Kevin Gilbert
Encyclopedia
Kevin Matthew Gilbert was an American
songwriter, musician
, composer, producer and collaborator born in Sacramento, California
, later living in San Mateo, California
where he attended Junipero Serra High School
. He died at age 29 in Los Angeles
from apparent autoerotic asphyxiation.
. He toured with Eddie Money
before winning the 1988 Yamaha SOUNDCHECK International Rock Music Competition with his progressive rock group Giraffe. Producer Patrick Leonard
was impressed with Gilbert's performance at the competition and invited him to join him in forming a new band which became Toy Matinee
. During this time, Gilbert worked on the projects of several established pop musicians, including Madonna
, Michael Jackson
, and Keith Emerson
, acting as producer for the latter's album Changing States.
The lone Toy Matinee album (eponymously named) was released in 1990 but effectively shelved by the record company, so Gilbert assembled a new backing band to promote it, eventually getting two successful singles released: "The Ballad of Jenny Ledge" and "Last Plane Out".
Later, Gilbert was part of the songwriting collective "The Tuesday Music Club" that met at producer Bill Bottrell's
studio in Pasadena, California
. Gilbert introduced his then-girlfriend Sheryl Crow
to Bottrell and his fellow Club musicians and the sessions allowed Crow to workshop new material, leading to the recording of her breakthrough debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club
. Gilbert co-wrote many of the songs on that album, including 1995 Grammy
Record of the Year "All I Wanna Do
". Crow later acrimoniously split with most of the musicians in the collective and only producer Bottrell and drummer Brian MacLeod were involved in her follow-up album. Meanwhile the remainder of the collective worked with singer-songwriters Susanna Hoffs
and Linda Perry
on two more albums.
Gilbert continued to work in television and movie soundtrack work as well as studio work and producing and eventually released his first solo album Thud
(1995) as well as partially reforming Giraffe to perform the Genesis
piece The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
at Progfest '94. Gilbert's manager sent a copy of the recording to Tony Banks
and Mike Rutherford
who were searching for a new Genesis front man to replace Phil Collins
. His manager, Jon Rubin
, had come to Gilbert's home to tell him that he had managed to get him an audition and discovered his dead body.
Several albums of Gilbert's music have been released posthumously, beginning in 1999 with the live album Kevin Gilbert & Thud - Live at the Troubadour (consisting primarily of songs from Thud
) and a compilation of Giraffe material that he had been working on.
Gilbert's second solo album, The Shaming of the True
, (2000) was also released posthumously. The album was largely incomplete, but Gilbert's estate asked Spock's Beard
drummer and close friend of Gilbert's, Nick D'Virgilio
, to complete it based on the extant tapes and the album planning notes Gilbert left. Following this, an "industrial" album of music performed by Gilbert's group, Kaviar, was released in 2002.
In November 2002 Nick D'Virgilio
headlined Progwest in Claremont, CA and played the entire The Shaming of the True
album live.
In October 2009 three new works were released; Nuts and Bolts (collectively a body of mostly unreleased songs and mixes, released as two individual CD albums) and Welcome to Joytown - Thud: Live at The Troubadour, a DVD/CD double-pack which expanded on the original 1999 release.
A live performance from Gilbert's promotional group for Toy Matinee was made available in March 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, composer, producer and collaborator born in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, later living in San Mateo, California
San Mateo, California
San Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of approximately 100,000 , it is one of the larger suburbs on the San Francisco Peninsula, located between Burlingame to the north, Foster City to the east, Belmont to the south,...
where he attended Junipero Serra High School
Junipero Serra High School
Junípero Serra High School is a private secondary school in San Mateo County, California, United States serving students in grades 9-12. A part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, this high school provides single-sex education, accepting only young men...
. He died at age 29 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
from apparent autoerotic asphyxiation.
Career
Kevin Gilbert was an accomplished composer, singer and instrumentalist who played keyboards, guitar, bass guitar, cello, and drums. His talents also extended to producerRecord 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 toured with Eddie Money
Eddie Money
Eddie Money is an American rock guitarist, saxophonist and singer-songwriter who found success in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of Top 40 hits and platinum albums...
before winning the 1988 Yamaha SOUNDCHECK International Rock Music Competition with his progressive rock group Giraffe. Producer Patrick Leonard
Patrick Leonard
Patrick Raymond Leonard is an American songwriter, keyboardist and music producer, known for his longtime collaboration with Madonna on many different recordings....
was impressed with Gilbert's performance at the competition and invited him to join him in forming a new band which became Toy Matinee
Toy Matinee
Toy Matinee was a short-lived American art-pop band, and also the title of their only album. Their sound was an array of mixed influences, including progressive rock, AOR and pop reminiscent of both the Beatles and the Beach Boys....
