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David Bryan

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Not to be confused withDavid Bryan (bishop).

David Bryan
Bryan at the 2009 premiere of When We Were Beautiful
Bryan at the 2009 premiere ofWhen We Were Beautiful
Background information
Birth nameDavid Bryan Rashbaum
Born(1962-02-07)February 7, 1962(age 62)
Perth Amboy, New Jersey,U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Keyboards
  • vocals
Years active1978–present
Member ofBon Jovi[1]

David Bryan Rashbaum(born February 7, 1962) is an American musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the keyboard player for the rock bandBon Jovi,with which he also co-wrote songs and performed backing vocals. In 2018, Bryan was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fameas a member of Bon Jovi.[2]He is also known for writing the music and co-writing the lyrics withJoe DiPietrofor the musicalMemphis,for which he won theTony AwardforBest Original Score.

Early life

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David Bryan Rashbaum was born on February 7, 1962, inPerth Amboy, New Jerseyand raised inEdison, New Jersey.His father, Eddie Rashbaum, played the trumpet. Bryan was raised Jewish.[3][4]He attended elementary school at Clara Barton, where he played many instruments including violin, viola, trumpet and clarinet. He also attended Herbert Hoover Middle School, thenJ. P. Stevens High School,from which he graduated. Bryan began to learn piano at age seven and played keyboards for a band calledTransitionwith bass player Steve Sileo and lead singer Mike Ziegel. He studied with Emery Hack, a professor atJuilliard,for thirteen years. Bryan briefly attendedRutgers University,but dropped out to attend Juilliard.

Career

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With Bon Jovi

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Main article:Bon Jovi
Bryan at a concert with Bon Jovi

Bryan was the first Bon Jovi member to receive a call whenJon Bon Jovilearned that he had received a recording contract, and agreed to join the band. He chose his stage name when he grew tired of continually having to spell out his entire name. At the time, Bryan was attendingRutgers Universityand was studying Pre-Med with a 4.0 GPA. Bryan has played keyboards and sung on all of Bon Jovi's albums, as well as some of the solo albums of Jon Bon Jovi andRichie Sambora.Bryan has co-written the songs "Love Lies" and "Breakout" on Bon Jovi'sself-titled first album;"Only Lonely,""The Hardest Part Is the Night,"and" To the Fire "on7800° Fahrenheit;the hit "In These Arms"onKeep the Faith;and "Last Cigarette" onHave a Nice Day(including the international bonus track "Unbreakable" ).[5]

Musical theater

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Bryan andJoe DiPietrowrote the music for the musicalMemphis,for which the duo won theTony AwardforBest Original ScoreThe musical had its off-Broadway debut in 2002. In 2008,Memphiswas performed at theLa Jolla Playhousein San Diego. The show was also performed in January 2009 inSeattle,Washington, at the 5th Avenue Theatre, prior to moving to Broadway later in 2009. Memphis, which ran on Broadway from October 18, 2009, to August 5, 2012, was nominated for 8 Tony awards for the 2010 season and won 4 including Best Musical and Best Original Score.[6]

Bryan also co-wrote the musicalThe Toxic Avenger,again collaborating with Joe DiPietro. The musical made its off-Broadway premiere atNew World Stageson April 6, 2009.

He has worked on a musical with DiPietro titledChasing the Song,which chronicles American songwriters from 1962 to 1964 who worked in theBrill Building.Bryan describes it as "a fictional story about factual America."[7]Director Christopher Ashley and choreographer Sergio Trujillo are also involved. According toPlaybill,"A fall or early winter workshop of the musical is currently being planned. Broadway is the goal."[8]

Their musicalDiana,aboutPrincess Diana,began previews on Broadway on March 2, 2020, with an anticipated opening date of March 31, following a tryout production at theLa Jolla Playhousein San Diego, CA the previous year. The Broadway opening was delayed until December 16, 2021, due to theCOVID-19 pandemicclosing of all Broadway theaters. The musical was then filmed that summer with no audience at theLongacre Theater,with thefilmbeing released onNetflixon October 1, 2021.[9][10]

