Wikipedia

Jack Hues

Jeremy Allan Ryder,better known asJack Hues(born 10 December 1954), is an English singer, songwriter and musician who is best known for forming and fronting the 1980s Englishnew wavebandWang Chung.Hues was also a member of the one-off bandStrictly Inc.

Jack Hues
Hues in 2024
Hues in 2024
Background information
Birth nameJeremy Allan Ryder
Born(1954-12-10)10 December 1954(age 70)
OriginGillingham,Kent,England
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • guitarist
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
  • piano
Years active
  • 1977–1992
  • 1994–1995
  • 2005–present
Labels
Member ofWang Chung
Formerly ofStrictly Inc.
Websitejackhues

Life and career

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Early life

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Jack Hues was born on 10 December 1954 inGillingham,Kent, England, the oldest of four children of Robina (née Pratt) and Allan Sidney Ryder. He was an avid listener to artists such asthe BeatlesandJimi Hendrixbefore becoming interested inprogressive rockgroups likeYesandGenesis.[1]Hues then found a passion inclassical music,and attended London'sGoldsmiths Collegeto study music. After three years, he went on to attend theRoyal College of Music.It was at this time that Hues befriended Dave Burnand, who went on to be a member ofHuang Chung.After one year at RCM, he decided on leaving to pursue a career in music.[1]

1977–1991: Wang Chung era

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In 1977, Hues answered an advertisement in the British weekly music magazine,Melody Maker.This was the first time he met future Wang Chung bass guitaristNick Feldman.[2]With the risingpunk musicmovement around England in the late 1970s, the two formed together as 'The Intellektuals' in mid-1977.[2]Two years later, Hues and Feldman formed the band, '57 Men'. While in 57 Men, the two met future Wang Chung drummer Darren Costin. Like their first band together, Hues and Feldman broke up within eighteen months, but took along Costin.[2][3]

In late 1979 the threesome became referred to asHuang Chung(anglicization of Chinese words meaning "Yellow Bell" ). They released several singles in 1980 for the independent music company, Rewind Records.[4]In May 1981 Huang Chung signed arecording contractwithArista Recordsfor a two-album deal. The next year the band released theirself-titled debut studio album.By 1983 the spelling of the band's name was changed to Wang Chung, and Hues became the band's lead vocalist.[4][5]After the summer tour forPoints on the Curvein 1984 Costin left the band to pursue a solo career.[4]Despite not having a full-time drummer, Wang Chung continued to thrive. For the next six years, Wang Chung enjoyed success, especially in the UK and US.

1991–1992: Solo work

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Before Wang Chung's break-up in 1991 Hues scored the soundtrack of the supernatural horror filmThe Guardian(1990).[6]The director of the film,William Friedkin,chose Hues because of his work on his 1985 filmTo Live and Die in L.A..He also made a solo studio album,The Anatomy Lesson,in 1992 forSony Records.However, for reasons unknown, his solo debut album was shelved.[6][7]

1994–1995: Strictly Inc.

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In 1994,Tony Banksof Genesis heard samples of Hues' work. He admired it and asked him to compose a new album together. On 11 September 1995Strictly Inc.was released. The studio album received mixed reviews.[8]

1997–2005: Wang Chung reunions

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In 1997 Hues and Nick Feldman briefly reunited for the release of the compilation albumEverybody Wang Chung Tonight: Wang Chung's Greatest Hits.[9]

In 2000, Wang Chung performed in the Club 80's Flashback Tour and headlined a tour of their own afterwards. In 2005, Wang Chung appeared on the competition reality showHit Me, Baby, One More Timeto perform "Everybody Have Fun Tonight".They lost the round toIrene Cara.