. During this time, Gilbert worked on the projects of several established pop musicians, including Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, and Keith Emerson
Keith Emerson
Keith Noel Emerson is an English keyboard player and composer. Formerly a member of the Keith Emerson Trio, John Brown's Bodies, The T-Bones, V.I.P.s, P.P. Arnold's backing band, and The Nice , he was a founder of Emerson, Lake & Palmer , one of the early supergroups, in 1970...
, acting as producer for the latter's album Changing States.
The lone Toy Matinee album (eponymously named) was released in 1990 but effectively shelved by the record company, so Gilbert assembled a new backing band to promote it, eventually getting two successful singles released: "The Ballad of Jenny Ledge" and "Last Plane Out".
Later, Gilbert was part of the songwriting collective "The Tuesday Music Club" that met at producer Bill Bottrell's
Bill Bottrell
Bill Bottrell is an American record producer, songwriter and musician, probably best known for his Grammy Award-winning collaborations with Michael Jackson, E.L.O. and Sheryl Crow.- Biography :...
studio in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. Gilbert introduced his then-girlfriend Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
to Bottrell and his fellow Club musicians and the sessions allowed Crow to workshop new material, leading to the recording of her breakthrough debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club
Tuesday Night Music Club
Tuesday Night Music Club is the debut album from American singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow, released on August 3, 1993. The lead single "Run, Baby, Run" was not particularly successful...
. Gilbert co-wrote many of the songs on that album, including 1995 Grammy
Grammy Awards of 1995
The 37th Grammy Awards were presented March 1, 1995. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.-Award winners:*Record of the Year**Bill Bottrell & Sheryl Crow for "All I Wanna Do"*Album of the Year...
Record of the Year "All I Wanna Do
All I Wanna Do (Sheryl Crow song)
English singer/songwriter Amy Studt released a cover version of the song as her fourth single. Amy was asked personally by Sheryl Crow to record a cover of the song....
". Crow later acrimoniously split with most of the musicians in the collective and only producer Bottrell and drummer Brian MacLeod were involved in her follow-up album. Meanwhile the remainder of the collective worked with singer-songwriters Susanna Hoffs
Susanna Hoffs
Susanna Lee Hoffs is an American vocalist, guitarist and actress. She is best known as a member of the all-female pop band The Bangles.-Early life:...
and Linda Perry
Linda Perry
Linda Perry is an American rock musician, songwriter, and record producer. Once best known as the lead singer and primary songwriter of 4 Non Blondes, Perry has founded two record labels and has become a major songwriter and producer...
on two more albums.
Thud (album)
-Track listing:#"When You Give Your Love to Me" - 3:20#"Goodness Gracious" - 4:08#"Joytown" - 4:53#"Waiting" - 5:05#"Tea for One" - 5:49#"Shadow Self" - 6:66#"The Tears of Audrey" - 4:47#"Shrug " - 3:54#"All Fall Down" - 5:35...
(1995) as well as partially reforming Giraffe to perform the Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
piece The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
The Lamb Lies down on Broadway
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is a double concept album recorded and released in 1974 by the British rock band Genesis. It was their sixth studio album and the last album by the group to feature the involvement of lead singer Peter Gabriel.-Premise:...
at Progfest '94. Gilbert's manager sent a copy of the recording to Tony Banks
Tony Banks (musician)
This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
and Mike Rutherford
Mike Rutherford
Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He is one of only two constant members in Genesis . He also fronts Mike + The...
who were searching for a new Genesis front man to replace Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
. His manager, Jon Rubin
Jon Rubin
Jon Rubin is an American artist living and working in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. He's also professor at Carnegie Mellon University. His work "explores the social dynamics of public places and the idiosyncrasies of individual and group behavior."...
, had come to Gilbert's home to tell him that he had managed to get him an audition and discovered his dead body.
Several albums of Gilbert's music have been released posthumously, beginning in 1999 with the live album Kevin Gilbert & Thud - Live at the Troubadour (consisting primarily of songs from Thud
Thud (album)
-Track listing:#"When You Give Your Love to Me" - 3:20#"Goodness Gracious" - 4:08#"Joytown" - 4:53#"Waiting" - 5:05#"Tea for One" - 5:49#"Shadow Self" - 6:66#"The Tears of Audrey" - 4:47#"Shrug " - 3:54#"All Fall Down" - 5:35...
) and a compilation of Giraffe material that he had been working on.
Gilbert's second solo album, The Shaming of the True
The Shaming of the True
The Shaming of the True is Kevin Gilbert's second solo album. It was released posthumously in 2000.The release appeared in three editions to date: 1) a limited-edition hardbound book with CD edition released early in 2000, with artwork and complete libretto, 2) a more conventional jewel-case CD...
, (2000) was also released posthumously. The album was largely incomplete, but Gilbert's estate asked Spock's Beard
Spock's Beard
Spock's Beard is a progressive rock band formed in 1992 in Los Angeles by brothers Neal and Alan Morse. Neal played keyboards and was the lead vocalist, as well as being the primary songwriter before leaving the band in 2002 to pursue a solo career. Alan plays electric guitar...
drummer and close friend of Gilbert's, Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio is an American drummer and multi-instrumentalist musician, often referred to as NDV, best known as a former member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the Calling All Stations album...