Personal life

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Bryan was married to April McLean from 1990 to 2004. They have three children; twins born in 1994, and another born in 2000. In 2010, he married his second wife Lexi Quaas.[citation needed]

Charity work

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Bryan is very active inVH-1'sSave the Musicprogram, as well asOnly Make Believe.He also wrote theanthemfor Only Make Believe, "Rockin' All Over the World", withDena Hammerstein.He is an honorary Board member for Only Make Believe, a non-profit organization that brings interactive theater to chronically ill and disabled children in hospitals and care facilities. He is also a board member ofDamon Marks'Traveling Guitar Foundation.[11]

The band has built several homes for victims ofHurricane Katrina.The video for thehitsong "Who Says You Can't Go Home" is a documentary of the making of these homes. The band also gaveOprah Winfrey's Angel Network one million dollars. With this, she created Bon Jovi Boulevard inLouisiana.Bon Jovi was welcomed back, one year later, to see Bon Jovi Boulevard, and to unveil it to its future residents.

Discography

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Solo

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With Bon Jovi

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Main article:Bon Jovi discography

Contributions

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Further reading

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  • Larkin, Colin.The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music,Guinness Publishing, 1992.

References

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  1. ^Warrenger, Sam (November 16, 2022)."Bon Jovi reunion could happen at Glastonbury 2023".TheFestivals.RetrievedFebruary 3,2023.
  2. ^"Bon Jovi".Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.Archivedfrom the original on December 13, 2017.RetrievedDecember 17,2017.
  3. ^Ouzounian, Richard (December 6, 2009)."Toxic Avenger found his bard in Bon Jovi".Toronto Star.Archivedfrom the original on July 21, 2012.
  4. ^Schleier, Curt (March 17, 2010)."Five Questions For David Bryan".The Forward.Archivedfrom the original on January 27, 2016.RetrievedMay 28,2016.
  5. ^Mathew, Leslie."Bon Jovi: Bon Jovi".allmusic.RetrievedFebruary 1,2011.
  6. ^abCantrell, Liz; Goldsmith, Annie (December 13, 2021)."Everything You Need to Know About Diana: The Musical".Town & Country.Archivedfrom the original on May 4, 2018.RetrievedDecember 20,2021.
  7. ^"Memphis Composer Q&A- David Bryan | DPAC Official Site".Archived fromthe originalon May 20, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 24,2017.
  8. ^Hetrick, Adam.Memphis Writers and Creative Team Reuniting for Workshop of New Broadway-Aimed Musical Chasing the Song' "ArchivedAugust 9, 2012, at theWayback Machine,Playbill, August 2, 2012
  9. ^Coleman, Nancy (August 12, 2019)."'Diana,' a Musical, Is Heading to Broadway ".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on May 7, 2021.
  10. ^McPhee, Ryan (August 12, 2020)."Broadway's Diana Musical to Be Filmed for Netflix Release".Plabill.RetrievedAugust 13,2020.
  11. ^*"Board of Directors List on TGF site"
  12. ^"David Bryan Discography".RetrievedOctober 3,2019.
  13. ^"David Bryan Discography".RetrievedOctober 3,2019.
  14. ^"David Bryan Discography".RetrievedOctober 3,2019.
  15. ^ab"Discography".
  16. ^"Release" Netherworld "by David Bryan - MusicBrainz".
  17. ^"Release" The Toxic Avenger (2009) "by David Bryan - MusicBrainz".
  18. ^"Release" Memphis: A New Musical "by David Bryan - MusicBrainz".
  19. ^"Release" Memphis: The Musical (Original London Cast Recording) "by David Bryan - MusicBrainz".
  20. ^Jordan, Chris (June 19, 2016)."New single: Matt O'Ree, David Bryan of Bon Jovi at Pony".Asbury Park Press.Archivedfrom the original on June 6, 2021.
  21. ^Jordan, Chris (November 15, 2018)."Bon Jovi power: David Bryan to guest with Matt O'Ree Band at Stone Pony in Asbury Park".Asbury Park Press.Archivedfrom the original on June 6, 2021.
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