2003–2011: The Quartet

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In the early 2000s, Hues began teaching songwriting atChrist Church UniversityinCanterbury.[10]

In 2003, Hues was one of the founding members of ajazz-influenced quintet withSam Baileycalled Illuminated. Their inspirations includedMiles Davis,Johannes Brahms,andAphex Twin.[11]Eventually the quintet became The Quartet. Their debut studio albumIlluminatedwas released in 2007 and their secondShatteringin 2008 – both released to critical acclaim.[12][13]The Quartet is signed with Helium Records, headed byChris Hugheswho helped produce Wang Chung'sPoints on the Curvein 1983.[13]In 2010 the Quartet joined forces withSyd Arthur,a Canterburypsychedelic rockband whose members studied with Hues while at Christ Church University.[14]Together the two groups played a medley of tracks fromSoft Machine,a rearrangedStravinskyviolin concerto, and theBecksong "Nobody's Fault but My Own"at the Orange Street Music Club.[14]In 2012 both bands reunited inside a barn to record the Beck song, and in 2019 it was released onBandcampfor purchase through digital download and vinyl.

In 2011, Hues wrote the music for his sonJack Ryder's first filmAct of Memory.

2020–present:Primitif

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In March 2020, Hues released his debut solo studio album,Primitif.Before releasing the album, singles were produced for the songs "Whitstable Beach" and "Winter".[15]

Personal life

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Ryder's stage name, "Jack Hues", is a play on the French phrase,j'accuse,which means "I accuse" in English.[3]He has a daughter and two sons, one of whom is the actorJack Ryder.In 2024 he married Lourdes Gauthier Daigrepont Lucas.

Discography

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Solo studio albums

  • The Anatomy Lesson(Unreleased, 1992)
  • Primitif(2020)
  • Electro-Acoustic Works 2020(2021)

Soundtrack albums

Live albums

  • Canterbury Live EP(2021)

with Wang Chung

with Strictly Inc.

with the Quartet

References

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  1. ^ab"Archive – Jack Hues".WangChung.11 June 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 11 June 2008.Retrieved17 April2019.
  2. ^abc"Biography 1975 – 1979".WangChung.15 June 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 15 June 2008.Retrieved19 April2019.
  3. ^abStephen SPAZ Schnee (1 August 2013)."An EXCLUSIVE Interview With WANG CHUNG's Jack Hues!".Discussion Magazine.
  4. ^abc"Biography 1980 – 1984".WangChung.19 June 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 19 June 2008.Retrieved19 April2019.
  5. ^Ellenberger, Kurt (21 February 2013)."TAZER UP! Jack Hues from Wang Chung on Music, the '80s & Their New Recording".HuffPost.Retrieved13 September2015.
  6. ^ab"Archive – Jack Hues Other Projects".WangChung.1 November 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 1 November 2007.Retrieved17 April2019.
  7. ^"The Popdose Interview: Jack Hues".Popdose.4 June 2010.Retrieved18 July2019.
  8. ^"Archive – Jack Hues Strictly Inc".WangChung.31 July 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 31 July 2008.Retrieved17 April2019.
  9. ^"Biography 1995 – 1999".WangChung.31 July 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 31 July 2008.Retrieved19 April2019.
  10. ^"Interview with Jack Hues from Wang Chung and The Quartet".Also Sprach FraKathustra.9 April 2012.Retrieved5 April2019.
  11. ^"Biography 2000 – 2004".WangChung.19 June 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 19 June 2008.Retrieved19 April2019.
  12. ^"About – Jack Hues and The Quartet".Jack Hues and The Quartet.Archived fromthe originalon 5 April 2019.Retrieved5 April2019.
  13. ^ab"Biography 2005 – 2010".WangChung.31 July 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 31 July 2008.Retrieved19 April2019.
  14. ^abThompson, Gareth (16 March 2019)."Album Review: Jack Hues & The Quartet Ft. Syd Arthur – Nobody's Fault But My Own".Moof Mag.Retrieved5 April2019.
  15. ^Ewing, Jerry (15 November 2019)."Jack Hues premieres video for debut single Whitstable Beach with Prog".LouderSound.Retrieved5 January2020.
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