Soul Provider

Background:

American renowned pop singer Michael Bolton made a name for himself as an outstanding musician with his albums The Hunger (1987), Soul Provider (1989), Time, Love & Tenderness (1991) and The One Thing (1993). Winning two Grammy Awards for his self-written “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You” and “When A Man Loves A Woman,” Bolton also took home numerous awards, including a New York Music Award (for the 1987 “That’s What Love Is All About”) and a BMI Songwriter of the Year award (for the 1993 “By The Time This Night Is Over”).

“Of all my experiences, nothing has come close to the pride I feel in my foundation.” Michael Bolton

Outside the limelight, Bolton has been actively involved in many philanthropic works. In 1993, he established the Michael Bolton Foundation (now the Michael Bolton Charities, Inc., or MBC), which protects children and women from poverty, as well as physical, emotional and sexual abuse. He joined the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) and participated in legislative lobbying efforts to provide more assistance for victims of domestic violence (March 2003). Bolton is also the Honorary Chairman of Prevent Child Abuse America, National Chairman for This Close for Cancer Research, and a Board Member for the National Mentoring Partnership and the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

Bolton has received many awards, including The Creative Coalition 2000 Spotlight Award, a 1996 Lifetime Achievement Award from CORE Humanitarian and a Special Service Award from the New York Benevolence Council (1995). The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce also recently granted him a star on the legendary “Walk of Fame” for his musical and charitable contributions. As for his romantic life, the ex-husband of Maureen McGuire is now engaged to actress Nicollette Sheridan (born on November 21, 1963)


Bolotin

Childhood and Family:

Michael Bolton was born Michael Bolotin on February 26, 1954, in New Haven, Connecticut, to a Jewish family. He is the brother of Sandra and Orrin. The singer began using the last name “Bolton” instead of “Bolotin” on his second studio album.
Michael was married to Maureen McGuire in 1975, but the marriage ended in separation in 1990. Michael and Maureen share three daughters: Isa, Holly and Taryn.


When A Man Loves A Woman

Career:

Young Michael Bolton, still using his birth name, received his first record label contract at the age of 15. Six years later, he was noticed by the whole nation while joining a hard rock band called Blackjack, which also featured one-time Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick. After leaving Blackjack, Bolotin made a solo debut by releasing a self-titled album in 1975, which was followed by the sophomore recording Everyday of My Life (1976). The singer then co-wrote the pop hit “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You” (1983), for singer Laura Branigan. The song successfully peaked the Adult Contemporary charts for three weeks. He also recorded the albums (this time as Michael Bolton): Michael Bolton (1983) and Everybody’s Crazy (1985). Co-writing for Branigan again, Bolton composed “I Found Someone” (1985), a song that was later revived by Cher.

Bolton grabbed wider recognition with the album The Hunger (1987). It released such hit singles as the Otis Redding cover of “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” and Bolton’s self-written “That’s What Love Is All About.” The latter track broke the charts and, together with “I Found Someone,” won the artist Writer and Publisher awards from ASCAP. Additionally, Bolton was handed a New York Music for Best Male Pop Vocalist and Best Male R&B Vocalist. Going to film work, he was credited as a singer for the big screen movie Sing (1989).

Bolton’s next pop/rock recording, Soul Provider (1989), multiplied his musical achievement. With his hit album, the adult contemporary singer netted a Grammy and an ASCAP (for the single “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You”), four New York Music awards for Best Male Pop Vocalist, Best Male R&B Vocalist, Best Pop Album and Artist Of The Year, as well as two American Music awards for Favorite Artist (Pop/Rock, male) and Favorite Album (Pop/Rock). Adding to the success, Bolton was garnered a B’nai B’rith Creative Achievement award and a New York Music award for Best Male R&B Vocalist. Soul Provider also set off the hit tracks “Soul Provider,” “Georgia On My Mind” and “How Can We Be Lovers.” After performing in the TV music show “Dionne and Friends” (1990) and appearing as a musical guest for “Saturday Night Live” (1991), the accomplished artist made his first acting performance as himself in the motion picture Simply Mad About the Mouse (1991).

In April 1991, Bolton launched Time, Love & Tenderness. The track “When A Man Loves A Woman” garnered him a second Grammy, whereas the songs “Love Is A Wonderful Thing,” “Missing You Now” and “Steel Bars” nabbed a BMI Pop award. He also received two American Musics for Favorite Artist (Pop/Rock, male) and Favorite Artist (Adult Contemporary). The victory was ensued with the classic album Timeless: the Classics (1992).

Meanwhile, Bolton, who has written songs for various artists like Barbra Streisand, KISS, Kenny Rogers and Joe Cocker, composed a single titled “By The Time This Night Is Over” (1993) for Kenny G and Peabo Bryson. The song won Bolton a BMI Pop and a BMI Songwriter of the Year award. He also co-wrote with high-profile song writers like Bob Dylan. Upon his collaboration with Dylan, Bolton stated, “The first hour, I couldn’t stop thinking ‘Oh my God, this is Bob Dylan.’ Then we got down to work; he was a pure pleasure.”