, to complete it based on the extant tapes and the album planning notes Gilbert left. Following this, an "industrial" album of music performed by Gilbert's group, Kaviar, was released in 2002.
In November 2002 Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio is an American drummer and multi-instrumentalist musician, often referred to as NDV, best known as a former member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the Calling All Stations album...
headlined Progwest in Claremont, CA and played the entire The Shaming of the True
The Shaming of the True
The Shaming of the True is Kevin Gilbert's second solo album. It was released posthumously in 2000.The release appeared in three editions to date: 1) a limited-edition hardbound book with CD edition released early in 2000, with artwork and complete libretto, 2) a more conventional jewel-case CD...
album live.
In October 2009 three new works were released; Nuts and Bolts (collectively a body of mostly unreleased songs and mixes, released as two individual CD albums) and Welcome to Joytown - Thud: Live at The Troubadour, a DVD/CD double-pack which expanded on the original 1999 release.
A live performance from Gilbert's promotional group for Toy Matinee was made available in March 2010.
Discography
- NRG - No Reasons GivenNo Reasons GivenNo Reasons Given is an album by Kevin Gilbert and Jason Hubbard released in 1984 .-Track listing:#"Morning Light"#"Watching Me"#"Wings of Time"#"Mere Image"#"Welcome to Suburbia"#"Frame by Frame"...
(1984) - Giraffe - The Power Of Suggestion (1987)
- Giraffe - The View From Here (1988)
- Toy MatineeToy MatineeToy Matinee was a short-lived American art-pop band, and also the title of their only album. Their sound was an array of mixed influences, including progressive rock, AOR and pop reminiscent of both the Beatles and the Beach Boys....
- Toy MatineeToy MatineeToy Matinee was a short-lived American art-pop band, and also the title of their only album. Their sound was an array of mixed influences, including progressive rock, AOR and pop reminiscent of both the Beatles and the Beach Boys....
(1990; remastered & rereleased 2001) - Marc Bonilla - EE Ticket (1991)
- Marc BonillaMarc BonillaMarc Bonilla is a guitarist. He has worked with Keith Emerson , Glenn Hughes , David Coverdale and Kevin Gilbert...
- American Matador (1993) - Sheryl Crow - Tuesday Night Music ClubTuesday Night Music ClubTuesday Night Music Club is the debut album from American singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow, released on August 3, 1993. The lead single "Run, Baby, Run" was not particularly successful...
(1993) - Kevin Gilbert - ThudThud (album)-Track listing:#"When You Give Your Love to Me" - 3:20#"Goodness Gracious" - 4:08#"Joytown" - 4:53#"Waiting" - 5:05#"Tea for One" - 5:49#"Shadow Self" - 6:66#"The Tears of Audrey" - 4:47#"Shrug " - 3:54#"All Fall Down" - 5:35...
(1995) - Various Artists - Giant Tracks - A Tribute To Gentle GiantGentle GiantGentle Giant were a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. The band was known for the complexity and sophistication of its music and for the varied musical skills of its members. All of the band members, except the first two drummers, were multi-instrumentalists...
- (1997) (http://www.blazemonger.com/GT/) - Giraffe - Giraffe (1999)
- Kevin Gilbert & Thud - Live at the Troubadour (1999)
- Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the TrueThe Shaming of the TrueThe Shaming of the True is Kevin Gilbert's second solo album. It was released posthumously in 2000.The release appeared in three editions to date: 1) a limited-edition hardbound book with CD edition released early in 2000, with artwork and complete libretto, 2) a more conventional jewel-case CD...
(2000) - Kaviar - The Kaviar Sessions (2002)
- Kevin Gilbert - Nuts (2009)
- Kevin Gilbert - Bolts (2009)
- Kevin Gilbert & Thud - Welcome to Joytown - Thud Live at the Troubadour DVD/CD combo (2009)
- Kevin Gilbert Performs Toy Matinee Live (2010)
- Various Artists - Supper's ReadySupper's Ready"Supper's Ready" is a song by the band Genesis. A recorded version appeared on their 1972 album Foxtrot, and the band performed the song regularly on stage for several years following this...
- A Tribute To GenesisGenesis (band)Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
- "Back in NYC" (http://www.magnacarta.net/releases/genesistribute.html) - Various Artists - Tales From Yesterday - A Tribute To YesYes (band)Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
- "Siberian KhatruSiberian Khatru"Siberian Khatru" is the third, shortest and final song of progressive rock band Yes album Close to the Edge. Live versions of the song are found on the Yessongs, Keys to Ascension, and Live at Montreux 2003 albums, and it also is on several compilation albums. It is notable for being the only song...
" (http://www.magnacarta.net/releases/yestribute.html)