Michael Bolton, The #75 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

 "Bolton sings songs from the soul."

"His voice just melts my heart every time."

"Heart-touching lyrics and an amazing voice."

"An amazing singer and songwriter."

"His voice is unique and soulful...one of the best singers."

"I celebrate the guy's entire catalog."

"One of the most romantic artists of all-time."

"Amazing voice and sweet spirit--I just love him!"

"You can connect with his music and feel it in your soul."

"His music will resonate through the ages."


This versatile artist began as a hard rock singer but changed course to become one of the top Adult Contemporary artists of the '80s and '90s.

Michael Boltotin was born Michael Bolotin on February 26, 1953 in New Haven, Connecticut and raised on the sounds of Motown and the blues.  He began performing in local bars at the age of 15 and started recording in 1975, releasing his debut album under his original family name and the album Everyday of My Life in 1976.  Michael auditioned for Shelter Records and formed the hard rock group Blackjack.  They opened for Ozzy Osbourne and released two albums.

 

After Blackjack split, Bolton auditioned to be the lead singer in Osbourne's former group Black Sabbath.  When he wasn't selected, Michael signed a solo recording contract with Columbia Records instead.  He changed his stage name to Michael Bolton and released his self-titled album in 1983.  Helped by the single "Fool's Game", the album eventually was certified Gold.   

Michael co-wrote "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You", which became a #1 song on the Adult Contemporary chart for Laura Branigan and a song he later recorded himself.  Bolton also co-wrote "I Found Someone" for Branigan in 1985, which was only a minor hit for her but it later revitalized the career of Cher.  He also built relationships with some songwriting giants including Diane Warren, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and Desmond Child, writing songs for Starship, the Pointer Sisters and Irena Cara, among others.

Bolton's second album flopped, but his third release, The Hunger, showcased his four-octave range and started him on his way.  The key to success, and aspiring musicians should take note, is that Michael abandoned the hard rock he had been recording and began recording music for adults, who of course make up the vast majority of the listening audience.

 

The single "That's What Love Is All About" is the one that kickstarted Bolton's career, a #3 Adult Contemporary smash that peaked at #19 overall.

The Hunger has now sold over two million copies in the U.S. alone.  Bolton's rock connections paid off when he was able to recruit Journey's Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain to help him on the album.  Michael's remake of the Otis Redding classic "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" got as high as #3 in Australia, #8 in New Zealand, #9 in Canada and #11 in the United States.

Upon release of the song, Redding's widow Zelma wrote Bolton a letter, calling Michael's "my all-time favorite version of my husband's classic".  Bolton promoted his music with a two-month tour of the United States with Heart.  The Hunger has now gone over two million albums sold.

 

The 1989 album Soul Provider was the one that catapulted Bolton to superstardom.  The title cut, with Kenny G on saxophone, matched "That's What Love Is All About" at #3 on the AC chart and peaked at #17 on the Popular chart.

 Bolton raced to #1 on both the Adult and Popular charts with "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" and became an international star when he hit #2 in Australia and Ireland, #3 in the U.K. and the Netherlands, #8 in Canada, #9 in Sweden and #10 in New Zealand.  

 Bolton picked up a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You".  He pulled a third hit off the album with "How Can We Be Lovers?", another across-the-board smash at #3 on both the Popular and AC charts in the U.S., #2 in Canada, #3 in Australia and #10 in the U.K. and Sweden.

 

The sales were piling up (over six million now for the album) and Bolton continued his hot streak with "When I'm Back On My Feet Again", a #1 Adult Contemporary hit that also charted at #7 overall.  The song also rose to #2 in Canada.

Bolton filled major arenas on a tour that was named Tour of the Year by Pollstar.  Soul Provider sold six million copies, the second-biggest album of his career.  Michael achieved a fifth hit on the album with his remake of the Ray Charles standard, "Georgia On My Mind", #6 on the AC chart.

Bolton was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male at the Grammy Awards for "Georgia On My Mind". 

Be sure to check out Part Two below!