Emerson Hart
Encyclopedia
Emerson Hart is a songwriter
, vocalist, guitarist
and producer
. He grew up in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
.
band Tonic
. Tonic’s first release, Lemon Parade
, was a multi-platinum success, featuring the hit songs, "Open Up Your Eyes" and "If You Could Only See
" (the former written by Hart and co-writer Jeff Russo
and the latter written by Hart), the latter of which became radio's most played rock song in 1997. In 1999, Tonic returned with their second album and the mainstream rock hit, "You Wanted More". In 2002, Tonic released their third LP, Head On Straight. In 2003, Tonic received two Grammy
nominations - one for best Rock Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal for "Take Me As I Am", and the second for Best Rock Album. Hart also co-wrote the 2005 Ingram Hill
hit, "Almost Perfect", which reached the top 25 on the Hot AC chart.
Hart co-wrote the theme song, "Generation", for the NBC
drama American Dreams
, which premiered in 2002. He earned an ASCAP award for "Best Theme Song of Television" in 2003.
In February 2007, Hart signed a solo record deal with EMI
/Manhattan Records
to release his debut solo effort Cigarettes and Gasoline. It was released on July 17, 2007. Hart's first single, "If You're Gonna Leave", received airplay on American radio stations beginning in June 2007, while his second single, "I Wish the Best for You", received airplay beginning in Dec 2007.
Emerson Hart's father Jennings sang for the USO and his mother Sandra was a former television hostess. His father was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and was prescribed medicine to regulate his mental disorder, but he often resisted treatment and he and Sandra divorced in 1977. Jennings may have been off his medication at the time of his disappearance on January 21, 1980. The elder Hart has not been seen since, and was the subject of a song written and recorded by Emerson on Cigarettes and Gasoline.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, vocalist, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. He grew up in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
Atlantic Highlands is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey in the Bayshore Region. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 4,385...
.
Biography
Emerson Hart is the lead singer and songwriter of the alternative rockAlternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Tonic
Tonic (band)
Tonic is an American rock band that has earned two Grammy nominations to date. The band was formed in 1993 by Emerson Hart and Jeff Russo. Later members have included Dan Lavery, Kevin Shepard, and Dan Rothchild. Signed to a recording contract in 1995, the band released its debut album Lemon Parade...
. Tonic’s first release, Lemon Parade
Lemon Parade
Lemon Parade is Tonic's first album, released in 1996. The album has sold 1,300,000 copies to date, and reached platinum status in the United States. Tonic released a live EP with enhanced material called Live and Enhanced based on the success of this album...
, was a multi-platinum success, featuring the hit songs, "Open Up Your Eyes" and "If You Could Only See
If You Could Only See
"If You Could Only See" is a song by the American rock band Tonic. The song was released as part of the band's debut album, Lemon Parade. It remains Tonic's highest charting single in the United States, Canada, and Australia...
" (the former written by Hart and co-writer Jeff Russo
Jeff Russo
Jeff Russo is a songwriter, composer, guitarist, vocalist and producer.Founding member, lead guitarist, co-songwriter in the American rock band Tonic...
and the latter written by Hart), the latter of which became radio's most played rock song in 1997. In 1999, Tonic returned with their second album and the mainstream rock hit, "You Wanted More". In 2002, Tonic released their third LP, Head On Straight. In 2003, Tonic received two Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nominations - one for best Rock Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal for "Take Me As I Am", and the second for Best Rock Album. Hart also co-wrote the 2005 Ingram Hill
Ingram Hill
Ingram Hill is a rock band from Memphis, Tennessee.In the summer of 2000, after attending the University of Memphis childhood friends Justin Moore and Phil Bogard joined with Shea Sowell and Matt Chambless to form the band. They spent much of the next year and a half touring throughout the...
hit, "Almost Perfect", which reached the top 25 on the Hot AC chart.
Hart co-wrote the theme song, "Generation", for the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
drama American Dreams
American Dreams
American Dreams is an American television comedy-drama program broadcast on the NBC television network, produced by Once A Frog and Dick Clark Productions in association with Universal Network Television and NBC Studios...
, which premiered in 2002. He earned an ASCAP award for "Best Theme Song of Television" in 2003.
In February 2007, Hart signed a solo record deal with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
/Manhattan Records
Manhattan Records
Manhattan Records is a United States record label, owned by EMI and operates as a subsidiary of The Blue Note Label Group.-Company history:Manhattan Records was formed in 1984 by Bruce Lundvall, and was later renamed EMI Manhattan Records after absorbing EMI America Records imprint...
to release his debut solo effort Cigarettes and Gasoline. It was released on July 17, 2007. Hart's first single, "If You're Gonna Leave", received airplay on American radio stations beginning in June 2007, while his second single, "I Wish the Best for You", received airplay beginning in Dec 2007.
Emerson Hart's father Jennings sang for the USO and his mother Sandra was a former television hostess. His father was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and was prescribed medicine to regulate his mental disorder, but he often resisted treatment and he and Sandra divorced in 1977. Jennings may have been off his medication at the time of his disappearance on January 21, 1980. The elder Hart has not been seen since, and was the subject of a song written and recorded by Emerson on Cigarettes and Gasoline.
Solo albums
- Cigarettes and Gasoline (July 17, 2007) Manhattan RecordsManhattan RecordsManhattan Records is a United States record label, owned by EMI and operates as a subsidiary of The Blue Note Label Group.-Company history:Manhattan Records was formed in 1984 by Bruce Lundvall, and was later renamed EMI Manhattan Records after absorbing EMI America Records imprint...
- "Run To" - 3:17
- "Devastation Hands" - 3:10
- "If You're Gonna Leave" - 3:50
- "I Wish the Best for You" - 3:50
- "I Know" - 3:29
- "Green Hills Race for California" - 3:58
- "Ordinary" - 3:08
- "Vanity" - 4:33
- "When She Loves You" - 3:30
- "Flyin'" - 4:03
- "Friend to a Stranger" - 3:29
- "Cigarettes And Gasoline" - 5:10