the release of his debut hit, “When You Gonna.” The song did not reach the top of the charts due to a lack of promotion.
On July 27, 1987, his debut song, Never Gonna Give You Up, was released. The combination of Astley’s vocal range and dance movements with the song’s lively tempo made it an overnight sensation.
Never Gonna Give You Up became a number one success internationally, including in the United States. It was his first number one single and earned the ‘Best British Single’ award at the British Phonographic Industry awards in 1988.
His second single, “Whenever You Need Somebody,” achieved number one in Europe and number three in the United Kingdom.
This was followed on November 16, 1987, by the publication of his debut album, Whenever You Need Somebody.
Astley’s debut album topped the charts in the United Kingdom and Australia and sold 15.2 million copies globally.
It was also certified Platinum multiple times in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, making him the most successful British artist of the year.
Whenever You Need Somebody remains Rick Astley’s most notable achievement. It had tracks such as “When I Fall in Love,” “Together Forever,” “Don’t Say Goodbye,” and “It Would Take a Strong Man.” All of these songs topped the charts and established him as a bona fide pop sensation.
He was nominated for Best New Artist at the 1989 Grammy Awards but lost to Tracy Chapman. Astley faced a setback after the publication of his debut album when a fire at the PWL studios destroyed several of his fresh recordings. This delayed the release of his second album.
Hold Me in Your Arms, the second album by Astley and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, was finally released on November 26, 1988. It was the first time Astley’s own compositions were published as singles, making the album important.
Astley’s first original composition to be issued as a single was the album’s opening track, which was released as a single on September 12, 1988. It was one of the top 10 worldwide hits.
Also chart-topping were “Take Me to Your Heart” and “Hold Me in Your Arms,” both of which were written by Astley but were not released in North America. “Giving Up on Love” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” were among the top 100 songs in the United States in 1989.
The “Hold Me in Your Arms” album was a commercial triumph and was certified Gold and Platinum. Rick’s first world tour, which began in December 1989, was a turning point in his career.
Despite the success of Astley’s second album, the British media were quite cruel to him. They began to refer to him as a “SAW puppet,” and “Hold Me in Your Arms” was the last album he recorded with “Stock Aitken Waterman.” He also desired to shed the image of the dancing lad next door.
Rick’s musical style evolved from dance-pop to soul and adult contemporary after he parted ties with his former producers. His third studio album, “Free,” was released on March 12, 1991, and was produced by himself and Gary Stevenson.
The album had a number of collaborations. The single “Cry for Help,” released on January 20, 1991, reached the top 10 in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
The album hit the top 10 in the UK and the top 40 in the US, and its singles “Move Right Out” and “Never Knew Love” were not particularly successful.
The album “Body and Soul” was released in 1993 and was classified as Adult Contemporary. It did not chart in the United Kingdom and peaked at 185 on the Billboard 200. Only “The Ones You Love” and “Hopelessly” were successful on the album.
“Hopelessly” was one of the most performed songs at the 1994 “Broadcast Music, Inc.”
Awards, earning it the BMI “Million-Air” designation. Rick Astley retired from music at age 27 in 1993 in order to focus on raising his daughter.
In 2001, the legendary vocalist released the album ‘Keep It Turned On’ in Europe in conjunction with “Polydor Records”.
One of the featured tracks, “Sleeping,” became a club hit in large part owing to Todd Terry’s remix.
In 2002, he released the compilation album Greatest Hits, which the British Phonographic Industry certified as gold. In 2004, he resumed live touring and signed a contract with Sony BMG.
Portrait, the new album by Astley, was released on October 17, 2005. It included renditions of classics such as “Vincent” and “Close to You.” In spite of poor advertising, the album peaked at number 26 in the UK.
In April 2008, Sony BMG also released “The Ultimate Collection: Rick Astley,” which peaked at number 17 in the UK.
Rick continued to conduct live tours from 2000 to 2016, including the “Here and Now Tour” with Boy George and Belinda Carlisle and Peter Kay’s “The Tour That Didn’t Tour Tour… Now On Tour.” On June 10, 2016, Rick
released his first album in ten years, titled “50,” to coincide with his 50th birthday. The album topped the official UK Album Sales rankings and included the smash singles “Keep Singing” and “Dance.”
In 2016, he contributed to the soundtracks of “Oh Happy Day” and “The Angry Birds Movie,” and in 2017, “The Lego Batman Movie” and “The Disaster Artist.”
Awards
Oh Happy Day was nominated for the ‘Best Original Score’ award at the 2005 Robert Festival.
Rick Astley earned the ‘Best Act Ever’ award at the ‘MTV Europe Music Awards’ in November 2008.
In 2017, he was nominated for “Best Live Act” at the “AIM Independent Music Awards.”
Personal Life and Heritage
Rick Astley met Lene Bausager in 1988, when she was working as a promoter for RCA Records. The couple gave birth to their daughter Emilie in 1992 and wed in 2003.
He has played for Jazz Education and at “Maggie’s on the Runway” to boost cancer awareness.
Trivia
He is also recognized by the nicknames “singing teaboy” and “Dick Spatsley.”
His favorite television shows are “The Young Ones” and “The Black Adder.”
Net worth