He’s been called “The golden voice of rock” and as a solo artist and the lead singer of The Baby’s and the supergroup Bad English, England’s John Waite was a fixture of album-oriented rock radio stations during the ‘70s and ‘80s. He had a talent for power ballads and driving arena rock, while occasionally touching on New Wave-styled power pop, as well.
Waite’s catalogue of hits features some of the most beloved songs of the ‘80s and ‘90s, including the smash hit, “Missing You,” The Baby’s “Isn’t it Time,” and Bad English’s “When I See You Smile” which went to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and earned a Gold-certified single. They rank among some of his biggest international hits and still get airplay today. Other hits include “Tears,” “Change,” “These Times Are Hard for Lovers,” and “Every Step of the Way.” “If Anybody had a Heart” appeared on the soundtrack of the Demi Moore film, About Last Night, and “Deal for Life,” written by Martin Page and Bernie Taupin, was featured on the Tom Cruise film Days of Thunder soundtrack.
Never content to be tied to one genre, Waite has toured with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band and has recorded “Missing You” as a duet with Alison Krauss that reached the Top 40 on country charts in the United States. He appeared with Krauss on The Tonight Show with Krauss to perform the song.
With more live shows and new music in the offing, John Waite continues to forge his own singularly personal path, celebrating the present and engaged by the promise of the future. The story is far from over for the Lancaster, England-born rock star/balladeer/storyteller who was inspired onto his musical path by blues, soul and country along with a deep connection to the Celtic folk music of his homeland.
