Frank Wildhorn

Posted in MusicWorld on March 28, 2002 by Caroline Davis

Composer/lyricist/producer Frank Wildhorn has conquered the worlds of theatrical, popular and classical music to a degree few can match: In the past several years, his music has been heard all over the globe in stage shows, national and international special events, all-star recordings, on radio, television, concert and cabaret.

But Broadway is still the center of a certain universe - if you can make it there, well . . .

In 1999, Wildhorn became the first American composer in more than two decades to have three shows running simultaneously on Broadway: Jekyll & Hyde, The Civil War and The Scarlet Pimpernel. Inspiring a legion of devoted fans - to put it mildly - these productions yielded eight Tony nominations, national tours, a cast and a concept album from each, and a reputation for Wildhorn as the man who brings a contemporary passion and voice to the grand staging of classic tales.

Songs from Jekyll & Hyde (music by Wildhorn, book & lyrics by Leslie Bricusse) such as "Someone Like You," "A New Life," and "This Is The Moment" have been featured at the Olympics, the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Miss America Pageant, the 1996 Democratic National Convention and the Inauguration of President Clinton.

The French Revolution adventure The Scarlet Pimpernel (music by Wildhorn, book & lyrics by Nan Knighton) yielded the Top 40 AC hit "You Are My Home," a duet recorded by Peabo Bryson and Linda Eder, Wildhorn's "wife and muse." A star of the original production of Jekyll & Hyde, Eder has released four albums, all written and co-produced by Wildhorn.

His music has been performed by artists of an astounding variety of styles: a representative sample includes Whitney Houston (the international hit "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"), Natalie Cole, Kenny Rogers, Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews (new songs for Broadway's Victor/Victoria), Trisha Yearwood, Travis Tritt, Patti La Belle, Bebe Winans, Betty Buckley, Ben Vereen, the Moody Blues, Jeffrey Osborne, Jennifer Holliday, Molly Hatchet, John Raitt, Hootie and the Blowfish, Blues Traveler and Dr. John.

Wildhorn's new theatrical projects include next year's Broadway-bound Dracula (book lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton), which premiered last fall in California, as well as the still-developing Camille Claudel (to star Eder); Bonnie & Clyde; Cyrano; Scott and Zelda; and a full-length ballet, Natasha.

SOURCEMusicWorld TAGS Musical Theatre International Musicworld Hitmaker Artists Don Black Hyde Travis Tritt Frank Wildhorn Bebe Winans