The recipient of VH1 Honor, in 1993 Bolton launched two albums, The One Thing and The Artistry of Michael Bolotin. The former spawned the BMI Pop-winning singles “Said I Loved You...But I Lied” and “Ain’t Got Nothing If You Ain’t Got Love” (along with the previous “When A Man Loves A Woman”) whereas the latter featured Bolton’s songs from his first two albums. Bolton provided a soundtrack titled “Once in a Lifetime” for Only You (1994), before releasing the album of his Greatest Hits (1985-1995), in 1995. Still in 1995, he was handed two American Music awards for Favorite Artist (Pop/Rock, male) and Favorite Artist (Adult Contemporary), a Distinguished Achievement award from Connecticut Artist, a Golden Plate from the American Academy of Achievement, as well as a Hitmaker’s from the National Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. He also took home a 1995 BMI NARAS Heroes award.

Bolton continued by issuing a holiday album This Is The Time: The Christmas Album (1996), before working with several big names in All That Matters (1997). Produced by Bolton and Babyface, the 1997 recording featured collaborations with Diane Warren, Babyface and other big wheels. He also broke the charts with the single “Go the Distance,” a soundtrack for the animated Hercules (1997), which he also arranged and produced. Once again making a film appearance as himself, Bolton took part in the big screen comedy Meet Wally Sparks (1997).

After receiving two BMI Pops for his 1991 single “When A Man Loves A Woman,” Bolton carried on his musical journey with My Secret Passion (1998) and his second classic album Timeless: The Classics, Vol. 2 (1999). Eagerly exploring a new subject, the artist tried his hand at film production with the short drama Offside (2001) and the romantic comedy Good Advice (2001). He also made an acting attempt as Michael Volt in the Tim Hudson-written High Voltage (2002). The following years, he hit the music industry with the pop recordings Only A Woman Like You (2002) and Vintage (2003).

Two years later, the award-winning artist launched ‘Til The End Of Forever (2005), which was a mix of his studio recordings and live performances. A humanitarian celebrity, he became an executive producer of the TV documentary program Terror at Home: Domestic Violence in America (2005). Recently, Bolton made a tribute to Frank Sinatra by releasing Bolton Swings Sinatra, on May 23, 2006.


Awards:

- The Creative Coalition 2000 Spotlight Award, 2000
- BMI Pop: “When A Man Loves A Woman,” 1998
- BMI Pop, “Can I Touch You...There,” “When A Man Loves A Woman,” 1997
- CORE Humanitarian: Lifetime Achievement Award, 1996
- BMI Pop, “Ain’t Got Nothing If You Ain’t Got Love,” “Once In A Lifetime,” “When A Man Loves A Woman,” 1996
- BMI: NARAS Heroes Award, 1996
- Hitmaker’s: From the National Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, 1995
- Golden Plate: From the American Academy of Achievement, 1995
- Special Service: From New York Benevolence Council, 1995
- Connecticut Artist: Distinguished Achievement Award, 1995
- American Music: Favorite Artist (Pop/Rock, male), Favorite Artist (Adult Contemporary), 1995
- BMI Pop, “Said I Loved You...But I Lied,” “When A Man Loves A Woman,” 1995
- VH1 Honors, 1994
- BMI Pop, “By The Time This Night Is Over,” 1994
- American Music: Favorite Artist (Pop/Rock, male), Favorite Artist (Adult Contemporary), 1993
- BMI Pop: “Love Is A Wonderful Thing,” “Missing You Now,” “Steel Bars,” 1993
- BMI: Songwriter of the Year Award, 1992
- Grammy: Best Pop Vocal Performance - Male, “When A Man Loves A Woman,” 1992
- New York Music: Best Male Pop Vocalist, Best Male R&B Vocalist, Best Pop Album (Soul Provider), Artist Of The Year, 1991
- American Music: Favorite Artist (Pop/Rock, male), Favorite Album (Pop/Rock), 1991
- ASCAP: Publisher Award, “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You,” 1991
- B’nai B’rith: Creative Achievement Award, 1990
- New York Music: Best Male R&B Vocalist, 1990
- Grammy: Best Pop Vocal Performance - Male, “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You,” 1990
- ASCAP: Writer and Publisher Awards, “That’s What Love Is All About” and “I Found Someone,” 1989
- New York Music: Best Male Pop Vocalist, Best Male R&B Vocalist, 1988
- BMI- Million-Air Songs, “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You,” “By The Time This Night Is Over,” “How Can We Be Lovers,” “Love Is A Wonderful Thing,” “Missing You Now,” “Said I Loved You...But I Lied,” “Soul Provider,” “Steel Bars”